September 7th, 2024 7:30pm
September 7, 2024-Emporia State held #24 Angelo State without a touchdown on the way to a 17-12 victory on Saturday afternoon on Jones Field at Welch Stadium. The Hornets held the Rams to one of 20 on third down an had two fourth down stops in the fourth quarter.
Both teams struggled offensively to start the gam with punts on the first four combined possessions. Emporia State took over at their own 34 yard line with 7:12 left in the first quarter and Gunnar Gundy's first down pass was deflected and intercepted by Eric Rascoe to set the Rams up at the ESU 24 with 7:04 left in the quarter. The Hornet defense stiffened up and held the Rams to a 26 yard field goal with 5:12 remaining in the quarter.
After Emporia State went three and out on offense, the defense forced a three and out by Angelo State only to give the ball back to the Rams when Cade Fuller's punt was muffed by Ethan Schultze and recovered at midfield by Xavier Walton with 3:13 left in the quarter. The Rams got down to the ESU nine yard line but Lavon Jones got a tackle for loss on first down before two incompletions forced another field goal. Bradley Larson hit from 27 yards to make it 6-0 Angelo State with 50 seconds left in the quarter. The teams traded punts on the next two drives before Andrew Pitts scooped a Gundy pass just off the turf for the Rams second interception of the half.