RV ANGELO STATE RAMS (10-2) vs. #21 NEBRASKA  KEARNEY (10-2)
Saturday, Nov. 27, 1 p.m. CST – San Angelo, Texas – LeGrand Stadium at 1^st Community Credit Union Field
Radio: 101.9 KWFR
Live Video: LSC Network
Live Stats: angelostats.com
 
The Rams put together a dominating performance to open the NCAA Division II Football National Championship, defeating Minnesota-Duluth to advance to the second round. For the first time since 1997, Angelo State will host two playoff football games in a season, welcoming in 21^st-ranked Nebraska – Kearney on Saturday.
 
LAST WEEK:
It didn't take long for the Rams to gain the lead in the opening round of the playoffs against the Bulldogs as Alfred Grear took the opening kickoff 100-yards for a touchdown. A couple of drives later, Zach Bronkhorst broke a 69-yard touchdown run before Nathaniel Omayebu III added a score of his own as the Rams took a 21-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. Bronkhorst finished with three passing touchdowns for four total on the day while ASU gave up only one offensive touchdown to the NSIC champions.
 
SERIES HISTORY: Angelo State vs. Nebraska  Kearney
All-Time Series: Tied 0-0
Last Meeting: This will be the first meeting between these two teams.
 
SCOUTING NEBRASKA KEARNEY:
The Lopers hold a 10-2 overall record heading into their matchup against the Rams. UNK finished second in the MIAA season standings, only behind Northwest Missouri State who earned the third-seed in Super Region 3. The Lopers earned an upset victory on the road in the first round the of NCAA DII Championship, defeating third-seeded Western Colorado 31-24 last weekend.
 
UNK averaged the second-most points in the MIAA, earning 35.8 points per game while averaging 470.4 yards per game which is the 10^th highest total in all of Division II. The Lopers have been dominant in the run game, ranking fifth in DII with 265.8 rushing yards per game. TJ Davis is the leading rusher for UNK with 1,139 yards on the ground this season, collecting a league-high 18 touchdowns which ranks fifth overall among all DII running backs.
 
Davis is not only the leading rusher for the Lopers but also leads in passing with 118 completions on the year for 2,234 yards, totaling 21 touchdowns and five interceptions. The top passing efficiency team in Division II, Davis holds a completion percentage of 63.4 percent on the season. Dayton Sealey is the top receiver for UNK, collecting 508 yards on 17 catches with four touchdowns.
 
Defensively, the Lopers rank fifth in the MIAA in points allowed, giving up 23.5 points per game including 385.4 total yards of offense. Darius Swanson is the leading tackler for UNK, totaling 85 tackles on the season while also forcing a fumble and collecting three interceptions. Tell Spies is the sack leader with 5.5 sacks on the year, totaling 6.5 tackles for loss.
 
QUICK HITS:
DOMINATING ON DEFENSE:
The Rams haven't allowed more than two touchdowns in the last six games and hold the seventh overall ranked defense in Division II, allowing 247.7 yards of offense per game. ASU is fourth in rush defense, giving up only 70.2 yards on the ground and rank sixth in turnover margin at plus-1.33
 
MAKE IT SIX IN A ROW:
The Rams have now won six games in a row dating back to Oct. 16 when ASU defeated UT Permian Basin 34-14. It is the longest winning streak the Rams have had since the 2014 season, the last time ASU made the second round of the NCAA DII Championship.
 
RUNNING PAST THE OPPOSITION:
Angelo State holds the top rushing offense in the Lone Star while ranking 13^th overall in Division II with 228.5 yards per game. They have tallied 2,741 yards on the ground this season.
 
TOUCHDOWN GENERATOR:
Bronkhorst has been responsible for 25 touchdowns this season, throwing for 16 while rushing for nine others. The two-time LSC Offensive Player of the Week has tallied the second-most rushing touchdowns for the Rams and has totaled four touchdowns in each of the last two games.