Game 8:
RV ANGELO STATE RAMS (5-2, 5-0 LSC) vs. SUL ROSS STATE LOBOS (2-5, 1-4 LSC)
Saturday, Oct. 26, 6 p.m. CT, San Angelo, Texas – LeGrand Stadium at 1^st Community Credit Union Field
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The Rams return to LeGrand Stadium at 1^st Community Credit Union Field on Saturday as they look to extend their winning streak to six games against Sul Ross State on Homecoming night.
 
LAST TIME OUT:
The Rams played spoiler at Midwestern State's homecoming game, defeating the Mustangs 44-7 last Saturday. ASU finished with a season-high 391 yards of offense as four Rams rushed for a touchdown. Braeden Fuller threw 15-for-19 with 164 passing yards, one passing touchdown and ran for another. Jordan McKinney totaled seven tackles with a sack while the defense collected 10 tackles for loss in the game.
 
SERIES HISTORY: Angelo State vs. Sul Ross State
All-Time Series: 7-5, ASU
Last Meeting: Nov. 22, 1975 – ASU, 48-0
The Rams and Lobos have met 12 times in program history, all of which came during the NAIA era for Angelo State. The last meeting between these two teams was in the final game of the 1975 season where the Rams earned a 48-0 win to finish the year 8-2-1. After falling in the first four games of the series, ASU has won six straight games against Sul Ross State from 1971-1975.
 
SCOUTING THE LOBOS:

• In their first season as members of the Lone Star and NCAA Division II, the Lobos enter the weekend with a 2-5 overall record, going 1-4 in conference play.
• The Lobos earned their first-ever conference win against Western New Mexico last week, defeating the Mustangs 34-20 in the Battle for the Golden Tumbleweed.
• SRSU's only other win of the season was against Wayland Baptist, winning 52-51 in overtime back in September.
• Offensively, the Lobos rank sixth in the LSC in points per game with an average of 26.1, earning 317.1 total yards of offense per game.
• SRSU leads the LSC in passing yards per game, averaging 240.7 yards, while throwing the second most passing touchdowns at 14.
• Wideout Austin Ogunmakin leads the conference with 569 receiving yards, averaging 81.3 yards per game.
• Quarterback Andrew Martinez is throwing 57.3 percent this year with 1,343 yards, 12 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
• The Lobos are giving up 40.6 points per game, the worst in the conference, and are allowing just over 400 yards per game.
• Quincy Blair has recorded 70 tackles this season, averaging 10 tackles per game which is tied for the most in the LSC.
• The Lobos have given up the second most sacks in the conference (25) and have recorded the fewest (5).

 
CONFERENCE OUTLOOK:
With four games to play in the regular season, the Rams and Western Oregon are the only remaining undefeated teams in conference play. Central Washington is third in the conference with a 4-1 record in conference games. The Rams will face Central Washington on Nov. 2 before traveling to Western Oregon on Nov. 9 while the Wildcats and the Wolves meet in the final game of the season on Nov. 16.
 
FULL(ER) HOUSE:
Braeden Fuller has been responsible for 14 touchdowns in his last four games. He ranks fourth in the conference in passing touchdowns with nine and is tied for third in rushing touchdowns with six on the season. Fuller is averaging 213.4 total yards of offense which is also third in the LSC while holding the second-best efficiency rating at 133.8.
 
TOUCHDOWN FIRSTS:
The Rams had three players record their first touchdown for ASU in Saturday's win over Midwestern State. Anthony Jones caught an 86-yard touchdown pass while Cameron Dischler and Zeek Freeman both ran for a score.
 
DEFENDING THE PYLONS:
The Rams are allowing only 10.3 points per game this season with two shutouts. They lead the Lone Star in points allowed and rank fifth overall in Division II. ASU has also allowed the second-fewest yards per game in the conference (265.3) which ranks 19^th in Division II.
 
