Number 12 Angelo State Runs Past OPSU

By Justine Gaskamp on 09/04/2015

San Angelo, Texas-In their season opener, the Oklahoma Panhandle State
University Football team faced Angelo State University, the 2014 Lone Star
Conference Playoff Champions, and learned a great deal about what it will
take to compete in the LSC as they officially enter the league in 2016.

The Aggies also learned a great deal about what strengths and challenges
they will face moving forward. Freshman punter Jacob Test proved to be one
of the strong points, starting in his first collegiate football game in a
very daunting environment. Test averaged 39.4 yards per punt and utilized
his high school quarterback skills on a fake punt to Xazier Murry good for a
55-yard touchdown in the third quarter.

ASU proved worthy of their No. 12 national rank notching a 52-31 victory
over the Aggies. The Rams took an early lead in the first quarter with a
surprising 93-yard punt return straight to the OPSU end zone. Zacari
Lavender followed up with a 31-yard kickoff return for the Aggies giving
OPSU a great start to an eight-play drive. The Aggies failed to convert on
fourth-and- five and turned the ball over on possession. The Aggie defense
did a great job containing ASU for the remainder of the first quarter
holding the Rams to six points.

Offensively the Aggies struggled throughout the second quarter and could not
sustain any drives, leaving the defense exhausted. Angelo went nine plays
for 95 yards and a touchdown on their first drive of the quarter to make the
score 13-0. Freshman quarterback Brandon Ramon took a sack on a third -and-
one play, and a blocked field goal on fourth down was recovered by the Rams
and run in for a quick score that left OPSU down by 20 with six minutes
remaining in the half. Devyn Williams then gave the Rams a little payback
with a 92-yard kickoff return putting the Aggies on the board with seven
points. ASU responded with two more scoring drives sending the Aggies to the
locker room down 35-7 at halftime.

Senior running back Chris McClendon got the Aggies off to a good start in
the third quarter with a three-yard TD run. Overall the Aggies outscored
the Rams 24-14 in the 3rd, highlighted by a 92 yard scamper by McClendon.
Coach Gaskamp said about the comeback, "We were not happy with the player’s
body language and enthusiasm going into halftime. The staff challenged the
team to start back over and compete. I was proud of the effort."

Neither team’s offense did much in the 4th quarter as subs from both teams
took a majority of the reps. A single field goal by Angelo State wrapped up
the scoring. Offensively the Aggies were led by McClendon’s 17 rushes for
138 yards and two touchdowns and by Rod Moore’s 8 carries for 82 yards,
averaging 10.2 per rush. Defensively the Aggies were paced by Murry and
Neptuneson Joseph’s 14 and 11 tackles, respectively. The defense created
two interceptions, one by senior Jamel Major and one by freshman Byron
Edwards playing in his first collegiate game.

"First let me say that ASU is an excellent football team; those guys have a
chance to go deep in the playoffs. Offensively we were very inconsistent.
Our two running backs made some great individual runs but we struggled in
the offensive line against their great pass rush. Our line has to play
better."

Gaskamp also added, "I thought our defense played well at times but we gave
up too many big plays. Special teams were a roller coaster for both teams,
common for a first game. But I was pleased with Jacob (Test) in his first
game punting for us. We have to get back to work over the weekend, improve
in practice and prepare well for a good Fort Lewis team on September 12th."

The Aggies again go on the road to Durango, CO to face the Skyhawks, who
lost to #11-ranked FCS opponent Montana State 45-14. The team’s first home
game will be on Sept. 19th against long-time foe Langston University at 2:00
pm.

###

Justine Gaskamp