SAN ANGELO - The Angelo State football team will look to build on the momentum of their first Lone Star Conference win as they travel to Wichita Falls to take on top-ranked MSU Texas at 7 p.m. Saturday in Memorial Stadium. 

The Rams come into the matchup with a 2-1 record after a win to start LSC play last weekend against Texas A&M-Kingsville. ASU is averaging 367 total yards of offense per game, including 163 yards on the ground, while the defense leads the Lone Star Conference with seven interceptions and has recorded 10 sacks as well. 

The Game
After a brief stop at home, the Angelo State football team is hitting the road again, this time traveling to Wichita Falls, Texas to take on No. 7 Midwestern State in their first Lone Star Conference road matchup of the season. Angelo State is coming off a 30-14 win at home against Texas A&M-Kingsville. The game will kick off at 7 p.m. at Memorial Stadium in Wichita Falls, Texas. 

Midwestern State
The Mustangs are a perfect 3-0 to start the season, including a win over then-No. 2 West Florida at home. MSU also earned a win in their first LSC game of the season, taking down UT Permian Basin on the road, The Mustangs were Lone Star Conference champions in 2017, posting an overall record of 10-1 and a perfect record of 8-0 in LSC play. 

The Series
Angelo State has not won against Midwestern State since 2014 when the Rams defeated the Mustangs 41-36 at home. They have not won on the road in Wichita Falls since 1999, when they beart the Mustangs 21-19 under former Ram football head coach Dale Carr. Angelo State is 7-13 all time since the two teams first met in 1997. 

Last meeting
Midwestern came away with their third straight victory over the Rams in 2017, coming into San Angelo ranked No. 6 in the country and leaving with a 41-27 win. Running back Tyrese Nathan carried the ball 28 times for 138 yards and also had four receptions and four kick returns for 240 all-purpose yards in the matchup. Quarterback Charlie Rotherham completed 42 passes for 379 yards and kicker Connor Flanigan set a new school record witha 52-yard field toal. 

A look ahead
The Rams will return home to take on Lone Star Conference and in-state rival Tarleton State at LeGrand Stadium at 1st Community Credit Union Field. The Rams are 16-18 all time against the Texans, who are currently 2-0 and leading the Lone Star Conference with just 10 points allowed per game. The Texans are on the road this week as well, taking on UT Permian Basin in Odessa. 

Listen In
The game will be broadcasted locally on 101.9 KWFR (The Fire) with Jeremy Bryant and Dr. John Klingemann on the broadcast. Bryant is beginning his 17th season broadcasting ASU football games, while Dr. Klingemann is the chair of the history department and an associate professor at Angelo State. 

Top Tacklers
Angelo State linebackers Grant Aschenbeck and Hunter Kyle are two of the top tacklers in the Lone Star Conference. Aschenbeck is tied for first in the LSC with 38 tackles this season for an average of 12.7 per game. Following closely behind him is Kyle, who has 31 on the season, averaging 10.3 per game. 

Airing it out
Three different Angelo State wide receivers have at least 10 catches through the first three games of the season, including Lawson Ayo, Keke Chism and Tashani Bibbs. Chism leads the way in yardage with exactly 200 this season, while Ayo leads with 14 catches. Ayo also has three touchdown catches, recording one in each game. 

In the Backfield
Senior defensive lineman Markus Jones ranks second in the LSC with five sacks and leads the conference with nine tackles for loss. As a team, the Rams rank third in sacks with 10 this season. Grant Aschenbeck, Bright Ihegworo, Travaughn Moore, Cameron Cavanaugh and Jake Ray have all also recorded sacks this year. 

Ground Game
Sophomore running back Tyrese Nathan has averaged 114 rushing yards per game this season, raning second best in the Lone Star Conference, just behind Vincent Johnson, who is averaging 114.7  per game. Nathan averages. 4.8 yards per carry with a longest rush of 41 yards this season and has scored one touchdown. 

Pick Party
Angelo State is currently tied for the Lone Star Conference lead in interceptions with seven, and the Rams have recorded at least two picks in every game so far this season. Linebacker Hunter Kyle and defensvie back Donavyn Jackson lead the way with two each, while Jac Yurow, Darrick Dickerson and Simon Maxey all have one each. The Angelo State team record for interceptions in a season is 33, set in 1991.

Great Day to be Special
The #BlueMob kickoff coverage team has ranked secon best in the LSC this season, averging 38.5 yards per kickoff this sesaon. Junior captain Connor Flanigan has handled the kicking duties, with three touchbacks on the year. 

LSC Recognition
Angelo State junior Larry Johnson was named the Lone Star Conference Special Teams Player of the Week after ripping off an 88-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Abilene Christian. It is the first LSC honor for Johnson in his career and the second time this season a Ram has received recognition after Hunter Kyle was named LSC Defensive Player of the Week last week.

Our Program
Angelo State has won a total of 425 football games since 1939. The following lists the coaches and record breakdown in Ram football history. 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 DII playoff appearances and produced 59 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. 

426 and Counting
Angelo State has won a total of 425 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    43-35
AngeloSports.com

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.