SAN ANGELO - The Angelo State Rams football team was unable to complete its comeback after scoring 14 second half points, falling to Eastern New Mexico 25-14 on Saturday at LeGrand Stadium at First Community Credit Field. 

The Rams (1-3, 1-2 LSC) got going offensively late in the third quarter, getting the ball after another blocked field goal attempt from Markus Jones. Jones, who already led the nation in blocked kicks, pushed his season total to six and now has a blocked kick in all four games this season. Blocking the kick also brought the special teams' total to seven overall, breaking the school record of six which was set in 2003.

Once the Rams had the ball, they were led by quarterback Carsen Cook, who saw his first playing time of the season in the matchup with the Greyhounds. Cook, a redshirt freshman, led the team down the field in 2:33 on nine plays and hit Jeremiah Baines on an 11-yard pass to put the Rams on the scoreboard for the first time.

The two team traded punts on the next four drives, but with 4:44 the Rams recovered a Greyhound fumble and drove down the field to score again. Helped by two ENMU pass interference penalties, Cook capped off the drive by throwing his second touchdown of the game on a 30-yard pass to Ricky Pelzer to cut the deficit to 11.

Connor Flanigan attempted an onside kick on the next play, but the Greyhounds recovered it and ran out the clock, cutting the Rams comeback bid just short. ASU's offense outgained ENMU 351-308 including  217 to 51 in the second half. 

"We have to work on catching the ball better and not turning it over," ASU head football coach Will Wagner said. "I think we can build on the success that Cook had in the second half. I was happy of the way the defense played in the second half."

Eastern New Mexico (2-2, 2-1 LSC) started the game with the ball, but the Ram defense forced a quick three-and-out to give the offense the ball. The offense was unable to score on that drive, but the Rams had the first scoring opportunity late in the first quarter on a field goal attempt from Casey Eyman. The 49-yard kick had the distance, but hit the post, marking just his second miss of the year.

The Greyhounds took over with the ball on their own 32 and used 11 plays to drive down the field and score the game's first touchdown with 44 seconds left in the first quarter.

ASU was unable to respond, giving the ball back less than a minute into the second quarter and the Greyhounds capitalized with their second touchdown of the game on the ensuing drive. ENMU would go on to score on their next two drives as well with a field goal and a third touchdown, building a 25-0 lead the half.

The Rams defense would hold ENMU scoreless for the rest of the game, but the Greyhounds staved off ASU for long enough to secure the win.

Cook, who came in for two plays in the first half, led the offense out on to the field to start the third quarter and remained the quarterback for the entirety of the second half. The Wylie native completed six passes for 76 yards including a long of 30 and also led the Rams in rushing with 102 yards on 17 attempts in the game. 

Donovan Thompson led the receiving corps for the Rams, pulling in five catches for 78 yards, including long of 43, and running back Josh Stevens chipped in 56 yards on the ground as well. Thompson's receiving performance moved him to No. 12 on the all-time career receiving record list. 

Melvin Robinson led the defense with a career high 19 stops and a team high seven stops. The senior also recovered a fumble. Willie Brown and Bright Ihegworo each had 11 tackles. 

The Rams will go back on the road again next weekend, facing Texas A&M-Kingsville at 7 p.m. Saturday in Kingsville.