Angelo State Rams Upset by Bemidji State in Playoff Opener

SAN ANGELO, TX — The Angelo State football team’s season came to an unexpected end Saturday in a 24-14 upset loss against Bemidji State in the opening round of the NCAA Division II playoffs.

ASU was the No. 3 seed in the region, riding a nine-game winning streak and had home-field advantage.

None of that mattered as No. 6 Bemidji never trailed behind a defense that limited ASU to 231 yards on a warm, windy afternoon at LeGrand Stadium.

ASU made a late comeback attempt when Braeden Fuller threw a touchdown pass to Corey Sandolph to pull within 17-14 with 5:57 remaining.

The Rams’ defense then came up with a huge stop on a fourth-and-1 to give their offense a chance to tie or win the game.

Starting at Bemidji’s 45-yard line with 3:34 to play, ASU had as good of an opportunity as it could ask for, but the Beavers’ defense stepped up with a big stop of its own.

A sack on second down derailed the drive, and the Rams had to hand the ball right back after a fourth-and-12 failed.

Bemidji quarterback Connor Carver then broke a 59-yard TD run with 2:07 left to put the game away.

Fuller, who didn’t throw an interception in 11 games during the regular season, threw two INTs in the fourth quarter Saturday, both picked off by Isaiah Johnson.

The first led to a 47-yard field goal that gave Bemidji a 17-7 lead with 10:27 to play.

The second INT was in the end zone on a last-minute desperation drive after ASU had fallen behind 24-14.

It was expected to be a defensive battle as each team was allowing less than 16 points per game.

Bemidji jumped in front 7-0, but ASU blocked a punt to set up a 1-yard TD run by Alex Wyatt to tie the game.

The Beavers went back on top 14-7 before halftime, and ASU was never quite able to catch up in the second half.

The Rams’ season ended with a record of 9-3. They were in the playoffs for the third time in the last four years after an undefeated run through the Lone Star Conference.

The 2024 Rams joined ASU’s other conference champs from 1978, 1984, 1987 and 2022.

Bemidji improved to 9-3 and will advance to play the winner of Central Washington and Western Colorado.