SAN ANGELO – The Tarleton football team started the season 1-5 and looked destined for a bottom-dwelling season in the Lone Star Conference. Something changed in the Texans' mentality after the sixth game and Tarleton went on to run the table the rest of the year, capping things off with a 28-23 at Angelo State this Saturday.

Tarleton and Angelo State were two evenly matched teams entering the contest, and it showed through the first 11 minutes of the game as both teams jockeyed for position.

Defensive back Desmond Jackson made the first big play of the game when he intercepted his fourth pass of the season and took it back 88-yards for the touchdown.  This came at an opportune time as the Rams threatened inside the red zone.  Jose Serrano's extra point made it a 7-0 ball game at the 3:56 mark in the first quarter.

The Texans added to their lead at the beginning of the second quarter when running back Courtney Vaughn capped off a three play, 55-yard drive with an eight-yard rushing touchdown, extending Tarleton's lead to 14-0.

Before the second quarter would run out though, Angelo State answered with a score of their own when Tristan Carter ran it in from 10 yards out.  The Jarred Martin extra point made it 14-7 at the half.

As the second half got underway, the Rams didn't take long to erase the Texans' advantage when Carter scored his second touchdown of the game after breaking off a 70-yard run against a shocked Tarleton defense.

That motivated the Texan offense though as Nick Stephens hooked up with Vaughn for a 13-yard touchdown pass.  Blake Wiest nailed the extra point, giving Tarleton a seven-point lead once again.

The Texans entered the fourth quarter with a slight advantage in what was possibly the final 15 minutes of action for the Tarleton seniors.  That lead became even slighter when Angelo State converted on a 20-yard field goal attempt, making it a 21-17 contest.

On the next drive however, Tarleton would add to their lead once again when Stephens rushed from one yard out, capping off a drive that went nine plays and 76 yards over 4:28.

The Rams began their comeback with under three minutes left in the game and scored on an 18-yard pass from Nate Bayless to Jake Strickler.  Unfortunately for Angelo State, it was too late as the Texans went on to win 28-23.

Nick Stephens finished the game 26-of-43 with 387 yards and a touchdown.  With the game, the Flower Mound native surpassed 3,000 yards passing on the season. 

Vaughn led both the rushers and the receivers with 28 yards rushing and a score and 84 yards receiving and a score.

Marquis Wadley led the defense once again with 12 tackles, while Desmond Jackson added 10 and a pick and Matt Knicky added 10.  Logan Johnson also had four sacks in the game.

Tarleton finished the year as winners of their last five games and a 6-5 overall record.  They also had a 5-3 LSC mark, which was good enough for fourth place.

For more information regarding the Tarleton football program, check out TarletonSports.com