SAN ANGELO, TX — The no. 22 Angelo State Rams sent a reminder to the rest of the Lone Star Conference on Saturday night, September 23. After losing the last two games in a row, the Rams corrected their 2-game skid in dominant fashion. Angelo State controlled its matchup against Western New Mexico from start to finish and moved to 2-2 on the season, 62-9.
Angelo State remained explosive on offense and absolutely suffocating on defense throughout the first half. The offense began the game with several quick scores due in part to explosive plays from the Rams’ backfield. Running back Alfred Grear and Christoval’s own Brayden Wilcox both broke into the end zone early to give the Rams a 17-0 lead with just over ten minutes to play in the 1st quarter.
The Rams continued to pour it on with touchdowns from backup quarterback Chad Pharies, another touchdown from Grear, and a highlight reel-worthy, 70-yard punt return touchdown by Andrew Pitts. Rams quarterback Gerald Gardner would get his arm involved just before the half on a 15-yard touchdown pass to Albert Thomas IV.
Angelo State in action against Western New Mexico
(San Angelo LIVE! Photo/Ryan Chadwick)
Angelo State in action against Western New Mexico
(San Angelo LIVE! Photo/Ryan Chadwick)
Angelo State in action against Western New Mexico
(San Angelo LIVE! Photo/Ryan Chadwick)
Angelo State Dominates Western New Mexico 62-9
(San Angelo LIVE! Photo/Ryan Chadwick)
Angelo State’s defense smothered Western New Mexico the entire first half. The Rams allowed less than fifty yards before halftime and only surrendered a single field goal as time expired in the 2nd quarter. The Rams headed to the locker room up 48-3.
It was evident in the 2nd half that the Rams took their foot off of the gas. Several backups came into the game, and the ones took a break. Despite this, Angelo State put up another touchdown on a 6-yard touchdown run by Sophomore quarterback Braeden Fuller midway through the 3rd quarter. Angelo State continued to play well on defense, but a fumble by the Rams with a little over four minutes to go in the 3rd set up a long touchdown by the Mustangs.
The Rams added one more touchdown in the 4th quarter. Set up by several runs from Pharies, Jayden Jones carried several Mustang defenders and the football into the end zone for the final touchdown of the evening. Angelo State finished with a statement win over Western New Mexico 62-9.
The Rams finished with 557 total yards on offense and 341 yards on the ground. Angelo State got back to what Head Coach Girsch loves to do and pounded the rock all night. The Rams' defense yielded only 134 total yards throughout the game, with the majority coming in the second half. Most impressively, the Rams allowed -13 rushing yards as this defense got back on track in a big way.
The No. 22 Angelo State Rams (2-2, 1-1 LSC) head to Portales, NM, next Saturday, September 30, to face the Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds in another Lone Star Conference matchup. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
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