PORTALES, N.M. – The No. 8 Angelo State football team opened Lone Star Conference play with a 31-20 win over Eastern New Mexico on a windy Saturday night at Al Whitehead Field at Steve Loy Family Foundation Stadium.

With the victory, the Rams extended their LSC winning streak to 13 games and improved to 3-0 overall.

The Rams jumped ahead early as a 34 yard run on fourth down by Kaeden Smith set up a two yard touchdown carry by Chad Pharies.

The Greyhounds capitalized on a Ram fumble to tie the game, but Zeek Freeman quickly answered, returning the ensuing kickoff 88 yards to give the Rams back the lead just 13 seconds later.

ASU kept the momentum rolling with a surprise onside kick by Rance Purser, which the Rams recovered. The drive ended in a 36-yard field goal to push the lead to 17-7.

Following a weather delay that lasted two hours and 27 minutes, the Rams forced their second turnover of the game, leading to a 13-yard touchdown run by Pharies—his second score of the night.

Eastern New Mexico trimmed the deficit to 10, but Smith orchestrated a drive that spanned the third and fourth quarters, capped by a 1-yard touchdown run by Cameron Dischler.

The Greyhounds added a late touchdown, but a game-sealing interception by Xavier Walton extended the Rams' streak of games with an interception to 18.

Angelo State returns home next Saturday, Sept. 20, to host Western New Mexico at 1st Community Credit Union Field at LeGrand Stadium.