The Game
Angelo State opens the 2010 season at home Saturday, when the Rams welcome former Lone Star Conference South Division rival Eastern New Mexico to San Angelo Stadium. The Greyhounds may have jumped to the LSC North Division, but they haven't changed their mode of operation from a season ago, boasting a high-powered, fast-paced offense. Eastern New Mexico rattled off 513 yards in a 59-21 win over Southern Nazarene in Portales, N.M., to open the season. The Ram defense will be tested early as they look for a way to shut down quarterback Wesley Wood and wide out Jesse Poku, who hauled in 10 passes en route to becoming ENMU's all-time leading receiver. Offensively, the Rams will counter with senior quarterback Josh Neiswander, who set an ASU single season passing mark last season, and returning wide outs V'Keon Lacey (the LSC's pass receptions leader from a year ago) and Dakarai Pecikones (2009 LSC Freshman of the Year).
The Series
The Rams hold a 21-12-1 all-time mark against Eastern New Mexico, including a 47-23 win over the Greyhounds in Portales, N.M., last fall. Angelo State enters Saturday's contest with four consecutive wins over ENMU, but the two programs have been evenly matched in recent history, splitting the last 10 contests. Eastern New Mexico rattled off four wins of its own over the Rams from 2002-2005.
The Coaches
Angelo State: Dale Carr (Colorado State, '76) took over the ASU program in 2005 and has guided the Rams to a 23-31 overall mark, including a NCAA Division II postseason appearance in his first season. Carr was previously head coach at Tyler Junior College.
Eastern New Mexico: Mark Ribaudo (Arizona, '88) enters his sixth season as the Greyhound's head coach, after serving as an assistant coach at ENMU for eight years, including a stint as the team's defensive coordinator from 1998-2004. It is Ribaudo's first head coaching position.
The Program
Angelo State won the NAIA National Championship in 1978 and has won three Lone Star Conference Championships (1978, 1984, 1987). The Rams have seen five NCAA DII playoff appearances and produced 55 All-Americans. Angelo State has sent 11 student-athletes on to successful NFL careers, including Pierce Holt, who earned two Super Bowl rings with the San Francisco 49ers in 1988-89, was a two-time Pro Bowl selection and was inducted into the NCAA Division II Football Hall of Fame in 2000. Legendary Baylor head coach Grant Teaff coached at ASU, and has been inducted into the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame with Holt and former Ram tackle Rodney Cason.
This Week's Opponent
Eastern New Mexico is located in Portales, N.M., and has an enrollment of 4,685. Founded in 1934, the Greyhounds are now members of the North Division of the Lone Star Conference after making the jump during the offseason. Eastern New Mexico hasn't won a conference game in four years, but earned back-to-back LSC South Divisional titles in 1999 and 2000 along with the outright conference title in 1991. The Greyhounds have seven All-LSC student-athletes returning this season.
Ties with Eastern New Mexico
• Eastern New Mexico saftey Linvel Mosby and linebacker Joey Mendez both played for Angelo State defensive coordinator Matt Fryar at Odessa Permian High School. Angelo State's Stephen Boyles and Keith Davis are also Permian High products.
• ASU senior offensive lineman Aaron Simon is a former high school teammate of ENMU linebacker Devin Sweet and running back Stefan Mills. All three are from Clovis, N.M., and attended Clovis High School.
• Simon is Angelo State's only player from New Mexico. Conversely, Eastern New Mexico's roster boasts 68 players from the state of Texas and 39 from New Mexico.
• B.J. Davis (ASU) and Rhett Sain (ENMU) both hail from Sudan, Texas.
• Nick Alejandro (ASU) and Todd Davis (ENMU) went to Fredericksburg (Texas) High School.
• Angelo State's B.J. Bradley and Erik Hunsaker, and Eastern's Tyler Wencka call Shertz, Texas, home and attended Clemens High School.
• The Rams' Paul Mason attended Wichita Falls Rider High School along with Eastern New Mexico's Michael Besch. ASU's C.J. Akin played at Harker Height's High School with the Greyhounds' Christopher Henry and Matt Kalisch.
• Angelo State assistant soccer coach Stephanie Sanchez played four seasons on the Zia soccer team while earning her undergraduate degree.
Opening Up
Angelo State snapped a two-year cold spell on opening day in 2009, topping Texas A&M-Commerce, 21-7, at San Angelo Stadium. They'll look to keep that trend alive Saturday against Eastern New Mexico and keep Dale Carr - 3-2 in season openers at ASU - on the good side of the ledger. ASU is 25-20-1 all-time in season openers. Prior to Carr's arrival, the Rams had lost four consecutive season-opening contests.
Getting Things Going in Our House
There's no place like home for Angelo State. The Rams have won their last five home-opening match-ups, including last season's 21-7 win over the Lions. The Rams are 35-11 all-time in home debuts, and haven't lost an opener in San Angelo under the watch of Dale Carr.
