SAN ANGELO – The No. 6 Angelo State football team committed four turnovers in a 29-20 loss to No. 20 Midwestern State at LeGrand Stadium at 1st Community Credit Union Field in front of 5,641 fans on Saturday night.
The Rams (4-1-, 1-1 LSC) dropped its first game of the season despite outgaining the Mustangs (5-0, 3-0 LSC) 472-374. Midwestern State forced two fumbles and two interceptions while also returning a blocked punt for a touchdown.
Kyle Washington threw for over 300 yards for the third time this season with 338 yards on 24-of-41 passing. Tyler Middleton rushed for 68 yards and scored his first touchdown of the season on a five yard run. Donovan Thompson led the receivers with 100 yards on six catches. It is the sophomore's third game of at least 100 yards receiving of the season. Anthony Pierson caught his second touchdown of the season while Mark Munson added three catches for 81 yards. Jonathan Shannon returned his second interception for a touchdown of the season and made eight stops. Clayton Callicutt and Grant Aschenbeck led the team with 10 tackles each.
The Rams came out of the half time break with a 7-6 lead and quickly added to it. Midwestern State opened the second half with the ball and went to the air on the first play. Shannon stepped in front of a Quade Coward pass and returned it 18 yards for a touchdown. It is the junior's third interception return of his career.
Neither school could get a rhythm early but Midwestern State started to take the momentum after a series of plays starting at the 6:29 mark of the third quarter. Midwestern State forced an ASU punt and started its drive at their seven yard line. Eight plays later the game was tied at 13 with a 24 yard pass from Coward to Statron Jones.
ASU committed its third turnover of the game on the ensuing kickoff. Tyler Middleton took the return but fumbled on the 21 yard line with Midwestern State recovering. The Ram defense answered holding MSU to a 41 yards field goal by Andy Alkhazshvilly and a 16-13 lead.
ASU tried to put together a drive but were forced to punt for the third time in the quarter. Sam Fowler stepped back for the punt but it was blocked by Michael Gerst and returned by Sir'Vell Ford to extend MSU's lead to 23-13.
ASU responded on the next drive. Washington found Thompson for 47 yards that took the ball down to the MSU 10 yard line. Two plays later, Middleton carried it in to cut the lead to 23-20.
MSU would add a 30 yard field goal by Alkhazshvilly for a 26-20 lead with 4:33 left in the game. The Rams faced a fourth and five at the ASU 30 but MSU's Stewart picked off Washington for the second time in the game. The Mustangs added another 30 yard field goal by Alkhazshvilly to seal the game 29-20.
Coward led MSU in rushing with 63 yards and threw for 125 yards in the air on 13-of-27 passing. Receiver Statron Jones led the Mustangs with 57 yards off of 6 receptions and 1 touchdown, while Quade Coward had 72 yards off of 12 rushes.
The Rams started off with two turnovers on its first two drives of the game that led to Midwestern State's first touchdown of the game. MSU was forced to punt and put the ASU at its own four yard line. The Rams first play was a fumble by Trey Green that was picked up by MSU's Calvin Stewart in the end zone. The extra point was missed to the right but the Mustangs took a 6-0 lead.
ASU's offense struggled to get going punting on two of its next three drives and turning it over on downs in the third. A quick kick by Washington pinned MSU on their two yard line. The Rams defense forced its third straight punt and Brett Rasberry returned it 11 yards to the MSU 34.
Washington found Rasberry for a seven yard gain on the first play of the drive. Pierson got behind the defense on second down and caught a Washington pass for a 7-6 advantage with over six minutes left in the first half.
Another MSU punt gave the Rams 2:35 to work with before the half. ASU drove down 58 yards and after an incomplete pass, Josh Sparkman came on for a 39 yards field goal. The kick went wide right to send the game to half with ASU on top 7-6.
The Rams will now look ahead to a game with Texas A&M-Commerce on Saturday, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. at Memorial Stadium in Commerce, Texas.
