The Game
The Rams will be on the road for the second-straight week to take on McMurry University in Abilene at Wilfred Moore Stadium. It will be the first meeting between the two schools since 1971. The game will be carried locally on KWFR 101.9FM The Fire with Jeremy Bryant (play-by-play) and Daniel Ramirez (analysis) on the call.
 
McMurry University
The War Hawks are provisional members of NCAA Division II and will become Lone Star Conference members in football next season. Mason Miller leads the War Hawks and is 1-3 in his first season as head coach. McMurry won its first game last week over Oklahoma Pandhandle State 53-27.
 
Series History
The series started in 1964 with the Rams winning the first meeting 18-13. The two teams played each other from 1964-1971. McMurry has the longest winning streak with four straight from 1965-1968. ASU has won the last three meeting with the last being a 48-3 win in 1971 but are 2-2 in Abilene.
 
Defensive Takeaways
The Ram defense has a streak of takeaways dating back to September of 2012. The defense has been able to force a turnover in 12 straight games. The streak started with a fumble and interception against Abilene Christian and hasn't stopped.  Overall the Rams have forced 20 turnovers during the streak. Ryan Clapsaddle was able to grab an interception for the second-straight week against Valdosta State to continue the streak.
 
Rams on the Road
Angelo State has a record of 117-138-5 on the road. The Rams are 5-5 on the road the last two seasons including a 4-2 road record in 2011.
 
Last Three Opponents
The Rams have seen a talented group of opponents over the last three weeks. No. 1 Valdosta State, No. 5 Colorado State-Pueblo and No. 22 Tarleton State are a combined 10-0 this season.  The three teams are averaging 39.8 points per game and limiting teams to 19 points per game.
Missing Touchdown
The Rams were held without a touchdown in the 37-3 loss to Valdosta State for the first time since 2008. West Texas A&M was the last team to hold ASU without a touchdown back in 2008. 
 
Rushing Attack
Jermie Calhoun and Kyle Washington are leading the potent Rams rushing attack this season. Calhoun is No. 3 in the Lone Star Conference averaging 97.0 yards per game while Washington is No. 5 with 80.8 yards per game. ASU is the No. 1 rushing offense in the LSC. 
 
Top 15 Nationally
The Rams rushing attack is No. 13 nationally at 260.0 yards per game. It is currently 136.3 yards per game more than last season. The last time Angelo State rushed for more than at least 200 yards per game in a season was in 1989.
 
Secret Weapon
Sam Fowler is quietly having a strong start to the season. The sophomore punter has booted it 27 times this season for 1,209 yards. He is averaging 44.8 yards per punt, No. 8 nationally, and has put 12 punts inside the 20. The Crosby native had seven punts over 50 yards including a season long of 70 against CSU-Pueblo.
 
Rare Feat
The running back duo of Jermie Calhoun and Blake Smith both rushed for over 100  yards last Saturday.  Calhoun's 103 yards was the second most in a game this season for the senior while the 104 for Blake Smith was a career high. It marks the first time two Rams have rushed for over 100 yards in a game since Oct. 5, 1993.
 
Strength of Schedule
The Rams will face some quality teams and six of those being away from San Angelo Stadium. Four opponents made the NCAA Division II playoffs and five are currently ranked.  No. 1 Valdosta State won the 2012 NCAA Division II national championship and No. 4 West Texas A&M advancing to the semifinals. No. 5 Colorado State-Pueblo was ranked No. 1 for a majority of the 2012 season and Midwestern State was ranked throughout 2012. Tarleton State has jumped up to No. 23 this week. 
 
Career Firsts
Alex Young became the fourth Ram this season to score their first career touchdown. The senior caught a 15-yard pass from Kyle Washington in the first quarter against Tarleton State. He adds his name to players who have scored their first career touchdowns this season along with Brett Rasberry, Zane Hernandez and Warren Truesdale.
 
Plays from Scrimmage
Kyle Washington's 78-yard scamper for a touchdown to open up the third quarter against Colorado State-Pueblo is the longest play from scrimmage this season. The rush is the longest since Daniel Thomas scored on an 87-yard run against Abilene Christian on Oct. 11, 2008.
 