Rams are Cotton Bowl Bound
Angelo State is bound for the Cotton Bowl, as the Rams match-up Sept. 11 against Texas A&M-Commerce in the Harvey Martin Classic. This marks the third-annual event to recognize the former East Texas State and Dallas Cowboys standout, Harvey Martin, who was recently selected for induction into the Lone Star Conference Hall of Honor. The game will kickoff at 5 p.m. Angelo State University is hosting a reception Friday, Sept. 10, from 6-8 p.m., at the Doubletree Campbell Centre, and will host a pregame tailgate party Saturday from 1-4 p.m., outside the Cotton Bowl at Fair Park.
Neiswander, Like No ASU QB Before?
Angelo State senior quarterback Josh Neiswander took a Sharpie to the Rams' single season record book last season, setting new highs for pass completions (242), pass attempts (388), passing yards (2,933), touchdowns (25) and completion percentage (62.4). Neiswander enters the 2010 campaign with 5,229 career passing yards, the third-highest total ever by an ASU signal caller. The Winnsboro, Texas, native needs 777 yards to catch Erik Hartman (1994-97) for second all-time at 6,006. The top spot is held by Ned Cox (1983-86), who passed for 7,833 yards in his career - a number within reach (2,604 to tie) if Neiswander has a similar season to 2009.
Getting Yards in Bunches
It takes more than a couple good games to move into third all-time on a school's passing charts and Josh Neiswander has had certainly had his share. Neiswander posted the third-highest single-game passing effort in school history at Eastern New Mexico (Oct. 3) last season, completing 29-of-47 attempts for 403 yards. Neiswander posted another top-10 performance with 341 yards against Southeastern Oklahoma two weeks later. In all, Neiswander has four of the top 20 single-game passing efforts in ASU history.
Small, but Mighty
At 5 feet 5 inches, 5 feet 7 inches, and 5 feet 9 inches, Angelo State's top three tailbacks might be the most diminutive in stature on the roster. Don't be fooled by their size, however, as the trio will play a huge role as the Rams look to build upon a 6-5 mark in 2009 and make a splash in the Lone Star Conference. Transfers Samir Baker, Nevin Gardiner and Tristan Carter did their best to prove that tailback will be the most improved aspect of ASU football. The Rams finished near the middle of the pack with 127.7 yards per contest last season. Baker, a native of Euless, Texas, arrived on campus in the spring after spending his first season at Alcorn State. Gardiner and Carter both played at California junior colleges last season.
Bayless is Back
Wide outs V'Keon Lacey and Dekarai Pecikones were on the receiving end of a significant portion of Angelo State's passing attempts last season and didn't mind the action, but quarterback Josh Neiswander will have another reliable target this fall with the return of 6-foot-5 tight end Nate Bayless. The redshirt junior missed the 2009 season while battling non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. A native of Burkburnett, Texas, Bayless played in eight games and caught 10 passes during the 2008 season. Two of those catches were for scores. Bayless and fellow tight end Bradan Ritchey offer Neiswander a sizeable option on check-downs.
Changing His Game
After spending his first two seasons as a running back, Austin Benson will return to the grid iron in 2010, but this season as a linebacker. The Del Rio High School product rushed for 156 yards and five touchdowns for the Rams last season helping them to a 6-5 overall mark. Benson saw action in all 11 games last season, while starting in three. The switch to linebacker looks to be a positive one for Benson, a hard-nosed, six-foot redshirt sophomore, who collected a season-high 39 yards on 15 carries with a pair of touchdowns at Southeastern Oklahoma (Oct. 17). Benson is projected to compete for a starting role at middle linebacker.
Lone Star Conference Freshman of the Year Returns
After being named Lone Star Conference South Division Freshman of the Year, sophomore wide receiver Dakarai Pecikonis looks to build on his remarkable inaugural season with the Rams. The Allen, Texas, native was also named to the All-LSC South Division Offensive Second Team after accumulating 35 receptions and 757 yards with seven touchdowns for Angelo State. Pecikonis led the team with 121 punt-return yards, while his 204 kick-off return yards were good for second on the squad.
Team Leader
V'Keon Lacey quickly made an impact at Angelo State after transferring from Cisco Junior College. Last season, the Arlington, Texas, native, started all 11 games at wide receiver leading the Rams with 74 catches, 878 yards and 10 touchdowns. His impressive statistics were enough to earn him All-LSC South Division Offensive Second Team accolades. The 6-4 senior notched a season-high 11 catches at then-No. 17 Texas A&M-Kingsville (Nov. 7). He also accumulated a season-best 150 yards along with a 39-yard reception at Texas State on Sept. 5. Lacey's reception total led the LSC and broke ASU's 41-year-old single-season receptions record (56), formerly held by Don Burell (1968).
