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The Game
The Rams come back home to take on No. 18 Midwestern State at 6 p.m. on Saturday night at San Angelo Stadium. The game is designated as the HIspanic Heritage game for Angelo State. The game will be carried locally on KWFR 101.9 The Fire.
 
Midwestern State
The Mustangs come into the game riding a five-game winning streak after defeating No. 8 West Alabama 45-21. Head coach Bill Maskill is in his 12th season at Midwestern State and has a 93-35 record at the school. MSU is ranked No. 18 this week in the American Football Coaches Assoication poll and the Mustangs only loss has been to Tarleton State.
 
The Series
Midwestern State holds a 9-5 advantage in the series. The Mustangs have won three-straight but the Rams are 3-3 at San Angelo Stadium against MSU. The last ASU win was a 20-17 decision at San Angelo Stadium in 2009.
 
Defensive Takeaways
After two takeaways against West Texas A&M, the Rams increased their season total to 15. Last season the Rams only forced 15 all year. The consecutive games with a takeaway continued for ASU. Ryan Clapsaddle's interception and Rush Searver's forced fumble and recovery by  kept the streak alive at 15 games. The takeaway streak started last season against Abilene Christian on Sept. 22.
 
The Offensive Attack
The Rams offensive attack is averaging 464.9 yards per game this season which is No. 32 nationally. The Rams offensive unit is No. 14 in rushing yards per game at 259.0 yards per game. Only three other ASU offensive units have averaged over 400 yards per game in a season. The other years include 1989 (448.8), 2005 (416.7) and 2010 (421.1).
 
Close Finishes
The Rams 34-30 loss to West Texas A&M was the third game this season that was decided by less than seven points. It is also the third game that was decided in the final two minutes of play. 
Career High
Kyle Washington had his best passing game of his career. The sophomore threw for a career high 298 yards on 22-of-36 passing and one touchdown. Washington hit Quinn Reels down the sideline for a 43 yard pass for his second longest pass of the season. His touchdown throw was a 25-yard strike to Joey Knight at the end of the first half.
 
Ranked Teams
This will be the fourth ranked team the Rams have faced this season. Midwestern State comes in at No. 18. West Texas A&M was No. 12/17 in the polls last week while ASU also faced No. 1 Valdosta State and No. 5 CSU-Pueblo.  VSU is now No. 11 in the nation while CSU-Pueblo has climbed to No. 3.
 
Individual Defensive Standouts
Rush Seaver, the junior captain, is the team's leading tackler with 72 on the season. Seaver is No. 18 in the nation in solo tackles per game with 6.3 and No. 23 in overall tackles per game at 10.3. He ranks No. 9 in forced fumbles averaging 0.43 per game. He has forced 3 this season. Clayton Callicutt is currently No. 5 nationally in recovered fumbles at 0.43. He recovered all three fumbles against Eastern New Mexico.
 
25 Yards or More
The Rams have had 30 plays this season go for 25 yards or more. The Rams have seen 23 plays from the line of scrimmage go over 25 yards. Kyle Washington and Jermie Calhoun lead the team in plays over 25 yards with 10 a piece.   
 
Running, Running, Running
For the sixth time this season the Rams have rushed for at least 200 yards in a game. Valdosta State is the only team to hold the Rams under 200 yards when ASU rushed for 179. The trio of Jermie Calhoun (94.3), Kyle Washington (80.3) and Blake Smith (65.4) are all ranked No. 2, No. 3 and No. 7 in the LSC in rushing yards per game.
 
Secret Weapon
Sam Fowler continued his strong season. The sophomore punter has booted it 40 times this season for 1,738 yards. He is averaging 43.5 yards per punt, No. 9 nationally and No. 2 in the LSC, and has put 19 punts inside the 20. The Crosby native has 10 punts over 50 yards including a season long of 70 against CSU-Pueblo and a 66 yarder against ENMU.
 
Rare Feat
The running back duo of Jermie Calhoun and Blake Smith both rushed for over 100  yards for the second time this season against McMurry.  Calhoun's 152 yards was a career high for the senior while the 111 for Blake Smith was the second time he set a career high. It marks the first time two Rams have rushed for over 100 yards in a game since Oct. 5, 1993.
 
 
Career Firsts
Jonathan Shannon became the fifth 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, Warren Truesdale and Alex Young.
 
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.
 
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. 12 Valdosta State won the 2012 NCAA Division II national championship and No. 17 West Texas A&M advancing to the semifinals. No. 3 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. 14 this week. 
 
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.
 
395 and Counting
Angelo State has won a total of 395 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      12-16
 
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 12-17 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.

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.