SAN ANGELO – The Angelo State football team scored 21 first-half points and gave up just three in the second half, cruising to a 34-17 win over Eastern New Mexico at LeGrand Stadium at 1st Community Credit Union Field.
Payne Sullins led the offense, completing 19 of 30 passes for 293 yards and rushing the ball a career-high 22 times for 92 yards as well.
Sullins got the Rams on the board on their opening drive of the game, after Donavyn Jackson forced a fumble on ENMU's opening drive to give ASU the ball.
Angelo State drove the ball down the field and Sullins threw a jump ball to wide receiver Keke Chism who tipped the ball up to himself to make the catch and walked into the end zone to get the Rams an early lead.
The Chism touchdown was the only score of the first quarter, and Eastern New Mexico got on the board with a punt block to start the second quarter.
ASU responded with another touchdown drive of their own, driving down the field and punching the ball in from one yard out on the legs of running back Tyrese Nathan.
The Greyhounds tied the game again at 14 all, but gave the Rams the ball back with four minutes left in the half. Sullins marched the team right back down the field and completed another touchdown pass, this time to Lawson Ayo, to give the Rams the lead going into the locker room.
Connor Flanigan got the Rams on the board early in the second half, hitting a 23-yard field goal with 11:50 left to play in the third quarter. ENMU responded with a field goal of their own, but it would be the last time they scored in the game.
ASU's defense held the Greyhounds at bay for the final 21 minutes of play, as the Rams got one more touchdown and another field goal from Flanigan.
The defense was led by Hunter Kyle, who had 15 total tackles, and Markus Jones, who finished with 10 tackles, including five for loss. Jones also had one sack in the contest, tying the Angelo State single-season record. Leddy French II also finished the game with double-digit tackles.
Angelo State will play just one more regular season game this season, traveling to take on Texas A&M-Commerce in Commerce, Texas.
