Angelo State (3-1, 0-1 LSC) at Eastern New Mexico (1-3, 0-2 LSC)
Date	Saturday, Oct. 1
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
Angelo State welcomes Lone Star Conference rival Eastern New Mexico to San Angelo Stadium for Family Day. The Greyhounds boast a high-powered, fast-paced offense that averages nearly 84 plays per game. Eastern New Mexico dropped to 1-3 on the year after a 34-28 loss to Tarleton State in Portales, N.M. The Rams look to rebound after last week's 31-17 loss to Abilene Christian. Despite the loss, Angelo State moved the ball efficiently on the 10th-ranked team in the nation. ASU had over 500 yards of total offense, while quarterback Blake Hamblin had a record-breaking performance in his own right. The sophomore set a school record in completions (39) and attempts (67) as he connected with 11 different receivers. He finished the game with 446 yards, which is the second all-time behind Ned Cox's 475-yard performance in 1986.  

The Series
The Rams hold a 22-12-1 all-time mark against Eastern New Mexico, including a thrilling 41-38 come-from-behind win in last year's season opener. Trailing 38-34 with 2:30 left in the game, the Rams orchestrated a five-play, 54-yard drive that was capped off by 9-yard touchdown pass to Tristan Carter with just 0:32 on the clock to put ASU in front 41-38. Angelo State enters Saturday's contest with five consecutive wins over ENMU, but the two programs have been evenly matched as Eastern New Mexico rattled off four wins of its own over the Rams from 2002-2005.  

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.

Eastern New Mexico: Mark Ribaudo (Arizona, '88) enters his seventh season as the Greyhound's head coach after serving as an assistant coach at ENMU for eight years, including time 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 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.

Move Over, Mr. Neiswander
One of Angelo State's biggest question marks coming into the season was who would be following in the footsteps of record-setting quarterback Josh Neiswander. After four games, not only has Blake Hamblin made the transition a smooth one, but he's also carved his name into the Rams' record books. Hamblin set the record for completions and attempts in a single game last Saturday against Abilene Christian going 39-for-67 (.582) and breaking both marks that were held by Neiswander, who himself set the record a year ago going 37-for-60 (.617) at Southeastern Oklahoma. Hamblin also threw for 446 yards against the Wildcats, the second best mark in ASU history behind Ned Cox's 475 yards in 1986 versus Texas A&M-Kingsville.

Spreading the Wealth
Angelo State has been without the services of All-Lone Star Conference receiver Dakarai Pecikonis all season due to injury, but the Rams have used a receiver-by-committee to makeup for his absence. The Rams have had a different receiver lead the team in catches in each of the four games. Redshirt freshman Makenzie Hirt became the latest to lead the team with his eight grabs for 100 yards last Saturday. Hirt was one of 11 different receivers who caught a pass in last weekend's game, and is one of six Ram receivers who have over 10 catches.
 
Familiar Foe
Angelo State's defensive coordinator Mike Walton knows a thing or two about this week's opponent, Eastern New Mexico. Walton had a distinguished career as a player for the Greyhounds from 1996-1999, where he was  a three-time All-Lone Star Conference player and a two-time All American as their starting middle linebacker, setting the career tackles record at 515. After graduating with  a bachelor's in 2000, Walton was a member of Eastern New Mexico's coaching staff from 2000-2007, serving as defensive coordinator in 2006 and 2007. Walton is not the only one with ties to ENMU, as current ASU linebacker coach Gary Saligado served as the Greyhounds LB coach in 2010 as he earned his master's degree in sports administration.

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. 1, 2005 - Angelo State at Eastern New Mexico
ASU's five-game winning streak screeched to a halt at the hands of Eastern New Mexico, 38-14. The Rams' offense could only muster 191 yards of total offense including just 47 on the ground as the Greyhound's defense held Angelo State to its lowest offensive output for the season. ASU took a 14-7 lead late in the fourth quarter on a touchdown pass from Trey Weishuhn to Justin Carter before ENMU scored 31-unanswered points. Safety Jason Brittain led the Rams' defense with 17 total tackles on the day.
    
•    Oct. 1, 1994 - Angelo State vs. Tarleton State
ASU started the league race on the right note, defeating provisional LSC member Tarleton State, 52-42. The Rams never trailed in the contest and set the then-record for most combined points in a game. Angelo State scored early on an 8-yard run by Peris'he Moore after an interception by Anthony Butler. The Texans' Kevin Vickers countered just 1:20 later with an 18-yard TD rush, but kicker Sammy Bridges would convert a 37-yard field goal to put the Rams in front for good. Moore had three total touchdowns on the day - two rushing, one receiving - marking his second straight three touchdown game.

Player to Watch
Tristan Carter leads the Rams' rushing attack with 322 yards and has already eclipsed the 100-yard mark once this season. The Greyhounds are surrendering 224.5 yards on the ground, so look for the Tucker, Ga., native to have another big game. In last year's contest against ENMU, Carter rushed for 118 yards, and became the first Ram player to rush for 100 yards since the 2008 season.