ABILENE, Texas – Led by sophomore running back
Alfred Grear, the Angelo State football team capped off with 2020 season with a big win, toppling Division I and former Lone Star rival Abilene Christian 34-21 at Wildcat Stadium.
Grear finished the night with four rushing touchdowns, totaling 247 yards on the ground to lead his team to a 2-2 record in the shortened season, picking up their first win over the Wildcats since 2012 and the first win since they entered Division I.
After being forced to punt in the first offensive series, the Rams settled into their running game when Grear broke away for a 61-yard run for the first score of the day. ASU followed that drive up with a nine-play, 69-yard performance, scoring on a one-yard run by Grear to take a two score lead.
After forcing back to back three and outs by the Wildcats to start the game, ASU's defense held Abilene Christian on downs, stopping four straight run plays to take over in good field position. Grear extended the lead for the Rams to 21-0, scoring his third straight rushing touchdown, this time a four-yard punch in. Angelo State finished the second half with 229 rushing yards, outgaining their largest total in a game this season.
ASU's defense continued to give Abilene Christian problems, forcing its third punt of the game, giving up only one first down in the first 19 minutes of the game.
Angelo State scored its fourth straight touchdown, this time coming through the air as quarterback
Zach Bronkhorst completed a one-yard pass to
Justin Pegues for his first catch of the season, giving the Rams a commanding 28-0 advantage. Bronkhorst finished the night with 53 yards on 6-of-14 passing and added 70 yards on the ground.
With just over a minute to go in the first half, the Wildcats found some life driving 48 yards before scoring on a three-yard rush to end the half. Abilene Christian opened the second half with the ball, driving 71 yards on 13 plays as the Wildcats scored their second straight touchdown, this time an 11-yard pass from Peyton Mansell to Darius Lewis.
Turnovers plagued ASU in the second half, the first one coming off the ensuing kickoff as a short kick caused the Rams to muff the ball, giving the ball back to the Wildcats. ACU capitalized on the turnover, driving the ball 29-yards, capped off by an eight-yard touchdown run to score 21 unanswered points.
Looking to slow down Wildcats, the Rams began their next drive on their own 14-yard line before Grear busted out for an 86-yard run but the score would be called back after a block in the back was called near the 11-yard line of ACU. Moments later, Abilene Christian forced a sack fumble, keeping the Rams out of the endzone. The Wildcats would force another turnover on ASU's next drive, intercepting Bronkhorst on their 16-yard line.
Despite the turnovers, the Rams held on to the lead late in the fourth quarter as the defense settled in to calm down the Wildcats, causing four straight punts. ASU held the Wildcats to 255 yards of total offense as
Daron Allman led the Rams' defense with seven tackles, four tackles for a loss, and one sack while
Darrick Dickerson Jr. and
Leddy French II each had six tackles and French added a sack.
With 2:33 left in the game, Grear broke out his longest run of the season, scoring on a 68-yard touchdown run for his fourth of the game, doubling his season total to eight on the year, and sealing the victory for the Rams at 34-21.
ASU outdrove their opponent in all four games this season, totaling over 200-yards of offense more than ACU, as the Rams finished with 467 yards of offense.
Nathaniel Omayebu III also contributed well in the ground game, finishing with 81 yards off of 20 attempts while
Chris Brooks led the receivers with two catches for 28 yards.
Angelo State improves in the all-time series against the Wildcats, extending their advantage to 29-23-1 in the series.
