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Date: |
Saturday, November 3, 2012 |
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Kickoff: |
2 p.m. |
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Location: |
San Angelo, Texas |
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Stadium: |
San Angelo Stadium |
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Promotion: |
Senior Day
Military Appreciation Day
Toy for Tots (2 tickets for the price of 1)
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Series: |
Angelo State leads 2-0 |
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Video: |
AngeloSports.com Showcase
Subscription Rates: Daily - $5.95 // Monthly - $9.95 // Yearly - $79.95
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Radio: |
KIXY 94.7 FM
Jeremy Bryant (Play-by-Play)
Randy Ward (Color)
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Live Stats: |
AngeloSports.com |
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Tickets: |
(325)942-BLUE or email tickets@angelo.edu
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FULL RELEASE
The Game
The Rams will host the University of the Incarnate Word for their final home game of the 2012 season. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. and it will be Military Appreciation Day and Senior Day at San Angelo Stadium. The Rams hold a 2-0 series advantage.
Incarnate Word
The Cardinals are 2-7 on the season and 1-5 in conference play. Incarnate Word is coached by Larry Kennan who is in his first year. The Cardinals beat Texas College to open its season and then defeated Texas A&M-Commerce, 31-9, for their second victory of the season.
Last Week
Ram quarterback
Michael Cochran, making his first start of the season in place of injured starter
Blake Hamblin, completed 17 of 35 passes for 235 yards with two scores and one interception, ASU could not hold off Texas A&M-Kingsville and fell 35-21 Saturday night at Javelina Stadium.
Career High
Michael Cochran set a new career high in passing yards in his first start of the 2012 season. He completed 17 passes for a career high 235 yards. He hit
Dakarai Pecikonis and
Joey Knight each for his fifth and sixth touchdown career touchdown passes.
Toys for Tots
Fans that bring a new unwrapped toy to the game will receive two tickets for the price of one this weekend. The toys will go to support the Toys for Tots program
Nationally Ranked Pass Defense
The Rams have only allowed 163.13 passing yards per game which sits at No. 15 nationally. Opponents are being held to 87.6 yards less in the air compared to 2011. Abilene Christian is the only team to pass for over 300 yards and five opponents have been held under 200 yards passing.
Senior Day & Military Appreciation
The Ram football program will honor 16 seniors on Saturday prior to the game. The game is also designated as Military Appreciation Day. All members of the armed forces will receive free admission with a military ID.
Seniors
Donovan Roberts
100-Yard Receiving Games
C.J. Akins caught eight balls for 128 yards against Texas A&M-Kingsville and it marks the third time this season he has eclipsed 100 yards receiving. It is the seventh game of his career of 100 receiving yards or more and it is tied for third most in program history.
2,000-Yard Milestone
Dakarai Pecikonis and
C.J. Akins have been the Rams leading receivers all season. The duo are also two of the top receivers in program history. Pecikonis became the fourth player in Ram history to surpass 2,000 receiving yards in a career and Akins became the fifth player against Texas A&M-Kingsville. Pecikonis is currently No. 4 all time with 2,097 yards behind Don Burrell (2,798), Darron Johnson (2,711) and Steve Wilson (2,102). Akins is not far behind as he has 2,074 yards for his career. He is No. 5 on the career list.
100-Yard Rusher
Donovan Roberts carried the ball 14 times for 104 yards against Texas A&M-Commerce for his first 100-yard game of his career for the Rams. It is the first time a Ram running back has eclipsed 100 yards this season. The senior averaged 7.4 yards per carry against the Lions.
Defensive Touchdown
Rush Seaver's 25-yard interception return for a touchdown in the second quarter against the Greyhounds of Eastern New Mexico is the first interception returned for a touchdown since
Terrance Preston performed the feat on Sept 11, 2010.
Ranked Teams Everywhere
No. 13 Midwestern State was the second-straight nationally ranked opponent and the fourth of the season for the Rams. The other ranked opponents include No. 18 Valdosta State, No. 19 Abilene Christian and No. 21 West Texas A&M.
Defensive Player of the Week
Rush Seaver was named LSC Defensive Player of the Week for the week of Sept. 22 after upsetting No. 19 Abilene Christian. The sophomore registered 2.5 sacks, two tackles for loss and led the Rams with eight tackles. He was a part of the defense that limited the Wildcats to nine yards rushing.
Sacks Galore
The Rams pressured the LSC's Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, Mitchell Gale, all game and produced seven sacks for a defense that came in with only two for the season. The seven sacks are the most under defensive coordinator Mike Walton and the most since recording seven against Texas A&M-Commerce back on Sept. 11, 2011.
Beating a Ranked Team
The Rams win over No. 19 Abilene Christian marks the first time Angelo State has defeated a ranked opponent since 2009. ASU beat No. 17 Midwestern State 20-17 on a last second field goal by Ryan Smith.
Answering the Bell
No. 19 Abilene Christian got out to an early 9-0 lead after its first two drives of the game. Trailing in its third-straight game, the Rams were able to fight the adversity. A one-yard run by
Blake Hamblin cut the lead to 9-7 and the defense took up the slack. The Wildcats were held scoreless through the second and third quarters as the Rams scored 28 points en route to a 28-23 victory.
The End of a Rivalry
The rivarly betwen ACU and Angelo Stat started back in 1964 with ACU winning the first meeting 33-22. Over the next 44 years the two teams have faced each other every season except for 1971. The teams have battled twice during a season three times. The Rams have the longest winning streak with 11 straight victories form 1987 to 1995. The Wildcats are winners of the last six games. Abilene Christian is the team the Rams have played the most in program history.
Team Captains
Anchoring the Line
Defensive Stand
The Rams defense held Western State to 175 total yards in its season opening 42-14 win. The 175 yards is the fewest yards allowed by an Angelo State defense since Sept. 19, 2009 when Central Oklahoma only mustered 172 total yards.
Rare Feats
Fans got to see something that the Rams haven't done in quite a while during the Western State game. The first quarter blocked punt by Jared Ross and the scoop and score by
Courtney Moore were both something the Rams haven't accomplished in a while. The last time the Rams blocked a punt was against Texas A&M-Commerce in 2008. Ram fans haven't seen a blocked punt returned for a touchdown since prior to 1999.
Building a Foundation
The 2012 Rams roster will take on a younger look with 73 players being underclassmen. A total of 56 have yet to receive any experience at the collegiate level. The infusion of youth should provide the foundation needed to build success at Angelo State.
Five States Represent the Rams
Five states throughout the United States makeup the Rams football roster. Arizona, Illinois and New Mexico each have one player with California being second most with five. Texas dominates the roster as 93 of the team's 101 players call the Lone Star State home.
Head Coach
Angelo State:
Will Wagner (Hardin-Simmons, '96) in his second season as head coach of the Rams. The Odessa native helped Northwest Missouri State win three national championships as an assistant head coach and defensive backs coach.
Staff Additions
Head coach
Will Wagner added three new coaches to his staff.
Drew Dallas and
Gary Salgado both were promoted from graduate assistant positions. Dallas is the recruiting coordinator and wide receivers coach, while Salgado takesRA over the special teams unit and coach the defensive line. The other new member is offensive line coach
Jay Eilers. Eilers played collegiately at Northwest Missouri State and has 13 years of experience in both the high school and college ranks.
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. He 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.
Follow From Home
If you cannot attend the Angelo State football game, ASU has you covered. Jeremy Bryant will call the game with help from analyst Randy Ward on 94.7 KIXY-FM, which will also be streamed on AngeloSports.com. Live updates will be provided on Angelo State's Facebook page along with its Twitter account, @AngeloSports.
