Angelo State (3-3, 0-3 LSC) at (15) Midwestern State  (5-0, 4-0 LSC)
Date	Saturday, Oct. 15
Location	San Angelo Stadium San Angelo, Texas
Kickoff	6 p.m.
Game Notes	Game Notes
Radio	KIXY 94.7 FM Jeremy Bryant // Play-by-Play   Randy Ward // Analyst
Live Stats	Click Here

The Game
The Angelo State Rams have shown they can keep pace with the top teams in the Lone Star Conference, which also happens to include a pair of the top teams in the country, but ASU hasn't been able to post a win in LSC play. As the season passes its midpoint, ASU will get another shot at a premiere opponent and a chance at notching an LSC win, as the Rams host No. 15 Midwestern State at San Angelo Stadium for Homecoming at 6 p.m.
 
The Series
Midwestern State leads the all-time series, 8-5, and has won four of the last five meetings. The Rams' last win came in 2009, when ASU upset the then-No. 15 Mustangs at San Angelo Stadium, 20-17, on a last second field goal from Ryan Smith. The two teams first met in 1946 when both schools were junior colleges. The series was revived in 1997, and the Rams won the first of three consecutive meetings before Midwestern State surged ahead with wins in 2002, '03 and '04.
 
The Coaches
Angelo State: Will Wagner (Hardin-Simmons, '96) continues his first year as head coach of the Rams after serving at Northwest Missouri State for 12 years. The Odessa native helped the Bearcats win three national championships as an assistant head coach and defensive backs coach.
 
Midwestern State: Bill Maskill (Southeast Oklahoma, '98) is in his 12th season as a head coach and in his 10th year at Midwestern State. Under Maskill's guidance, MSU has advanced to the NCAA Division II postseason in 2004, 2006, 2009 and 2010, and has an overall record of 74-31.

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 D-II playoff appearances and produced 57 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 and 1989, 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 Rams' tackle Rodney Cason.
 
This Week's Opponent
Midwestern State is located in Wichita Falls, Texas, and has an enrollment of 6,400. The university was founded in 1922, and like Angelo State began as a two-year college. The Mustangs are members of the Lone Star Conference and finished the 2010 season campaign 8-3, but 3-3 in the LSC SouthDivision. Midwestern State is looking to improve to 6-0, which would equal the best start since 1949. MSU's rushing attack features four of the top-six rushers in the LSC, who all rank in the top 100 in the nation.
 
No Longer Runner-up
After four consecutive losses at Homecoming, the Rams cruised to 61-17 win over Incarnate Word a year ago. Former ASU quarterback Josh Neiswander threw for a season-best 385 yards en route to the program's second high point total. Angelo State looks to continue its winning ways against No. 15 Midwestern State for this year's Homecoming contest.
 
Stick With Me
Alvin Johnson has earned the nickname “Stick” for being one of the Rams best defensive backs. The junior captain continues to pace the secondary, as he has a team best four pass breakups and a team-high 41 tackles. Against No. 10 Abilene Christian, Stick led the defense with 9.5 tackles including seven solo. 
 
Over the Hill
The Mustangs have scored 40 points or more in every game this season, highlighted by their 63-point performance against Texas A&M-Commerce at Cowboys Stadium (9/17). Midwestern State's potent offense - which ranks fourth in the nation - averages more than 300 rushing yards per game. Angelo State's front four will have their work cut out for them, but embrace the challenge. Last week the Rams held No. 17 West Texas A&M's offense to just 19 points total points when the Buffs had been averaging 40.5.
 
Akin For the Ball
Wide receiver C.J. Akins has hauled in a team-best 23 receptions for 420 yards in just five games this season. The Haker Heights native is averaging 18.3 yards per catch and 84.0 yards per game. Akins also has a team-best 105.2 all purpose yards, as the junior is also back deep on kickoffs.
 
At a Loss
Defensive end Lawrence Rumph has made an immediate impact in the Rams' defense. The senior Texas Tech transfer leads the Lone Star Conference in tackles for loss at 1.70 per game, which is 23rd in the nation. In his first game wearing the blue and gold, Rumph had two sacks in the first half against Western State, then had 1.5 more in his second outing. On the year, Rumph has 6.5 sacks and a conference best 3.0 in LSC games.
 
Tip of the Cap, Friend
ASU head coach Will Wagner and assistant head coach Theron Aych will wear red visors to honor Scott Bostwick this season after their friend and colleague suffered a heart attack and passed away in June. Wagner coached with Bostwick who was the defensive coordinator at Northwest Missouri State for 17 years before being named the Bearcats' head coach in January.
 
“Coach Bostwick was like a brother to me,” Wagner said. “We coached together for 13 years and I learned a lot about defensive football from him. He had the biggest heart; he would drop everything he was doing to help you out. He was a great coach, mentor and friend who never lived out his dream of leading the Bearcats out onto the field as their head coach, and that's a shame. Bostwick was famous in the MIAA and around D-II football for wearing a red hat on the sidelines so the defensive players could spot him easily. I am grateful for all he did for me and I wear this red hat to honor him.”
 
On This Day
•  Oct. 15, 1994 - Angelo State at Abilene Christian
The Rams stayed in the hunt for the league title by defeating Abilene Christian, 12-5. The Rams came out in the second half and scored on a 36-yard quarterback draw by Jinks to go up 12-3 after a failed two-point conversion. The ASU's defense held the Wildcats' offense scoreless for the rest of the game, with their only points coming on an Angelo State safety. Greg Stokes earned LSC's Defensive Player of the Week honors after recording 21 tackles, three TFL's, two sacks and an interception.
        
•  Oct. 15, 2005 - Angelo State vs. Northeastern State
After a scoreless first quarter, Angelo State crossed the goal line three times in the second  quarter and jumped to a 21-7 lead at the break. The Rams would score four more touchdowns in the second half and cruise to a 49-20 win over Northeastern State. The Rams recorded 464 yards of total offense including 253 on the ground with 104 of those yards coming from Kyle Fox. Quarterback Trey Weishuhn threw for three scores, with the first coming in the second quarter to Justin Carter to give ASU its first points of the game.

Player to Watch // C.J. Akins >>
C.J. Akins is the Rams' leading receiver on the season with 23 catches for 430 yards. The Harker Heights native is coming off a 125-yard, one touchdown performance last week against nationally ranked West Texas A&M. The junior wide out is averaging 18.3 yards per catch and has two touchdowns this year,