RV ANGELO STATE RAMS (6-2, 2-2 LSC) vs. EASTERN NEW MEXICO (3-5, 1-4 LSC)
Saturday, Oct. 30, 4 p.m. CST – Portales, N.M. – Al Whitehead Field at Greyhound Stadium
Radio: 101.9 KWFR
Live Video: lonestarconferencenetwork.com/asu
Live Stats: angelostats.com
 
The Rams return to Lone Star Conference play this week as they go for three straight wins, traveling to Eastern New Mexico on Saturday as they look to secure a playoff spot as the season winds down.
 
LAST WEEK:
The Rams paused from conference play last weekend, taking on GNAC member Simon Fraser. Tallying their second straight win at home, the Rams defeated SFU 51-10 while both Nathaniel Omayebu III and Alfred Grear tallied 100-plus yards rushing. ASU's defense held SFU to only 39 yards rushing, making it the second straight game the Rams have given up fewer than 40 rushing yards. The Rams recorded three sacks and three interceptions on the day with Andrew Pitts returning one pick for a touchdown.
 
SERIES HISTORY: Angelo State vs. Eastern New Mexico
All-Time Series: The Rams lead the all-time series 25-19-1
Last Meeting: Nov. 9, 2019: ENMU, 20-17 – Portales, N.M.
While the Greyhounds have some recent success against ASU, winning five of the last eight matchups, the Rams hold the advantage in the all-time series. ENMU picked up a win at home during the 2019 campaign, edging out the Rams in a 20-17 victory in overtime.
 
SCOUTING EASTERN NEW MEXICO:
The Greyhounds enter the weekend with a 3-5 overall record, going 1-4 against Lone Star opponents. ENMU started the season with a loss at home to Central Washington, falling to the Wildcats 66-24. They followed that up with their first win of the season against Adams State 42-14, and have wins against Lincoln (Calif.), and Western New Mexico.
 
ENMU has given up the second-most points in the LSC, with opponents averaging 36 points per game. Offensively, the Greyhounds sit in fifth, scoring 30.9 points per game, tallying an average of 348.4 yards of offense. They have also given up the third-most rushing yards in the conference with 989 yards.
 
The Greyhounds have one of the top receivers in the conference in Justin Manyweather who leads in touchdowns (12), receiving yards (978), and receptions (62). Quarterback Nathan Valencia is third in the LSC in passing yards per game with 202.6 yards, and is second in completions with 173. Howard Russell and Currie Thomason split most of the carries for the Greyhounds, rushing for 53 and 45.8 yards per game respectively. Isaiah Tate also has 57 carries this season for 250 yards while Thomason leads in rushing touchdowns with four. Mazon Richards is second in the league in both sacks and tackles for loss with 10 and 13 this season.
 
QUICK HITS:
STOPPING THE RUN:
The Rams continue to dominate at the line of scrimmage, holding opponents to only 196 yards rushing combined this season. ASU ranks fourth in all of Division II in rush defense, and seventh overall in total defense, allowing only 247.6 yards of offense per game.
 
5^th in D2 REGIONAL RANKINGS:
In the first edition of the NCAA Division II Regional Rankings for football, Angelo State currently holds a playoff spot at No. 5 in Super Region Four. The top seven teams ranked in the region at the end of the season will advance to the playoffs.
 
OFFENSIVE NOTES:
-Omayebu is the leading rusher in the Lone Star, averaging 98.8 yards per game while totaling the second-most touchdowns with six.
-CJ Odom is third in the conference in rushing yards per game, totaling 74.2 yards per game.
-Wideout Kellen Pachot is averaging 69.3 yards receiving per game which is the third-highest total in the conference.
-The Rams rank 26 in Division II in time of possession, holding on to the ball for over 32 minutes per game.
 
DEFENSIVE NOTES:
-Hunter Kyle ranks fourth in the conference in total tackles with 52 on the season.
-Daron Allman is fifth in the LSC in tackles for loss with 10.
-Pitts now has two interceptions returned for touchdowns this season which is tied for the most in the conference. Pitts is also second in the LSC in passes defended with eight.