SAN ANGELO, Texas – The No. 2-ranked Angelo State football team downed No. 15 Texas A&M – Kingsville 34-7 to claim the victory on Homecoming night at LeGrand Stadium at 1st Community Credit Union Field.
The Rams improve to 8-0 overall, 6-0 in the Lone Star Conference play while handing the Javelinas their first loss of the season at 7-1, 5-1 LSC. ASU now sits alone at the top of the conference standings.
After forcing a punt by the Javelinas in the first drive of the game, ASU drove the ball 67 yards for the first score of the game, capped off by a two-yard touchdown run by Nate Omayebu III. Omayebu finished the game with 124 yards rushing, averaging 5.4 yards on 23 carries.
The Javelinas evened the score late in the first quarter, picking off Angelo State before returning it 20 yards for a score.
ASU regained the lead in the second half as Asa Fuller converted a 29-yard field goal attempt to put the rams back up by three points.
The Javelinas threatened later in the quarter deep in ASU territory before a forced fumble kept the lead in favor of ASU. The Rams capitalized on the turnover with another field goal as Fuller made it from 25-yards out to give ASU a 13-7 lead with 2:02 to play in the first half.
The Rams collected 417 total yards of offense, including 234 yards on the ground while holding the Javelinas to 145 total yards on the night.
ASU's defense stepped up again the very next drive as Andrew Pitts collected his sixth interception of the season, setting up a Zach Bronkhorst touchdown pass to Matt Carter from 12-yards out as the Rams take a 20-7 lead into the break.
Late in the third quarter, a sack by Daron Allman and Amieh Williams made it fourth down for the Javelinas deep in their own territory. Zorhan Rideaux blocked the ensuing punt before returning it 12 yards for a touchdown to add to ASU's lead, 27-7.
With 5:08 to play in the game, ASU added another touchdown as Bronkhorst completed a play-action pass to Cason Brown from one yard out to extend the lead.
Eric Rascoe finished with a team-high 10 tackles followed by Allman with seven tackles and three other Rams with six tackles. The Rams collected four sacks against TAMUK and finished with two takeaways.
The Rams will be back on the road next week as they make their second trip to the Pacific Northwest for a neutral site game against Simon Fraser in Blaine, Washington on Saturday, Oct. 29.
