ALPINE, Texas — Adams State football cut a 16-point halftime deficit to six during the third quarter, but Sul Ross State answered with a pair of explosive touchdowns and pulled away for a 53-26 victory Friday night at Jackson Field.
The loss moved Adams State to 0-2, while Sul Ross State improved to 1-1. The Grizzlies finished with 346 yards of total offense, including 173 rushing and 173 passing, and scored on all five of their trips inside the red zone.
Sul Ross State opened the scoring with a 7-yard touchdown run from Will Howell, but Adams State responded on its first possession. The Grizzlies marched 75 yards in six plays, with Andre Branch finishing the drive on a 4-yard touchdown run. Ant Arnusch converted the extra point to give Adams State a 7-6 lead with 6:02 remaining in the first quarter.
The Lobos took control during the second quarter. Howell threw three touchdown passes in the period, including scoring strikes of 29 yards to Taribb Ramirez, 6 yards to Ronald Bell and 5 yards to Will Craven, as Sul Ross State built a 26-7 advantage.
Adams State found points before halftime behind a quick drive sparked by Frank Arcuri's 44-yard completion to Traven Vigenser, moving the Grizzlies from their own 46 to the Sul Ross State 10. Arnusch eventually finished the possession with a 23-yard field goal, cutting the deficit to 26-10 with 33 seconds remaining in the half.
The Grizzlies came out of halftime with their strongest stretch of the game.
Branch opened the third quarter with a 15-yard run, helping Adams State put together a 10-play, 73-yard scoring drive. Gabel McFarland capped the possession with a 1-yard touchdown run, and Arnusch's extra point made it 26-17.
The Adams State defense then created an opportunity almost immediately. Rashad Madden fumbled on Sul Ross State's first play of the ensuing possession, and the Grizzlies recovered at the Lobos' 32-yard line.
Adams State turned the takeaway into points when Arnusch connected on a 43-yard field goal, his second make of the night, cutting Sul Ross State's advantage to just 26-20 with 7:19 left in the third quarter.
The Lobos responded with two quick scoring strikes to regain control. Howell connected with Craven for a 71-yard touchdown with 6:04 remaining in the third before the duo struck again less than two minutes later on an 88-yard touchdown. The two scores stretched the Sul Ross State lead from six to 20 at 40-20.
Adams State added its final touchdown early in the fourth quarter. James Coby finished a 75-yard possession with a 6-yard touchdown run to bring the Grizzlies within 43-26. Coby finished with 52 rushing yards and a touchdown on seven carries, including a 23-yard run.
Branch led Adams State's rushing attack with 78 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries, averaging 5.6 yards per attempt. He also caught one pass for 13 yards. McFarland added a rushing touchdown, while the Grizzlies finished with three scores on the ground.
In the passing game, Arcuri completed 7 of 15 attempts for 114 yards, while Jett Lewis added 59 yards. Vigenser led the receiving corps with 93 yards on two catches, while Garret O'Brien caught four passes for 53 yards.
Arnusch accounted for eight points, finishing 2-for-2 on field goals with makes from 23 and 43 yards while also converting both of his extra-point attempts.
Defensively, Benjamin Rodriguez and Zachary Ray each recorded six tackles. Rodriguez added a sack and tackle for loss, while Ray was involved in multiple tackles behind the line of scrimmage. Blake George also recorded a blocked kick for the Grizzlies.
Sul Ross State finished with 656 yards of offense, led by Howell's 423 passing yards and five touchdown passes. Craven accounted for 280 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 11 receptions.
Up Next
The Grizzlies travel to Spearfish, S.D to play in their first RMAC conference game of the season against the Black Hills State University Yellow Jackets. Saturday, September 12, 2026. Kickoff is at 1p.m
