I know it's crazy pic but fuck it, I was 2 live!!!
For the fifth straight season, the Angelo State football team (1-0) has won a home opener thanks to a 21-7 win over Texas A&M-Commerce Saturday night at San Angelo Stadium.
The Ram offense struggled to get going in the first half as ASU trailed the Lions, 7-0, going into the locker room. However, Angelo State would finds its swagger in the second half as the Rams scored 21 unanswered points to grab the victory.
Texas A&M-Commerce (0-1), who received points in the AFCA Division II Preseason Top 25, posted the only first-half score with 13:31 left in the second quarter as Marcus Graham used a three-yard run around the right end to put the Lions up 7-0 after the extra point. The Rams had one solid chance to put points on the scoreboard before the break, but missed a field goal attempt with just over four minutes left before half.
ASU would score its first points of the new season early in the third quarter as junior Dwight Pete scored on a one-yard plunge with 11:06 left in the third quarter. That score would spark the Rams who won a season opener for the first time since 2006.
The Rams took the lead later in the third frame as junior quarterback Josh Neiswander connected with freshman Excelle Osborne for a 55-yard touchdown strike with 3:50 left in the quarter. After the ASU defense halted another Lion offensive attack, the Rams would kill most of the fourth quarter on its next scoring drive to seal the victory.
Angelo State took over the ball with 12:46 left in the contest holding on to a slim seven-point lead. The Rams would then use a 16-play, 72-yard drive that 9:49 that ended with a two-yard touchdown pass from Neiswander to sophomore Antwon Williams with just 2:57 left in the game. Neiswander was 3-for-4 while Pete would carry the ball eight times for 23 yards on the drive.
Neiswander, who missed the final 10 games of last season due to injury and had his junior restored by the NCAA, ended the night with 241 yards on 18-of-34 passing with two touchdowns. He hit 10 different receivers with junior V'Keon Lacey leading the pack with five catches for 57 yards. Freshman Dakarai Pecikonis had two catches for 42 yards and Williams had two grabs for 32 yards. Pete led the Rams on the ground with 60 yards on 15 carries and a score.
Defensively, senior linebacker D'Angelo Waites and freshman safety Alvin Johnson each had a team-best six tackles. Sophomore linebacker Sebastian Lafeale had five stops while junior defensive end Zach Petitt and junior cornerback Markeith Jones each had four stops. Jones also had one interception, that coming late in the second quarter halting a second potential Lion scoring drive before the half.
Texas A&M-Commerce quarterback Reid Herchenbach completed 16-of-28 passes for 156 yards with an interception. Adam Jones led the Lion receivers with four catches for 50 yards while Jetavious Best rushed for 43 yards on 13 carries. Graham ended the night with just two carries for two yards and the score. Stephen DeGrate had a game-high 11 tackles, including eight solo stops, for the Lions.
The Rams will hit the road next week as they visit Texas State at 6 p.m. in San Marcos. ASU returns home Saturday, Sept. 12, when the Rams host Southwestern Oklahoma at 6 p.m. at San Angelo Stadium.
The Ram offense struggled to get going in the first half as ASU trailed the Lions, 7-0, going into the locker room. However, Angelo State would finds its swagger in the second half as the Rams scored 21 unanswered points to grab the victory.
Texas A&M-Commerce (0-1), who received points in the AFCA Division II Preseason Top 25, posted the only first-half score with 13:31 left in the second quarter as Marcus Graham used a three-yard run around the right end to put the Lions up 7-0 after the extra point. The Rams had one solid chance to put points on the scoreboard before the break, but missed a field goal attempt with just over four minutes left before half.
ASU would score its first points of the new season early in the third quarter as junior Dwight Pete scored on a one-yard plunge with 11:06 left in the third quarter. That score would spark the Rams who won a season opener for the first time since 2006.
The Rams took the lead later in the third frame as junior quarterback Josh Neiswander connected with freshman Excelle Osborne for a 55-yard touchdown strike with 3:50 left in the quarter. After the ASU defense halted another Lion offensive attack, the Rams would kill most of the fourth quarter on its next scoring drive to seal the victory.
Angelo State took over the ball with 12:46 left in the contest holding on to a slim seven-point lead. The Rams would then use a 16-play, 72-yard drive that 9:49 that ended with a two-yard touchdown pass from Neiswander to sophomore Antwon Williams with just 2:57 left in the game. Neiswander was 3-for-4 while Pete would carry the ball eight times for 23 yards on the drive.
Neiswander, who missed the final 10 games of last season due to injury and had his junior restored by the NCAA, ended the night with 241 yards on 18-of-34 passing with two touchdowns. He hit 10 different receivers with junior V'Keon Lacey leading the pack with five catches for 57 yards. Freshman Dakarai Pecikonis had two catches for 42 yards and Williams had two grabs for 32 yards. Pete led the Rams on the ground with 60 yards on 15 carries and a score.
Defensively, senior linebacker D'Angelo Waites and freshman safety Alvin Johnson each had a team-best six tackles. Sophomore linebacker Sebastian Lafeale had five stops while junior defensive end Zach Petitt and junior cornerback Markeith Jones each had four stops. Jones also had one interception, that coming late in the second quarter halting a second potential Lion scoring drive before the half.
Texas A&M-Commerce quarterback Reid Herchenbach completed 16-of-28 passes for 156 yards with an interception. Adam Jones led the Lion receivers with four catches for 50 yards while Jetavious Best rushed for 43 yards on 13 carries. Graham ended the night with just two carries for two yards and the score. Stephen DeGrate had a game-high 11 tackles, including eight solo stops, for the Lions.
The Rams will hit the road next week as they visit Texas State at 6 p.m. in San Marcos. ASU returns home Saturday, Sept. 12, when the Rams host Southwestern Oklahoma at 6 p.m. at San Angelo Stadium.
