WACO, Texas – The Angelo State football team suffered a heartbreaking loss Saturday night as Central Oklahoma erased an 18-point deficit in the second half to win the 2018 Heart of Texas Bowl.
The Rams (6-6) got career performances from Payne Sullins and Keke Chism, but were unable to hold off the late Broncho (8-4) rally.
Central Oklahoma controlled the game for the first 16 minutes of play, hitting a field goal in the first quarter and scoring the game's first touchdown less than a minute into the second quarter to take a 10- lead.
The Ram defense got a stop on the next UCO drive as Markus Jones capped of his strong week with a sack and forced fumble that Daegan Dunham recovered. The sack gave Jones 16 for the season, giving him sole possession of the Angelo state single-season record after breaking the career record earlier this season as well.
ASU quickly capitalized, as Sullins hit on a five-yard pass for the first Ram score. Sullins completed 20 of his 34 pass attempts in the game for a career-high 379 passing yards in the game. Seven of his completions went to Chism, who also set a career-high with 159 receiving yards.
ASU scored once more before halftime, picking up a big chunk on a 37-yard pass from Sullins to Lawson Ayo, who went over the 1000-yard mark for the season in the game. Running back Tony Jones then punched the ball in from one yard out and the Rams went into the locker room with a 14-10 lead.
Linebacker Donavyn Jackson helped set the Rams up for their first score of the second half, picking off the UCO quarterback and returning it all the way to the two-yard line before he was pushed out of bounds. Ronald Winston punched it in this time, and ASU increased its lead to 21-10.
The two teams traded field goals after that, and the final quarter started with the Rams still leading by 11.
Angelo State finished off a drive quickly after the fourth quarter started, with Spencer Gilbert rushing two yards into the end zone. It put them up 31-13 with 14:34.
ASU would score just three more points the rest of the way, while the Bronchos scored 28 to storm back and walk away with the victory.
