The Game
The Angelo State football team will host Northern Michigan for Military Appreciation Day on Saturday, Aug. 9 with kickoff scheduled for 6 p.m. at LeGrand Stadium at 1st Community Credit Union Field

Northern Michigan 
The Wildcats will be playing their first game of the season in San Angelo with a new coach. Kyle Nystrom, former defensive coordinator at Ferris State, is in his first season as a head coach. 

The Series
This will be the third meeting all-time between the two schools. Both previous games were settled in overtime. NMU won the first game in 1987 in the NCAA Division II quarterfinals while ASU returned the favor last year in Marquette. Josh Stevens scored on a one-yard run in triple overtime. Fred Lawrence intercepted a pass to secure the win. 

Stellar Defense
The Angelo State defense had one of its best games in 18 years. The 127 total yards allowed is the fewest since limiting West Texas A&M to just 77 in 1999. The rushing defense held McKendree to -13 yards which is the lowest since 2008. It is the second lowest total allowed in NCAA Division II this season. It is also the second time in the last three games dating back to last season that ASU has held a team under 200 yards of total offense. 

Block Party
The Rams sepcial team unit picked up where it left off from last season. Markus Jones blocked a field goal to give ASU its first blocked kick of the season after setting a school record of 11 last year. 

Receiving Votes
The Angelo State football team received two votes in the American Football Coaches Association Poll after its 42-2 win over McKendree. Three other LSC teams are in the poll with No. 3 Texas A&M-Commerce, No. 16 Midwestern State and Eastern New Mexico receiving votes. 

Military Appreciation
Angelo State will host Military Appreciation Day this Saturday at LeGrand Stadium at 1st Community Credit Union Field. All active military, their dependents and retirees will receive free admission to the game. 

Keke's First Catch
Keke Chism had a memorable first career catch as a Ram in his debut. The redshirt freshman's first catch was a 14-yard touchdown from Jake Faber. The Daingerfield product recorded two receptions for 23 yards in his debut as a Ram. 

Stevens' 100-Yard Day
Josh Stevens rushed for 104 yards to lead ASU's ground attack that gained 255 yards. The senior has now surpassed the 100-yard mark in five career games. He averaged 4.7 yards per carry against McKendree and rushed for a 53-yard touchdown to open the game. 

Chasing History 
Donovan Thompson is trying to become the sixth receiver in ASU history to record at least 2,000 yards receiving in a career. He has 1,853 career receiing yards and is now only 147 yards from surpassing 2,000 yards. He also 978 yards awat from Dakarai Pecikonis who is tops in the Rams record book. He is currently No. 8 on the all-time receiving yard list. 

Spreading the Ball Around
A total of 10 players caught a pass agaisnt McKendree on Thursday Night. Donovan Thompson and Lawson Ayo led the way with four and three repceptions, respectively. Tyler Ahrens and Keke Chism each recorded two while Jalyn Judkins, Tashani Bibbs, Davin Reynolds, Steven Staten II and Josh Steven each caught one pass. 

Quick Strike
The Rams wasted little time getting on the scoreboard in the season opener. The first time ASU touched the ball the offense only needed 53 seconds to score on a 53-yard run from Josh Stevens. 

Rookie Debut
True freshman Tyrese Nathan made the most of his first carries as a Ram. The Lubbock Estacado graduate carried the ball 13 times for 60 yards and one touchdown. He averaged 4.6 yards per carry and broke a 26-yard run. He was one of two true freshman to get playing time along with offensive lineman A.J. Wozniak.  

Punting for Average
Casey Eyman kept McKendree pinned in its own territory Thursday night. The senior punter averaged 41.5 yards per punt with six total punts on the night. He booted a long of 53 yards with only one touchdback on the day.  

Defensive Shutout
The Ram defense held the McKendree offense scorless but the Bearcats were able to score two points on a safety. The two points scored on the safety are the fewest since shuting out Bacone in 2015. 

Live in HD
Every Ram home game will be broadcasted on RamTV Suddenlink Channel 6 and 106HD.  Fans will be able to see the games in full high definition with Angelo State students directing the broadcast and giving play-by-play and color analysis.

1,000 Rushing Yards
Josh Stevens rushed for 1,030 yards in 2016, and it was the 12th time a Ram  has rushed for over 1,000 yards. He is the 10th player to surpass the plateau and will try to become the third to do it in back-to-back seasons joining Jerry Austin (1970-71) and Charlie Franklin (1937-74). 

Rams Draft Anthony Quintana
The Angelo State football team added a new member to its team last season by drafting TeamIMPACT's Anthony Quintana. ASU is the first LSC school to draft a player from TeamIMPACT. Anthony, a nine-year old from Water Valley, will spend the year two of three with the Ram football team interacting with the team while battling recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. 

#RamFam Connection
Two current Rams have connections to Rams of the past. Brennan Bibbs heard about ASU from former All-American uncle Henry Alsbrooks. Alsbrooks played defense for ASU and was a 1988 All-Americna. He recorded 271 tackles and is No. 10 all-time in career tackles. Myron Turner, Jr. plays opposite side of his dad Myron. The elder was an all-conference performer in 1989 and 1990. He is No. 8 on the career receiving yard list with 1,704 yards and led ASU in yards in 1989 with 706 yards. 

Listen to the Rams 
The Rams will once again be carried on KWFR 101.9 The Fire with five time Lone Star Conference Broadcaster of the Year Jeremy Bryant on the call. He will be joined by Dr. John Klingemann in the booth for color analysis. Dr. Klingemann is the chair of the history department and an associate professor at Angelo State. 

Ram Jam
The ASU Alumni Association hosts a pre-game tailgate at the LeGrand Alumni and Visitors Center two and a half hours prior to kickoff. Food and refreshment will be available as will live music throughout the season. Bring your family out to support the Rams at Ram Jam. For a tailgate spot call the Alumni Association at (325) 942-2122.

LeGrand Stadium at 1st Community Credit Union Field
The Rams begin their third season at LeGrand Stadium at 1st Community Credit Union Field Angelo State is 9-5 at home since moving on campus in 2014. The stadium capacity is 5,670 and is Wi-Fi friendly. A new press box is currently being constructed and new bathrooms and concession stands are available at the south east corner of the stadium. 

Head Coach
Will Wagner (Hardin-Simmons, '96) will begin his sixth season as head coach of the Rams. He is 37-31 in his six seasons 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.

420 and Counting
Angelo State has won a total of 420 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	2012-Present	37-31

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 Ram tackle Rodney Cason.

Follow From Home
If you cannot attend the Angelo State football game, ASU has you covered. Live updates will be provided on Angelo State's Twitter account, @AngeloSports, Instagram, angeloathletics or on YouTube AngeloSports. Live streaming and radio broadcasts are also available via www.AngeloSports.com