Game 2
#4 ANGELO STATE RAMS (1-0, 0-0 LSC) vs. #2 COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES OREDIGGERS (1-0, 0-0 RMAC)
Saturday, Sept. 9, 6 p.m., San Angelo, Texas – LeGrand Stadium at 1^st Community Credit Union Field
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The fifth-ranked Angelo State football team will play its home opener on Saturday as the Rams welcome back regional rival No. 2 Colorado School of Mines with kickoff set for 6 p.m. at LeGrand Stadium at 1^st Community Credit Union Field.
 
LAST TIME OUT: The Rams opened the 2023 campaign with a victory over West Alabama on the road last week, winning 38-14. After trailing 14-10 at the break, ASU scored 28 unaswered points while quarterback Gerald Gardner tossed for 292 yards and two touchdowns in his first game in the blue and gold. ASU defense held the Tigers to 192 total yards and allowed only one offensive score while collecting three interceptions and two forced fumbles.
 
SERIES HISTORY: Angelo State vs. Colorado School of Mines
All-Time Series: 1-2
Last Meeting: Dec. 3, 2022 – Mines, 42-24
This will be the fourth time the Rams and Orediggers have played in program history, all within the last two seasons. ASU split with Mines last season, winning 30-27 in overtime in Golden, Colo., during the regular-season before the Orediggers earned a victory in the quarterfinals of the NCAA National Championship over the Rams.
 
SCOUTING THE OREDIGGERS:

• Mines opened the 2023 season with a 31-28 win over No. 3 Grand Valley State, converting a 41-yard field goal attempt with two seconds remaining in the game.
• The Orediggers moved up to the No. 2 rank in the AFCA NCAA Division II Top 25 Coaches' Poll.
• John Matocha, the 2022 Harlin Hill Ward winner, returns as the quarterback for Mines. In week one, he threw for 327 yards with two touchdowns.
• Landon Walker and Noah Roper split time in the backfield to combine for 180 rushing yards while Max McLeod leads out wide with 11 catches and 157 yards in week one.
• Last season, the Orediggers earned a win over the Rams in the quarterfinals before advancing to the NCAA Division II title game for the first time in program history.
• Pete Sterbick enters his first season as the head coach for Mines after serving as the offensive coordinator.

 
TOP 20 IN DIVISION II:
The Rams tallied 482 total offensive yards against West Alabama, ranking 17^th overall in Division II while allowing 192 yards which ranks 15^th overall.
 
5 TAKEAWAYS AGAINST THE TIGERS:
ASU's defense continued the success its had over the years under Defensive Coordinator Adam Clark as the Rams recorded five takeaways against UWA, tallying three interceptions and two forced fumbles. The Rams rank fourth in Division II in total takeaways.
 
SPREADING THE BALL:
Against the Tigers, the Rams had 10 different receivers catch a ball while three different running backs recorded a rush in the game.
 
TOP 5 IN AFCA:
After a week one victory over West Alabama, the Rams moved up to No. 4 overall in the lastest AFCA NCAA Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll.
 
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.
 
D2FOOTBALL.COM ELITE 100:
K'Hari Watson and Andrew Pitts were named to the D2Football.com 2023 Elite 100 watch list for the upcoming season.