SAN ANGELO – The Angelo State football team held on to defeat Midwestern State 41-36 in the first round of the LSC Playoffs at LeGrand Stadium at 1^st Community Credit Union Field to setup a rematch with Texas A&M-Commerce for the LSC Playoff Championship next Saturday in Commerce, Texas, at 4 p.m.

The Rams (7-2, 4-2 LSC) used big plays on offense and got some key stops by the defense in the fourth quarter. The Mustangs (6-3, 4-2 LSC) outgained ASU 444-491 but committed two turnovers.

Junior quarterback Kyle Washington threw 268 yards and four touchdowns on 14-of-28 passing and rushed for 184 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. The Humble native averaged 15.3 yards per rush. Brett Rasberry, Chris Omigie, Talon Smith and Dakarai Pecikonis each had a touchdown pass. Omigie led all receivers with three receptions for 105 yards.

Rush Seaver was one of four defensive players with double-digit tackles. The senior recorded 14 stops with Blair Smith chipping in 13 and added an interception. Clayton Callicutt and Ryan Clapsaddle each made 11 tackles. John Siligia, Matthew Gholston and Raymond Coen each had one sack and Michael Walling recovered a fumble.

Midwestern State had cut the Rams lead to 41-36 with 3:27 to go after a lengthy 20-play 94-yard drive lasted 8:55. Jake Glover found Joe Sanders in the back of the end zone for the quarterback's third touchdown of the night.

The Mustangs tried an onside kick but ASU was able to recover it but were unable to get a first down to secure the win. Midwestern State would take over on its own 17-yard line with 2:23 to go.

The Mustangs used the middle of the field to take it to the ASU 48-yard line before an illegal shift nullified a three-yard gain. Two plays later MSU was penalized for holding to make it third and 16 at the MSU 37-yard line. Glover threw incomplete to Joe Sanders to setup the deciding fourth down. Glover was flushed out of the pocket and cut back across the field. Jonathan Shannon came up and made an open field tackle to stop the MSU quarterback short of the first down.

The big plays for the Rams started early. The first offensive play of the game Washington hit Omigie on a slant. The senior wide receiver found open field and raced 69-yards for the game's first score.  Midwestern State responded on the very next drive with a 13 play 73-yard drive that was capped off with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Glover to Statron Jones to tie the game.

After being forced to punt, Angelo State's defense forced its 15 interception of the season. B. Smith picked off Glover to give the ball to ASU at the MSU 36-yard line. Washington went to work again through the air. The junior found Omigie again for a 30-yard gain and three plays later hit Rasberry to take the lead back at 14-7.

The Ram defense forced a three-and-out and Washington found another big play. T. Smith caught a ball and outran the secondary for a 59-yard touchdown and a 21-7 advantage.

MSU was faced with a third and eight on the ensuing drive at the Rams 9-yard line but Glover found Derek Lockhart for a 9-yard score. It was the only score by either team in the second quarter. The Rams went into halftime ahead 21-14.

After the break, Midwestern State was forced to punt after a holding penalty and Seaver stopped Chuancey Harris short on third down.

Washington electrified the crowd on the first play carrying the ball 68 yards to put ASU on top 28-14. In the two games against MSU, Washington has rushed for a combined 434 yards.

The Rams defense forced a punt and MSU returned the favor. ASU was lining up to punt on fourth down when MSU's Adam Hill got through the line and knocked a player into Sam Fowler's kick. The Mustangs recovered at the Rams 49-yard line. Harris would score five plays later and MSU threw a pass for the two-point conversion to cut the deficit to 28-22. 

The Rams responded with a quick scoring four-play drive. Trey Green got around the corner and rushed for 11 yards to the Midwestern State 30-yard line. Washington would take it the next 30-yards for his second rushing touchdown of the night. The Rams would no convert the two-point conversion.

With the score at 34-22, the Rams forced a Midwestern State punt. Paul Mason was sent back and muffed the punt to give MSU the ball at ASU's 3-yard line. The Mustangs tried a rush to the corner but were stopped at the 1-yard line. MSU's Quade Coward fumbled the ensuing snap and Walling jumped on it for ASU's second takeaway of the night.

The ground game would strike again for Midwestern State after stopping the Rams on the fumbled snap drive. Harris carried it for 61-yards before Dante Taylor would score of a 26-yard rush around the right side to make the game a one-score possession.

Washington and the Rams offense again responded. A 30-yard rush by the quarterback and a 6-yard carry by Ryan Byrd would setup the answer. Washington found
Pecikonis to extend the lead to 41-29 late in the third quarter and setup the fourth quarter dramatics.

Glover threw for 250 yards on 24-of-35 passing for the Mustangs while Harris carried the ball 21 times for 179 yards and scored one touchdown. A total of 10 different receivers caught passes for MSU with Levy Wilson leading the way with five catches for 39 yards.

The Rams will face Texas A&M-Commerce on Saturday, Nov. 15 at 4 p.m. The Lions took the first game 41-40 in San Angelo.