SAN ANGELO, Texas – The 16^th-ranked Angelo State football team closed out the season with a 24-14 loss to Bemidji State in the first round of the NCAA Division II Football Championship on Saturday at LeGrand Stadium at 1^st Community Credit Union Field.
 
The Rams finish the 2024 campaign with a 9-3 overall record, making their third appearance in the playoffs in four seasons.
 
BSU scored first after returning a punt 60 yards, setting up a five-yard touchdown run with just over four minutes to go in the first quarter.
 
The Rams tied the game as Alex Wyatt scored on a run after a blocked punt gave the Rams the ball on the one-yard line.
 
With three minutes to play in the second quarter, Bemidji State threw a touchdown pass from nine yards out to take a 14-7 lead into the break.
 
The Beavers tallied 262 yards of offense with 231 yards coming on the ground while the Rams finished the game with 138 passing and 93 rushing.
 
After a scoreless third quarter, BSU extended the lead 17-7 with a 47-yard field goal.
 
The Rams kept up the fight as Braeden Fuller threw an eight-yard pass to Corey Sandolph in the endzone to make it a one-score game.
 
On the next possession, ASU's defense held the Beavers on downs to take over at midfield but a sack on the drive would force a punt by the Rams.
 
Kel Williams led ASU with 44 receiving yards on three catches, Hunter Wallis finished with three catches for 37 yards, and Cameron Dischler was the leading rusher for ASU with 33 yards.
 
ASU's defense was led by Jordan McKinney who recorded a game-high 14 tackles with an interception while Stephen Woods and Kenton Allen finished with seven tackles.