Angelo State (3-0, 0-0 LSC) at No. 10 Abilene Christian (1-1)
Date	Saturday, Sept. 24
Location	Shotwell Stadium Abilene, 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
Angelo State will be back on the road again Saturday to face the 10th-ranked Abilene Christian  Wildcats. The Rams are coming off their first shutout in nine years after earning a 20-0 victory over Central Oklahoma last weekend. ASU's 3-0 start is the best start since 2005 when the Rams went 5-0 to begin the year. Abilene Christian is coming off a 23-17 loss to then 10th-ranked North Alabama last Saturday in the Lone Star Football Festival at Cowboy Stadium.

The Series
Despite Angelo State holding a 27-19-1 advantage in the all-time series, the Rams have not defeated the Wildcats since their 27-24 victory in 2005. Abilene Christian has won the last five meetings with a combined score of 209 to 76 (41.8 PPG vs 15.2 PPG), but the 2007 victory was later forfeited due to NCAA rules violations. Last year, the Rams jumped out to a 7-3 lead, but ACU scored 13 unanswered points en route to a 33-20 victory. ASU quarterback Josh Neiswander became the Rams all-time leader for completions in a career in the game.

The Coaches
Angelo State: Will Wagner (Hardin-Simmons, '96) begins 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.





Abilene Christian: Chris Thomsen just completed his sixth season as the Wildcats' head coach and has led ACU to a combined 43-18 record in the last five seasons with five straight trips to the NCAA Division II national playoffs. In 2008, the Wildcats won their first Lone Star Conference championship since sharing the crown in 1977 and first outright league title since 1973.

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 1988-89, 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 Rams tackle Rodney Cason.

Family Man
Mike Walton has a lot to be proud of in his short time as Angelo State's defensive coordinator. His wife gave birth to the couple's second child earlier this month, and this past Saturday his other “baby,” the Rams defense, shutout Central Oklahoma 20-0 giving ASU its first shutout since 2002 versus West Texas A&M. The Rams had four takeaways, two sacks and held the Bronchos to 11 net yards rushing -- their lowest rush yards allowed since 2009 against Southwestern Oklahoma.

Scramblin' Hamblin
ASU quarterback Blake Hamblin has provided a spark to the Rams' offensive attack not only with his arm, but with his legs as well. The Rowlett native rushed for 44 and 48 yards in his last two games giving him a total of 83 in the young season. Although it's just three games into the season, the sophomore's 83 yards is the most rushing yards by a Rams' quarterback since Kyle Hardin collected 90 yards in 2003. Hamblin is currently averging 27.7 yards per game on the ground, which puts him on pace to rush for over 300 yards on the season. The last time Angelo State had a quarterback rush for 300+ yards was in 1997 when Erik Hartman rushed for 474.
 
Just For Kicks
After not attempting a field-goal for the first two games, kicker Jarred Martin's number was finally called on Saturday against Central Oklahoma as he booted a 19-yarder through the uprights at the end of the first half to give the Rams their first points of the game. After missing on his second attempt, Martin split the uprights on his final attempt from 33 yards. That distance already surpasses the long from last season (31) and the two field goals made ties with the individual-highs from a year ago.

We're Still Streaking!
With last Saturday's win, the Rams kept another streak intact as they won their seventh-straight home opening game dating back to 2005. Including the last two games of last season, ASU has now won five consecutive games, its longest win streak since 2005 when they won their first five games of the season. Head coach Will Wagner became the fourth straight Angelo State coach to win his first home game.

Long Distance Connection
Last season, wide receiver Joey Knight caught all of one pass, but it was a good one. As a freshman, he hauled in an 86-yarder against Incarnate Word, which tied him for the fourth longest pass reception in school history. His quarterback on the throw? Blake Hamblin, making his only pass of the 2010 season. Perhaps showing a signs of things to come, the two have continued the long distance connection this season, as Knight caught a 46-yard touchdown pass from Hamblin last week against Central Oklahoma to give the Rams their first touchdown of the game. Knight currently leads the team in reception yards with 138 and is averaging 23.0 yards per catch.

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 Bearkats' 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
•    Sept. 24, 2005 - Angelo State vs. Midwestern
Angelo State scored 23 points in the fourth quarter, including the game-winning field goal by JD Williams, with three seconds left to give the Rams a 30-29 comeback victory over Midwestern State. The Rams were down 23-7 with 11:32  left to play before Trey Weishuhn threw two touchdown passes to bring the score to 23-20. After a Midwestern State score, Weishun threw his third score of the quarter to bring ASU back within two with 1:22 left in the game. The Rams recovered the ensuing onside kick to set up Williams' game-winning field goal. Weishuhn finished the game with 308 yards through the air.
    
•    Sept. 24, 1994 - Angelo State at Fort Lewis College
ASU recorded its first victory of 1994, defeating the Fort Lewis College Skyhawks, 52-13, in Durango, Colo. Fort Lewis jumped out to an early lead via a 35-yard interception on the fourth play of the game, but ASU rebounded on the next drive with Mike Jinks connecting with Marcus Maple on a 66-yard touchdown pass. After entering the fourth quarter with the game close at 17-13, the Rams scored 35 unanswered points including a 53-yard touchdown to Maple from quarterback Jason Schlem to put the game out of reach.