KINGSVILLE, Texas – The Texas A&M-Kingsville football program fell in the season finale on Saturday at Pepsi Field at Javelina Stadium with a 58-19 loss at the hands of Angelo State in the Lone Star Conference matchup.
The Javelinas (5-5, 3-4 LSC) honored their 15 seniors before the game while the Rams (9-2, 5-2 LSC) sprinted out to a commanding lead in the first and never let off the gas en route to the win.
ASU wasted little time moving down the field on its opening drive, completing a 74-yard drive in just under three minutes on a four-yard fade from Zach Bronkhorst to Noah Massey for a 7-0 lead by the 12:06 mark. The Hogs ended up punting away their first possession while the Rams got a four-yard scramble from Bronkhorst on their next drive for a 14-0 cushion.
A 20-yard fumble recovery was in order for the visitors on the next TAMUK trip down the field, extending the lead to 21-0 before seven minutes had elapsed.
The Javelinas finally found purchase on their next possession after junior Wade Freeman (Richmond, Texas) dropped a deep pass to senior Amonte Bowen (Donna, Texas) for 83 yards to crack the egg on the scoreboard. It was the longest reception by a Hog since Jordan Thomas rattled off his 99-yard strike against ASU during the 2017 season on September 30.
The Rams had the response ready after Alfred Grear broke off a 63-yard rush on the next play from scrimmage and the ensuing PAT went for two for a 29-7 Javelina deficit with seven minutes and change to play in the opening quarter.
Things finally slowed down from there as reigning LSC Special Teams Player of the Week redshirt freshman Gilbert Garza (Weslaco, Texas) booted a 27-yard try for a 29-10 score. ASU could not be slowed, unfortunately, with a 37-yard field goal of their own coupled with a touchdown pass from Bronkhorst to Kel Williams and a 49-yard boot to send the Hogs into the locker room down 42-10.
The visitors added to their lead in the third, first on their opening possession courtesy of another touchdown pass from Bronkhorst to Massey, while a three-yard rush from Nathaniel Omayebu pushed the gap to 56-10.
A safety off a fumble at the start of the fourth went in the Javelinas' favor, while a 31-yard pass from redshirt freshman Jacob Cavazos (Weslaco, Texas) to senior Ryan Martinez (Kingsville, Texas) finished the Hogs' scoring on the evening before the Rams got a safety of their own for the 58-19 final.
The Javelinas got 94 yards through the air from Bowen and another 90 from Martinez as both had a score. Freeman added 177 passing yards, while Cavazos finished with 120.
The regular season is officially in the books as TAMUK looks forward to the spring following the first .500 season since 2016.
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