BALL HAWKIN:
ASU's defense extended its interception streak against the Mustangs, picking off opponents at least once in each game this season. The Rams have now recorded at least one interception in nine of their last 10 games going back to last season. ASU is tied for the conference lead in interceptions with nine.
 
CHANGING POSSESSION:
ASU's defense has collected 16 turnovers this season, ranking eighth in Division II, and has the second-best turnover margin in the country at plus-1.57. The Rams are holding opponents to a 3^rd down conversion percentage of .274, the 11^th 11th-lowest average in Division II, and have allowed 100 first downs all season which is 18^th in Division II.
 
PUNTER PROWESS:
Cade Fuller ranks third in the country in punting, averaging 46.4 yards per punt which leads the Lone Star and ranks second overall in Division II. Fuller is currently 7^th in Division II's active leaders with a career average of 41.6 yards per punt.
 
LONE STAR CONFERENCE WEEKLY HONORS:
Offensive Player of the Week:
Sept. 23 | Braeden Fuller – 23-of-38, 222 passing yards, 2 TDs; 74 rushing yards, 1 TD
Oct. 7 | Braeden Fuller – 9-of-15, 112 passing yards, 1 TD; 154 rushing yards, 3 TDs
Oct. 12 | Braeden Fuller – 18-of33, 332 passing yards, 4 TDs; 1 rushing TD
 
Defensive Player of the Week
Oct. 7 | Kenton Allen – 12 tackles, 10 solo, FR, TD
 
Special Teams Player of the Week
Oct. 12 | Cade Fuller – 49.9 yards per punt, 8 punts, long of 71
 
NEW INTERCEPTION CROWN:
Andrew Pitts recorded his 19^th career interception against Western New Mexico, setting a new program record for the Rams for interceptions in a career. The active career leader in all NCAA divisions, Pitts has recorded an interception in five of six games played this season, earning his 21^st overall against Texas A&M – Kingsville.
 
HEAD COACH PROFILE – JEFF GIRSCH
Jeff Girsch enters his sixth season as head coach of the Rams, 11th overall at Angelo State. He has compiled a 45-14 overall record since taking over the program in 2018 after serving as the defensive coordinator. Girsch has led the Rams to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II Championship in 2021 and 2022 while claiming the 2022 Lone Star Conference title.
 
THREE RAMS ON D2FOOTBALL.COM ELITE 100 WATCHLIST:
The Rams had three players named to the D2Football.com Elite 100 Watchlist, cornerback Andrew Pitts, offensive lineman Noah Plsek, and placekicker Bradley Larson.
 
#2 IN LSC PRESEASON POLL:
With 260 total points and six first-place votes, the Rams were selected second overall in the LSC Preseason Coaches' Poll. Central Washington was picked first overall while UT Permian Basin came in at three.
 
RAMS AT HOME IN 2024:
ASU is slated for five home games this season, hosting Eastern New Mexico in the home opener on Sept. 14. The Rams will also welcome in Texas A&M – Kingsville on Oct. 12, Sul Ross State on Oct. 26 for Homecoming, and Central Washington on Nov. 2, before closing out the regular season against West Texas A&M on Nov. 16.
 
QUICK HITS:

• The Rams rank second in the country in turnover margin at plus-1.57.
• ASU returners are averaging 27.43 yards per kickoff, ranking seventh in Division II.
• Kenton Allen has recorded 63 tackles this season, averaging 9.0 per game, which ranks fourth in the conference.
• Dylan Neeley's six tackles for loss rank 10^th in the conference.
• Kel Williams ranks 10^th in the LSC in receptions (22) and receiving yards (283).
• Fuller is fourth in the conference in completion percentage (58%) and is fourth in passing yards with 1,172.
• Pitts ranks first overall in the LSC in interceptions (5) and passes defended (9).
• The Rams are the second least penalized team in the conference, averaging only 54 penalty yards per game.
• ASU's defense has allowed only 12 red zone attempts by opponents this season, second in the conference behind Central Washington at 11.
• Hunter Wallis is second on the team in receptions with 15 and is tied with Williams in receiving touchdowns with three.