The Game
The Angelo State football team will look to rebound on the road on Saturday, Oct. 18 as the Rams play Texas A&M-Kingsville at Javelina Stadium at 7 p.m. The game will be carried on KWFR 101.9FM The Fire with Jeremy Bryant (play-by-play) and Daniel Ramirez (color analyst) on the call. 
 
Texas A&M-Kingsville
The Javelinas are 1-5 on the season and 0-4 in the LSC. Jamie Martinez was named the interim head coach this week after Texas A&M-Kingsville relieved David Calloway of his duties. TAMUK defeated Colorado Mesa 17-14 for its only win of the season.
 
The Series
This will be the 47th all-time meeting between the Rams and Javelinas. ASU trails  the series 14-33.  The Rams were able to snap a six-game losing streak to TAMUK last year with a 49-28 win in San Angelo. It will mark the 23rd meeting in Kingsville where the Rams have only won five games. ASU is 5-17 at Kingsville and last won there in 2005.    
 
Ball Security
ASU has been able to limit turnovers this season with only four interceptions. The Rams have fumbled three times this season but has not lost a fumble.  ASU is No. 1 in NCAA Division II and the LSC for lost fumbles. 
 
Takeaways
The Ram defense created four turnovers for the second-straight week. Jarred Ross, Richard Franklin and Fred Lawrence each intercepted Tyrik Rollison while Franklin also picked up a fumble. It marks the fourth game this season the Rams have forced at least one turnover.
 
Points Off Turnovers
The Rams have forced opponents into 12 turnovers (nine interceptions and three fumbles) this season and used them to score points. A total of 66 points has been scored from the 12 turnovers including a season-high 24 points against Texas A&M-Commerce. ASU has scored nine touchdowns and one field goal from the turnovers.

Scoring Points
The Rams are scoring at a pace never seen before in program history. ASU is scoring 41.8 points per game which ranks No. 15 in NCAA Division II and No. 2 in the LSC. The 209 total points is the most points scored through the first five games in program history. The ASU record for points scored in the regular season is 398 (36.1 per game) which was set in 1989.
 
Red Zone Efficiency
The Rams are taking advantage when they get the ball inside the opponents 20-yard line. ASU has scored 25-of-29 times (86.2-percent) when inside the 20-yard line. The Rams have scored 22 touchdowns and three field goals in the red zone and are No. 33 in Division II in red zone offense this season.
 
Protection
ASU's offensive line simply does it job. Rance Layton, Steven Jackson, Tyler Hamilton, Quade Huckaba, Anthony Landry, Austin Landin, Cole Gessler, Nolan Osmanski, Watkin Cocker and Jeremy Mertink have limited opponents to just three sacks on the season. The .60 sacks per game ranks the Rams at No. 9 nationally and No. 1 in the LSC.
 
4th Down Defense
The Ram defense leads the nation and the LSC in fourth down conversion percentage. Teams have only succeeded one time in eight attempts against ASU for a 12.5-percent success rate.
 
Balanced Back
Ryan Byrd has taken advantage of his playing time at running back for the Rams. He had his best game of the season against Texas A&M-Commerce as set career highs in rushing  yards (120) and receiving yards (80). The junior became the second Ram to rush for over 100-yards in game. He scored one touchdown on the ground and caught one touchdown. On the season, Byrd has rushed for 374 yards on 56 carries and caught 10 balls for 117 yards while accounting for seven touchdowns.
 
No. 2 Tackler
Rush Seaver is currently No. 2 in NCAA Division II and No. 1 in the LSC in tackles per game at 14.2. The Lampasas native led the Rams in tackles for the fourth-straight game with 15 stops on Saturday against Texas A&M-Commerce. It is the fourth-straight game the senior linebacker has recorded double-digit tackles.  He is now No.  6 on the ASU career tackles list with 318 total tackles.
 
Tossing the Pigskin
The Rams offense threw and completed season highs against Texas A&M-Commerce. Kyle Washington, who set career highs for attempts and completions, went 28-of-47 and spread around between five receivers. Anthony Yancy (8), Talon Smith (7) and Ryan Byrd (6) each set career highs in receptions.

Conference Leader
Kyle Washington continued his stronghold on the top spot in total offense. He is The junior is averaging 347.4 yards per game of total offense. His 16.2 yards per game higher than the No. 2 in the LSC. The ASU record for total offense in a single season is 298.3 held by Josh Neiswander from 2010. He is currently No. 5 on the ASU career total offense list with 5,474 yards.    
 
