SAN ANGELO, Texas - The No. 25 Angelo State football team used a 16-yard touchdown pass with 11 second left in the game to defeat Texas A&M-Kingsville 39-34 on Saturday evening at LeGrand Stadium at 1^st Community Credit Union Field.

The Rams (5-2, 2-2 LSC) outgained the Javelinas (1-6, 0-4 LSC) 557 to 417 and racked up 27 first downs. Texas A&M-Kingsville did force four fumbles and recovered two of them in a game that had seven lead changes. ASU went six-for-six in the red zone while TAMUK was three-for-.

Kyle Washington tallied 462 yards of total offense with 367 through the air and 95 yards on the ground. The senior quarterback threw four passing touchdowns and rushed for one as well. Ryan Byrd recorded his second 100-yard rushing game of the year with 106 yards on 17 carries and one touchdown. Anthony Pierson led the receivers with seven catches and 114 yards and two touchdowns. Donovan Thompson made five catches for 92 yards and Brett Rasberry finished with seven catches for 64 yards. Mark Muson added three catches and a touchdown while Trey Green had three catches on the final drive of the game.  

Jonathan Shannon and Willie Brown led the defense with nine stops each. Ryan Clapsaddle made his second career interception in addition to four stops. Clayton Callicutt had 1.5 sacks and now has 29 for his career.

The Rams were down 34-33 after TAMUK scored on a fourth and three to take a 33-28 advantage with 6:19 left in the game.  Six plays later ASU was forced to punt from the 50-yard line with 2:52 left on the clock and one timeout. One week after the defense was unable to hold Texas A&M-Commerce for a last minute drive, the defense stepped up and forced a Texas A&M-Kingsville punt on a three and out.

ASU started the drive at the Texas A&M-Kingsville 46-yard line with 1:14 left and no timeouts. Washington found Green for 11 yards on first down and followed it up with a completion to Rasberry for five yards. In hurry up mode, Washington found an opening and carried the ball for 14 yards down the TAMUK 16-yard line. A short pass to Green for no gain kept the clock running. Washington dropped back and found Green on a dump off in the middle of the field and Green scampered 16 yards for the game-winning touchdown. The Rams stopped the ensuing kick return to secure the 39-34 victory.

It was the second lead of the fourth quarter for ASU after Pierson caught his second touchdown of the game. ASU was down 28-27 but scored on seven plays. TAMUK responded with a seven play 78 yards drive including converting a fourth and three.

ASU started the game scoring on its opening drive. After the Ram defense forced a three and out and Fred Lawrence returned the punt 23 yards to the Texas A&M-Kingsville 33-yard line. Seven plays later Washington carried the ball for a three yard touchdown.

Another TAMUK three and out gave the Rams the ball on their own 39-yard line. Washington found Munson for 12 yards and carried the ball for 24 yards down to the one-yard line. On the following play, Munson went up and caught a one yard fade to put ASU up 12-0 after missing the extra point conversion on both touchdowns.

Texas A&M-Kingsville scored on a 34 yard rush by Trey Mitchell after an ASU fumble to cut the deficit 12-7.

A turnover on downs by ASU gave the ball back to TAMUK at the beginning of the second quarter. The Javelinas drove 78 yards in 12 plays to take a 13-12 lead after a one-yard touchdown by Joe T'eo.

The two teams exchanged two punts each before ASU found a rhythm. Pierson and Washington would connect three times for 80 of the 85 yards on the drive including a 33-yard touchdown. The Rams would take a 18-13 lead in at halftime.

ASU came out of halftime and extended its lead on the first drive. Washington rushed for 28 yards on a third and two and hit Munson for an 11-yard gain one play later to move the ball to the TAMUK 11. Byrd did the rest scoring from four yards out to make it 24-13 ASU.

Texas A&M-Kingsville answered on the next drive with a heavy dosage of Shawn Vasquez. The running back carried the ball eight times for 51 yards on the drive before Greg Pitre caught a 10-yard pass from Myles Carr. ASU went three and out on the next dive and Pitre carried the load as TAMUK took the lead. Pitre carried the ball four times for 43 yards before Carr scored on a quarterback sneak and put the Javelinas on top 28-24.

The Rams tacked on a 31-yard field goal by Sam Fowler towards the end of the third quarter before the exciting fourth quarter. Byrd rushed for 28 yards and Washington followed it up with a 28 yards pass to Thompson to move the ball to the TAMUK 14-yard line.

 ASU will return to action next Saturday, Oct. 24 at 2 p.m. against Eastern New Mexico at Blackwater Draw.