September 6th, 2025 11:00pm
SAN ANGELO, Texas – The 10th-ranked Angelo State football team opened the home slate of the 2025 season with a 41-20 win over Emporia State on Saturday at LeGrand Stadium at 1st Community Credit Union Field.
With the win, the Rams improved to 2-0 on the season as they wrapped up nonconference play.
The Rams jumped out on top early, scoring three touchdowns in just over two minutes. Braeden Fuller found Corey Sandolph on an 80-yard touchdown pass for the first score of the game.
On the next drive, Demetrius Charles intercepted the Hornets before returning it 21 yards for the score. He followed up with another interception moments later, setting up a three-yard touchdown run by Kaeden Smith.
ASU extended its lead to 27-0 with just under five minutes to go in the first quarter as Smith tossed a 3-yard touchdown pass to Hunter Wallis.
After ending the opening quarter with a field goal, the Hornets scored their first touchdown of the game midway through the second quarter, scoring on a 16-yard pass. ESU added another field goal to make it 27-12 at the break.
Smith finished with 132 passing yards and two passing touchdowns while adding 60 yards on the ground. Smith connected with Wallis again in the fourth quarter, scoring on a 37-yard pass to extend the lead.
Wallis tallied 78 yards on three catches while Sandolph finished with two catches for 84 yards.
The Rams collected four interceptions on the night, with Xavier Walton also picking off the Hornets twice, extending their streak to 17 straight games with a pick.
ASU's defense held ESU to only 51 yards rushing and gave up only five third-down conversions on the night.
Cameron Dischler capped off the scoring for the night, pushing his way into the end zone on a one-yard run. He totaled 71 yards on 19 carries while Jayden Jones averaged 5.2 yards per carry for 57 yards on 11 attempts.
The Rams are back on the road next week as they travel to Eastern New Mexico on Saturday, Sept. 13, to begin Lone Star Conference play.