Game 1
#5 ANGELO STATE RAMS (0-0, 0-0 LSC) vs. RV WEST ALABAMA TIGERS (0-0, 0-0 GSC)
Thursday, Aug. 31, 6 p.m., Livingston, Ala. – Tiger Stadium
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The fifth-ranked Angelo State football team will kick off the 2023 campaign on the road as the Rams travel to Livingston, Ala., to face off against the Tigers on West Alabama on Thursday at Tiger Stadium.
ASU is coming off one of the best seasons in program history, earning the first outright Lone Star Conference Championships since 1984 while setting a new program record for wins with a 12-1 overall record and their second straight appearance in the NCAA Division II Quarterfinals.
SERIES HISTORY: Angelo State vs. West Alabama
All-Time Series: 0-0
Last Meeting: N/A
This will be the first meeting between the Rams and the Tigers in program history.
SCOUTING THE TIGERS:
- Members of the Gulf South Conference, the Tigers were selected to finish fourth overall in their conference after earning a 5-6 overall record last season.
- The Tigers tallied just under 23 points per game last season while averaging 387.4 yards of total offense.
- Defensively, UWA gave up 19.9 points per game along with 164.1 rushing yards per game and 325.8 total yards.
- Tucker Melton returns at the quarterback position for the Tigers after throwing for 2,147 yards last season with 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
- Bry Webb was the leading rusher for UWA in 2022, totaling 738 yards with five rushing touchdowns.
- Trevon Stanford recorded the second most tackles for the Tigers last season with 46, including 9.5 tackles for loss.
- The Tigers will have a new offensive coordinator this season as Carmen Felus takes over the role after two seasons at Stony Brook.
LSC FAVORITES:
After finishing the 2022 LSC season undefeated, the Rams were selected as the favorites to repeat in 2023, earning the top spot in the conference preseason coaches' poll.
TOP 10 IN THE PRESEASON POLLS:
The Rams enter the 2023 season ranked in the top 10 in two polls, earning the fifth spot in the AFCA Division II Coaches' poll while coming in at No. 6 according to D2Football.com
TOP DEFENSE IN 2022:
The Rams led the Lone Star and Division II in total defense last season, allowing 222.5 yards per game.
Eric Rascoe returns at the linebacker position after leading the Rams with 69 total tackles last season.
Andrew Pitts led the conference in interceptions last season with seven while
Amieh Williams returns in the defensive line after totaling 12.5 tackles for loss with 5.5 sacks.
RUNNING BACK DEPTH:
Running backs
Kason Philips and
Alfred Grear will lead the backfield to begin the season. Philips finished with 718 rushing yards and six touchdowns while Grear is coming off an injury after collecting 192 yards in the first two games of the 2022 season.
Brayden Wilcox will also be in the rotation after earning 101 yards on 27 carries with a touchdown.
GERALD GARDNER PROFILE:
Gerald Gardner will make his first start at quarterback for the Rams on Thursday after transferring from Lake Erie College. Last season for the Storm, Gardner threw for 3,091 yards with 22 touchdowns while completing 58 percent of his passes. He threw for 42 touchdowns and only 15 interceptions in the last two seasons at Lake Erie.
D2FOOTBALL.COM ELITE 100:
K'Hari Watson and Pitts were named to the D2Football.com 2023 Elite 100 watch list for the upcoming season.
