KINGSVILLE, Texas – Facing a nine-point deficit just five minutes into the game, the Texas A&M-Kingsville football program trailed wire-to-wire in the 2019 Lone Star Conference opener on Saturday at Pepsi Field at Javelina Stadium against Angelo State and ultimately fell by a score of 44-7.

The Javelinas (1-2, 0-1 LSC) had their first possession end up in a blocked punt that skipped out of the back of the end zone for a safety as the Rams (3-0, 1-0 LSC) built a 23-point cushion at halftime en route to the decision.

The visitors started with the ball to open the game and benefitted from a 46-yard kick return on the opening kickoff to set up their offense at the Hogs' 48 yard line. ASU went the rest of the way in 10 plays to record the first score on a rush from four yards out from Alize Thomas to put the hosts in an early bind.

The ensuing Javelina drive stalled out after three plays and it was the Rams' Austin Robinson who got a hand on the punt attempt to start the mad scramble. The result went in as a safety for ASU and a 9-0 lead at the 9:58 mark of the first quarter.

Both sides exchanged possessions through the remainder of the opening stanza despite TAMUK getting a fumble recovery deep in Ram territory. A backward lateral from Payne Sullins was recovered by senior Ronnie LaRue (Dallas, Texas), but the resulting drive ended up in a 28-yard field goal attempt that ultimately sailed wide of the mark.

ASU tacked on another touchdown with 12:06 showing on the second-quarter clock and added its third score following a turnover-on-downs with 8:19 showing. The Hogs' last possession of the half started at the 1:17 mark and a 34-yard connection between redshirt junior Cade Dyal (Kerrville, Texas) and classmate Darrian Hambrick (Nashville, Tenn.) set up the next best opportunity for the hosts.

Unfortunately, the two attempts at the end zone with eight seconds remaining fell short for the Javelinas with a pass attempt coming just out of reach for Hambrick while a catch from redshirt sophomore Ryan Martinez (Kingsville, Texas) was stopped at the 13 yard line as time expired.

The Rams kept the momentum in their favor early in the third after Sullins found Keke Chism for eight yards at the 9:16 mark, but the Blue and Gold had the response near the end of the stanza after redshirt senior Luis Lopez (San Diego, Texas) rumbled his way for 13 yards to get TAMUK on the board with 1:20 remaining for a 30-7 score.

The lead proved too much to overcome, however, as the ensuing ASU drive spilled over into the fourth with an eight-yard rushing score from Lloyd Howard putting the gap back at 30 points, while a 74-yard strike from Sullins to Chism went in as the final touchdown with 10:07 remaining in the game.

TAMUK had all three of its final drives end up in the visitor's territory, but were unable to convert the tries into points.

Dyal finished with 211 yards through the air on 22 completions but ended up with two interceptions. Hambrick was his favorite target as the transfer from Mt. San Antonio College hauled in five catches for 96 yards to lead the receiving corps.

In total, 10 different Javelinas caught a pass in the contests, with Hambrick, Martinez, and redshirt senior Devin Milburn (Galveston, Texas) all bringing in five receptions.

Lopez was the lone running back to finish with positive net yardage on the ground as he posted 35 yards on 13 carries for one touchdown.

The Hog defense ended up with two turnovers as junior Jacob Clarkson (Houston, Texas) swiped a pass out of the air from Sullins early in the second and returned it for 25 yards. He also finished with three tackles, two for loss.

The defense also added three sacks on the evening, with LaRue and redshirt sophomore Cody Gardner (Spring, Texas) each posting one, while redshirt junior Jimmar Davis (Willis, Texas) and classmate Sesi Salt (Salt Lake City, Utah) split the other.

The Javelinas will head out on the road for the first time in 2019 next week, with a trip to Portales, N.M., on tap for a 7 p.m kickoff against Eastern New Mexico set for Saturday, September 28.

Watch your Javelinas live today on the Javelina Sports Network sponsored by Mendoza's Pharmacy. For more information on Javelina football visit JavelinaAthletics.com, or follow the team on Facebook /JavelinaFootball and on Twitter @JavelinaFB

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