SAN ANGELO, Texas (Football) – It didn't come easy for the nationally-ranked Rams but a touchdown with 11 seconds remaining left the resilient Hogs with a sour taste in their mouths as No. 25 Angelo State University (5-2, 2-2 LSC) avoided an upset with a 39-34 victory over Texas A&M University-Kingsville (1-6, 0-4 LSC) on Saturday evening at LeGrand Stadium at 1
st Community Credit Union Field.
A season-high 259 rushing yards as a team – the most since Oct. 25, 2014 when the Javelinas battled next week's opponent, West Texas A&M University – four players rushed for over 45 yards. However, Texas A&M-Kingsville had 10 penalties (81 yards) called against them as they opposed the second best offense in all of Division II.
Starting for the first time this season was
Trey Mitchell, who rushed for a 34-yard score in the late stages of the opening quarter to put up Kingsville's first points of the game. The senior quarterback finished 2-of-8 passing and added 49 rushing yards on five carries. Taking over under center in the second quarter was
Myles Carr, who went 9-of-19 for 148 yards and two touchdowns, including the 43-yards touchdown pass to
Anthony Autry with 1:58 remaining in the game. The touchdown connection gave the Javelinas a 34-33 lead as the Javelina faithful that made the trip to San Angelo were on their feet during the close fourth.
Autry finished with four receptions for 66 yards and a touchdown,
Jordan Thomas added three grabs for 70 yards and
Greg Pitre scored on his lone catch – a 10-yard reception – and added 67 yards on the ground on 11 carries. Freshman
Nick Pelrean rushed for 67 yards on just three attempts, with the bulk coming on a career-long 53 yard rush.
Shawn Vasquez added 60 yards and Mitchell,
Joe Te'o and Carr added touchdown rushes.
Tristan Hernandez pinned two of his seven punts inside the 20.
Defensively,
DeMarcus Spurlock led the way with nine tackles and
Sione Tupouata had his best game in a Javelina uniform with seven and a sack.
Kelechi Amushie registered two pass breakups and
Brandon Jones forced a fumble.
Preseason Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Year Kyle Washington finished with four touchdown passes, going 29-of-37, with the dagger being the 16-yard completion to Trey Green with 11 ticks remaining in the fourth.
The Rams finished with 557 total yards and rallied from behind four times.
When Carr found Autry for the 43-yard scoring play (6:26 remaining), both clubs traded possessions before the Javelinas went three-and-out, giving the Rams a drive start in TAMUK territory with 1:14 left to play.
ASU scored early to take a 12-0 lead, but Mitchell's run after a fumble recovery by
Daniel Ramirez on special teams cut Kingsville's deficit to 12-7 in the first.
A 12 play, 78-yard drive, capped off by a Te'o touchdown gave the Hogs their first lead of the ballgame, 13-12, with 9:35 left in the first half. Angelo added a score in the first half to head into the locker room with an 18-13 edge.
After Ryan Byrd's 4-yard run built ASU's lead to 24-13 less than two minutes into the second half, Carr factored into back-to-back touchdowns for the Javelinas to give TAMUK a 28-24 lead with 4:40 remaining in the third.
The Rams pulled within one after a field goal and the Javelinas would have added to their lead on a 79-yard completion from Carr to J. Thomas, but a penalty was called on TAMUK for having an ineligible man downfield.
Washington took over on a 57-yard drive as ASU overtook the Javelinas, 33-28, with 8:28 remaining.
Carr's connection with Autry with 6:26 to play allowed A&M-Kingsville to take a one-point lead, but the Rams escaped an upset bid by the Hogs to improve to 2-2 in the LSC.
The Javelinas will host its Homecoming Game and Senior Day on Oct. 24 when West Texas A&M enters Javelina Stadium for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
For full coverage of Texas A&M-Kingsville football, please follow @JavelinaFB on Twitter and Instagram, like the official Facebook page of Javelina athletics (/JavelinaFootball), and subscribe to the JavelinaAthletics YouTube channel.
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