GUNNISON, Colo. The No. 11 Mountaineers regained the lead with a pair of second-half touchdowns, then held off visiting Angelo State to notch a 23-21 non-conference victory Thursday night in Western Colorado's home opener at Mojo Field in Mountaineer Bowl at the Rady Family Sports Complex.
The win over Angelo State was the Mountaineers' first after starting the series with an 0-6 record against the Rams.
Western trailed 14-9 entering the halftime break but scored once in the third quarter and early in the fourth quarter before the visiting Rams brought the final score closer with their own touchdown with six minutes remaining.
JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Western def. Angelo State, 23-21
Records: Western 2-0, Angelo State 0-2
Location: Mojo Field in Mountaineer Bowl at the Rady Family Sports Complex, Gunnison, Colo.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Western took the opening kickoff and embarked on a 8 minute, 40 seconds, 63-yard drive that culminated in a JT Miller 28-yard field goal. However, Angelo State answered with a quick drive that went 75 yards in just over three minutes to wrest away the lead.
- A touchdown pass from ASU's Ayden Arp to Alan Dobbins early in the second half pushed the Rams' advantage to 14-3, but Western went 70 yard in 13 plays to add another Miller field goal, then finished the half with a 21-yard Miller field goal to draw within a touchdown as the two teams broke into their halftime locker rooms.
- The Western defense stepped up on ASU's opening drive of the third quarter, holding the Rams to a single yard and forcing a punt. Starting at its own 45 following the kick, the Mountaineers moved downfield to regain the lead with Josiah Roy's 35-yard touchdown pass to DJ Allen Jr.
- The outcome of the game effectively turned on Angelo State's opening drive of the fourth quarter when Arp fumbled at the Rams' 15 yard line and was recovered by Caden Caumpuzano at the ASU 12.
- Roy rushed for three yards on first down then tossed a short pass slightly behind Damien Nevil on second down, but Nevil reached back with his right hand to snare the pass, then raced to the pylon for a touchdown that pushed Western's advantage to nine.
- Western was hoping to eat up some clock with a couple of first downs, but Angelo State's defense held firm and forced a punt. Unfortunately, a botched play on the snap resulted in a failed fourth down, turning the ball over to the Rams on downs at the Western 25, and ASU took advantage of the short field to push across a touchdown in three plays.
- The Mountaineers earned one first down after the ASU kickoff but had to punt the ball away, and this time Zac Grable pinned the Rams back at their own 1 yard line after Blake Kramer downed it just shy of the goal line.
- Angelo State dug itself out of its hole and approached midfield but a third-down sack of Arp by Ian Loomis and Jerry Witty was followed by a Caden Campuzano sack that ended ASU's comeback attempt.
MOJO NOTES
- Western would out gain the Rams for the game, 324-288, including 194 rushing yards led by wide receiver Caden Measner's 48 yards.
- The ground attack was necessary as ASU held Western's air attack to just 130 yards, though both of Western's touchdown came from the arm of Roy.
- Campuzano totaled nine tackles to lead the Mountaineer defense, including a pair of sacks and his fumble recovery. Loomis also finished with nine tackles and earned a half-sack.
THEY SAID IT
UP NEXT
Western jumps into Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action with its next game, a 6 p.m. home game Sat., Sept. 12 against visiting Chadron State College (1-1).
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