RV ANGELO STATE RAMS (5-2, 2-2 LSC) vs. Simon Fraser (1-4, 0-2 LSC)
Saturday, Oct. 23, 6 p.m. CST – LeGrand Stadium at 1^st Community Credit Union Field
Radio: 101.9 KWFR
Live Video: lonestarconferencenetwork.com/asu
Live Stats: angelostats.com
 
The Rams will attempt to string together a couple of home wins this week as they welcome Simon Fraser for a non-conference contest on Saturday at LeGrand Stadium at 1^st Community Credit Union Stadium.
 
LAST WEEK:
The Rams earned an important conference win last week, defeating UT Permian Basin 34-14 at home, allowing only 27 rushing yards while holding the Falcons to one offensive touchdown. ASU ran for 208 yards with CJ Odom and Nathaniel Omayebu III combining for 81 and 77 yards respectively. Quarterback Zach Bronkhorst threw two touchdowns and ran for another while the defensive tallied five takeaways including a pick six by Hunter Kyle.
 
SERIES HISTORY: Angelo State vs. Simon Fraser
All-Time Series: The Rams lead the all-time series 1-0
Last Meeting: Sept. 14, 2019: ASU, 68-7 – San Angelo, Texas
The Rams have faced SFU only one other time in program history, winning 68-7 during the 2019 season. ASU tallied 51 points in the first half in the previous matchup, finishing with 596 yards of total offense.
 
SCOUTING SIMON FRASER:
Members of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, Simon Fraser enters the weekend with a 1-4 overall record, going 0-2 in conference games. SFU opened the season against Division I Idaho, falling 68-0 before losing a DIII powerhouse Linfield 56-20. In conference play, Simon Fraser suffered losses to Central Washington, 36-14, and Western Oregon 24-7. SFU's lone win of the season came last weekend against Montana State – Northern, winning 30-3. Simon Fraser tallied 300 yards of offense in the win, scoring two touchdowns passing the ball while returning a punt and an interception.
 
Justin Seiber is the leading passer for SFU, comping 51 percent of his passes this season for 974 yards and seven touchdowns. Averaging just over 243 yards per game, Seiber has thrown a long of 63 yards but has given up five interceptions in all. His main target has been Riley Morrison, cathing a team-high 33 passes for 332 yards. Caelin Johnson leads the team with three receiving touchdowns while both receivers are averaging over 60 yards receiving per game.
 
SFU has struggled to run the ball all season, averaging just 34.4 rushing yards per game. Somto Anyadike and Mason Glover lead the ground game with 83 and 82 yards respectively while Simon Fraser only has one rushing touchdown on the year. Defensively, Griffin Barrett is SFU's leading tackler with 63 tackles, including 33 solo tackles. Isaac Evans leads with 4.5 tackles for loss while Drew Nicholson has collected two interceptions to lead the team.
 
QUICK HITS:
STOPPING THE RUN:
After allowing only 27 yards on the ground against UTPB, the Rams moved up to No. 5 on the Division II list of top run defenses, averaging only 64.4 yards rushing per game. They will have an opportunity to improve on this, going against SFU who ranks last in all of DII in rushing offense.
 
RUNNING PAST THE OPPOSITION:
While the Rams have succeeded in stopping the run, they have been equally effective running the ball themselves, leading the LSC with 214.6 rushing yards per game. ASU ranks 18^th overall in Division II in rushing offense while SFU has allowed the fifth-most rushing yards per game in all of DII.
 
LONE STAR POTW:
Having finished with three touchdowns and over 200 yards passing in ASU's win over UTPB, Bronkhorst was named the Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Week. It is the third time this season the Rams have earned the honor and the sixth time overall an ASU player has been selected for a weekly award.
 
TOP 10 IN DEFENSE:
While controlling the run game, the Rams have been successful at stopping the pass as well, ranking in the Top 10 in Division II in total defense, allowing the ninth fewest yards in the country at 255 yards per game.
 
CONTROLLING THE CLOCK:
With having the ability to run the ball, the Rams have been able to hold on to the ball and keep their defense off the field. ASU leads the LSC in time of possession and ranks 17^th in DII, holding on to the ball for an average of over 33 minutes per game.
 
OFFENSIVE NOTES:
-Omayebu is the top rusher in the LSC averaging 106 yards per game while Odom is third with 75.3 yards per game.
-Wideout Kellen Pachot has totaled the most receiving yards in the conference with 567 on the season. He ranks second in receptions (32) and is averaging the third-most yards per game at 70.9.
-Andrew Pitts is third in the LSC in punt return average with 10.5 yards a return while totaling the second-most yards with 221 on the season.
 
DEFENSIVE NOTES:
-Hunter Kyle ranks second in Lone Star in total tackles with 52 on the year, collecting 1.5 sacks as well. His interception return was the second defensive touchdown for the Rams this season.
-Daron Allman ranks second in total tackles for loss with 11 while he sits in a tie for second in forced fumbles.
-Pitts and Devin Washington are tied for second and third respectively in total passes defended, totaling eight and six breakups so far.