Angelo State Smothers A&M Kingsville’s Offense to Win 34-7

SAN ANGELO, TX — The No. 2 Angelo State Rams (7-0)(5-0) hosted the undefeated No. 15 Texas A&M Kingsville Javelinas (7-0)(5-0) in a high-powered Lonestar Conference matchup at 1st Community Credit Union field at LeGrand Stadium at 6 p.m.

Both teams traded punches for most of the first half, but two timely takeaways in the 2nd quarter allowed the Rams to safely put the game away. ASU won it easily on homecoming night, 34-7.

The Rams won the toss and deferred until the second half. The defense came out onto the field, stymied A&M Kingsville at the Javelinas’ 46-yard line, and forced a punt.

Angelo State’s offense took over at the Rams’ 33-yard line and went to work. RB Nate Omayebu III and RB Kason Phillips handled most of the work as the Rams drove the length of the field. Omayebu III capped the nine-play, 77-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run and put the Rams up 7-0.

The Javelinas finally got on the board with :58 left in the 1st quarter. QB Zach Bronkhorst threw an interception to A&M’s Amos Coleman at the Rams’ 20-yard line. Coleman took the interception back for six points, and the Javelinas tied the game 7-7.

Angelo State added two field goals to their point total throughout the 2nd quarter when K Asa Fuller first converted a 29-yard field goal and then a 25-yard field goal.

Angelo State’s Andrew Pitts picked off the Javelinas near midfield with two minutes to go in the 2nd quarter. The Rams wasted no time driving 48 yards down the field in four plays taking only 1:34 to score. TE Matthew Carter capped off the drive with a 5-yard touchdown catch with 12 seconds to go in the half. The Rams headed to the locker room at halftime up 20-7.

Angelo State added to their scoring total when they blocked A&M Kingsville’s punt midway through the 3rd quarter. CB Deshaun Douglas picked up the blocked kick and returned it 15 yards to the house. The Rams increased their lead to 27-7.

The Rams' defense suffocated A&M Kingsville’s offense throughout the second half, accumulating four sacks that killed any chance of a comeback. The offense continued to churn out long, sustained drives and added another touchdown to their total nearing the end of the 4th quarter. Bronkhorst led the Rams on a six-play, 40-yard drive that ended on a 1-yard touchdown catch by TE Cason Brown.

Angelo State’s defense forced one more punt, and Bronkhorst kneeled out the remainder of the clock. The Rams remained perfect on homecoming night, 34-7.

Analysis

Angelo State’s Zach Bronkhorst finished the evening 14/26 with 183 yards through the air, two touchdowns, and an interception. Add to that, the Rams’ offensive strength in the running game, where they totaled 234 yards. RB Nate Omayebu III led the Rams with 23 attempts for 124 yards and a touchdown. RB Kason Phillips had 15 attempts for 96 yards. WR Rasheed Green led the Rams in receiving with two catches for 58 yards.

Defensively, the Rams shut down the Javelinas’ every attempt at offensive production. A&M Kingsville’s only touchdown came off a pick-six. Angelo State allowed only 144 total yards, with 105 yards on the ground and only 39 yards through the air. The Rams totaled four sacks in the second half that completely destroyed any momentum the Javelinas tried to build. On top of that, the two takeaways the Rams created proved pivotal to putting the game away. Any team that faces this defense the rest of the regular season and into playoffs should prepare to have a tough time putting points on the board.

Box Score

The No. 2 Angelo State University Rams (8-0)(6-0) travel to Blaine, Washington next week, Oct. 29, to take on the Simon Fraiser (B.C.) Red Leafs (0-5)(0-5) at SFU Stadium at 9 p.m. CST.

Last year, the Rams defeated the Red Leafs 51-10 in San Angelo.