Interception Return
Rush Seaver scored his second career touchdown on Saturday night in the fourth quarter. The junior linebacker intercepted a pass in the Thunderwolves end zone and raced down the sideline for a 101-yard touchdown. It is the second career interception return for a touchdown of Seaver's career. His first touchdown came against Eastern New Mexico in 2012.
 
Home Field Advantage
The Ram Fam came out to see the 2013 Rams during the season opener against Black Hills State. The crowd of 7,643 was the biggest crowd since Oct. 10, 2009 when 10,250 fans watched Angelo State take on Abilene Christian.
 
Ground Game
The Rams were able to run with ease in their season opening win of the season. ASU rushed for the third most yards in a single game since 1974 with 377 yards. The Rams 168 yards at halftime was the most the Rams had during a single game during the entire 2012 season.
 
Highlight Reel
Senior Jermie Calhoun had an impressive 23-yard run late in the second quarter against Black Hills State. Calhoun rushed up the middle and leaped over a defensive back to score. The play was the No. 1 play on ESPN's Sportscenter Top Plays until Denver Bronco Peyton Manning threw seven touchdowns in a single game.
 
Miles and Miles
The Rams will spend a total of 4,766 miles on the road traveling this season. The six games away from San Angelo Stadium will be the most traveled season since 2011. The longest trip will be 2,374 round trip to Valdosta, Georgia. The shortest will be a quick 180 miles trip to Abilene to face the War hawks of McMurry.
 
Returning Rams
The Rams will return 15 starters from a year ago including all-conference selections Joey Searcy II, Blake Smith, Rush Seaver, Clayton Callicutt, Isi Cocker and Trent Davis. Joey Knight returns with the most touchdowns after catching 33 balls for 476 yards and six touchdowns. Seaver, Calicutt and Austin Sparks were three of the top five in tackles last season.
 
Team Captains
Isi Cocker, Kyle Patterson, Rush Seaver, Warren Truesdale and Kyle Washington were selected as captains for the 2013 season by their teammates.
 
35 Years
This season marks the 35-year anniversary that ASU won the 1978 NAIA Championship. Angelo State concluded an undefeated season by knocking off the Elon College (N.C.) Christians in the NAIA Championship Game, 34-14. The victory marked the ninth consecutive year that a Lone Star Conference team had won the title. Mark Embry was named the game's Offensive MVP after throwing for 197 yards and two scores. Alvin Garrett and Eldridge Beverly caught scoring passes, and Jerry Aldridge capped his brilliant career with 119 rushing yards and two scores. It was the 17th consecutive game that Aldridge had rushed for at least 100 yards.
 
 394 and Counting
Angelo State has won a total of 394 football games since 1939. The following lists the coaches and record breakdown in Ram football history.
 
Pete Sikes                                        1939-1949      41-23-5
Max Bumgardner                            1950-1968      74-74-2
Grant Teaff                                       1969-1971      19-11
James Cameron                              1972-1973      13-7
Jim Hess                                          1974-1981      65-23-3
Jerry Vandergriff                             1982-2004      143-101-2
Dale Carr                                         2005-2010      28-36
Will Wagner                                2011-Present      11-13
 
Rams Represented by Four States and Two Countries
Four states throughout the United States makeup the Rams football roster. Arizona, Illinois and California have representatives while Texas student-athletes dominate the roster. Blair Smith, a transfer from New Mexico Military Institute, is the one player not from the United States. Smith grew up and played high school football in Canada.
 
Head Coach
Will Wagner (Hardin-Simmons, '96) is in his third season as head coach of the Rams. He is 11-14 in his third season at the helm of the Rams. The Odessa native helped Northwest Missouri State win three national championships as an assistant head coach and defensive backs coach.
 
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 Daniel Ramirez on 101.9 KWFR-FM, which will also be streamed on FoxSportsSouthwest.com. Live updates will be provided on Angelo State's Facebook page along with its Twitter account, @AngeloSports.