Kickoff Return Specialist
The Rams has one of the best kickoff return averages in the nation at 27.6 yards per return. The 27.6 yards per return is No. 3 nationally and No. 1 in the LSC. Anthony Yancy, who returned a 100-yard kickoff against West Texas A&M, is leading the Rams and sits at No. 8 nationally and No. 2 in the LSC averaging 31.5 yards per return.
 
Rushing Attack
The Rams have once again consistently gained yards on the ground to a tune of 218.6 yards per game. ASU has out gained every opponent on the ground and currently rank No. 26 in NCAA Division II in rushing offense. 
 
Night Train
The Rams will be accustomed to playing under the lights this season. ASU has played five games under the lights with three more scheduled to be played at 7 p.m. The only two games not scheduled are the LSC Playoffs on November 8th and 15th.
 
Receiving Milestone
After spending last season rehabbing an injury, Dakarai Pecikonis returns to the Rams with a career record in reach. The senior wide receiver is third on the ASU all-time career receiving yards with 2,370. He is 301 yards from moving into No. 2 all-time and just 388 yards from passing Don Burrell for the top spot. 
 
Beating a Ranked Opponent
The 45-31 win over No. 16 Midwestern State was the first time the Rams had defeated a ranked opponent since beating No. 10 Abilene Christian 28-23 in 2012 in San Angelo. It was the first road win over a ranked opponent since defeating No. 7 West Texas A&M 58-53 in Canyon.
 
Coach To Cure MD
The Angelo State football staff along with the American Football Coaches Association raised awareness for and helped funding for Duchenne muscular dystrophy versus West Texas A&M as part of the Coach To Cure MD. The Rams will have Sam Killian, who was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy in 2005, be a honorary captain for the game.  Killian's grandfather, Guy Hargrave, is an ASU alumnus. For more information on Sam follow the link to samsdaytexas.org. For information on Coach to Cure MD go to CoachToCureMD.org. 
 
Five-Straight Touchdowns
The Rams did something that hasn't been done since 2010 against West Texas A&M. ASU scored touchdowns on five-straight drives against West Texas A&M in the first half. Ryan Byrd started the streak and would score three-straight TDs. The fourth touchdown came from Chris Omigie and Anthony Yancy capped it off with the 100-yard kickoff return for the fifth-straight TD. The last time the Rams scored on five-straight drives was against Incarnate Word in 2010.   
 
 Career Nights
Kyle Washington, Dakarai Pecikonis and Clayton Callicutt had career nights against Western State. Washington threw for a career high 362 yards and two touchdowns. It is the ninth most passing yards in a single game in ASU history. Pecikonis caught nine passes from Washington for a career-high 163 yards. He is now 527 yards away from becoming ASU's career leader in receiving yards. Callicutt recorded three and a half sacks and five tackles for loss. Callicutt and the Ram defense held WSCU to just 288 yards of total offense.
 
Program Milestone
Angelo State won the program's 401st football game dating back to 1939 against Midwestern State. 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                           2012-Present      18-20
 
ESPN Top 10 Plays
Dakarai Pecikonis made an acrobatic catch in the third quarter. The 29-yard reception made it all the way to No. 5 on ESPN Sportscenter Top 10 Plays. It is the second time in two years the Rams have been showcased on Sportscenter. Last season, Jermie Calhoun scored a touchdown after leaping over a Black Hills State defender that went all the way to No. 1 before Peyton Manning threw seven touchdowns in a single game.
 
Team Captains
Dominique McCoy, Rush Seaver, Blake Smith, Warren Truesdale and Kyle Washington were selected as captains for the 2014 season by their teammates. Seaver, Truesdale and Washington were captains last season as well.
 
New Defensive Coordinator
Girsch spent the last 17 years coaching at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa, before being hired by Wagner. He has spent the last six years as defensive coordinator and assistant head coach of the Fighting Bees. He was named a MSFA Midwest League Assistant Coach of the Year in 2008. He has coached five All-Americans and been a part of seven Mid-State Football Association Conference Championships. His defense has finished in the top 25 in scoring for the last five years highlights by a No. 2 finish in 2009 and a No. 5 finish in 2011.
 
Head Coach
Will Wagner (Hardin-Simmons, '96) will begin his fourth season as head coach of the Rams. He is 18-20 in his fourth 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.
 
Sold Out
LeGrand Stadium at 1st Community Credit Union Field has a new record. A total of 5,946 fans were in attendance against West Texas A&M which broke the inaugural game record of 5,860 fans. It is the second game to be sold out in stadium history.
 
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' offensive lineman 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 AngeloSports.com. Live updates will be provided on Angelo State's Facebook page along with its Twitter account, @AngeloSports, Instagram, angelosports_com or on YouTube AngeloSports.