Mustangs rumble with Angelo State at Homecoming

Mark Stephens

Staff Writer

The No. 11 Midwestern State Mustangs’ defensive line fourth-quarter stand allowed a last-minute 35-28 victory over the Angelo State Rams Saturday at Homecoming.

After penalties and interceptions plagued the Mustangs’ offense to the tune of a 28-21 Rams’ lead at the start of the fourth, Brandon Kelsey set up a drive that resulted in a 10-yard Kelsey run to tie the game up at 28-28.

The following defensive stand forced an Angelo State three-and-out that resulted in a punt from the Rams’ 40 yard line.

Blowing up the play, the Mustangs special teams were able to push an Angelo State blocker into the way of a punt, causing it to go the wrong way and allowing the Mustangs to recover it on the Ram’s 10 yard line.

The following play, Keidrick Jackson blasted through the Rams’ defense and into the end zone to allow the Mustangs to come away with the victory.

The Mustangs recorded their fifth straight win for this season putting them at 5-1 for the year and 4-1 in Lone Star Conference play.

The Mustangs focused on the running game as they ran for 283 yards on 45 carries for 4 touchdowns.  Kelsey led the way with 156 yards and two touchdowns, while Jackson added another 90 yards and two touchdowns.

The Mustangs were able to pull it out at the end, but the win did not come easy.  The two teams went back and forth throughout the entire game.

In fact, this may  have been one of the toughest defenses the Mustangs faced this season.

ASU struck first with a field goal from Jarred Martin in the first quarter, but MSU was able to get a 19-yard touchdown run by Kelsey at the end of the first quarter to take the lead.

The Rams answered back in the second quarter with a 66-yard pass to CJ Akins from Blake Hamblin to retake the lead, and added another Martin field goal later in the quarter to have a 13-7 lead over the Mustangs.

However, the Mustangs were able to get a 1-yard touchdown run out Jackson to take the lead 14-13 into the half.

The Mustangs did not waste any time in the second half by scoring on a 21-yard touchdown pass from Kelsey to a diving Jared Freeman on their first drive.

Penalities and offensive mishaps by the Mustangs’ allowed the Rams to take advantage and scoring a 2-yard touchdown pass early in the third quarter.

That touchdown was followed by a 41-yard touchdown pass to Dakarai Pecikonis.

Time expired in the quarter to give the Rams the 28-21 lead they held before Kelsey’s score and the botched punt.

This was the first time the Mustangs had trailed in the fourth quarter since the game against Tarleton State – their only loss of the season.

The Mustangs’ defense then held tough as they kept the Rams from scoring in the final minute of the game, despite getting down to the MSU 32-yard line.

The Mustangs look to continue winning as they face Abilene Christian University in Abilene at 2 p.m. on Oct. 20.