By: Jake Coburn, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
Game 11:
#21 ANGELO STATE RAMS (8-2, 8-0 LSC) vs. WEST TEXAS A&M BUFFS (5-5, 5-3 LSC)
Saturday, Nov. 16, 6 p.m. CT, San Angelo, Texas – LeGrand Stadium at 1CCU Field
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The 2024 Lone Star Conference Champions return home this weekend as the Rams close out the regular season against West Texas A&M on Saturday, Nov. 16 with kickoff set for 6 p.m. at LeGrand Stadium at 1
st Community Credit Union Field.
Prior to the game, the Rams will honor 19 seniors during the Senior Day ceremony which will begin at 5:25 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT:
ASU clinched the LSC title last Saturday, defeating Western Oregon 38-16 on the road for their eighth straight win.
Braeden Fuller threw for 315 yards and three touchdowns while adding a fourth score on the ground. ASU's defense collected four takeaways while
Eric Rascoe finished with 11 tackles, an interception, and a fumble recovery. The Rams broke away in the third quarter after scoring two touchdowns as Fuller found
Zorhan Rideaux on two touchdown passes of 80 yards and 33 yards.
SERIES HISTORY: Angelo State vs. West Texas A&M
All-Time Series: 21-16, ASU
Last Meeting: Oct. 28, 2023 (Canyon, Texas) – ASU, 27-10
The Rams hold the advantage in the all-time series, winning 21 of the 37 matchups. ASU has won the last two meetings and is 7-3 over the last 10 games against the Buffs.
SCOUTING THE BUFFS:
- The Buffs enter the weekend with a 5-5 overall record and are 5-3 in conference play.
- WT has won four of their last five games, including two straight, defeating Texas A&M – Kingsville and Midwestern State while falling to UT Permian Basin on Oct. 26.
- The Buffs are averaging 22 points per game, giving up an average of 24.5, and rank fourth in the LSC in offensive yards per game at 369.9.
- The Buffs are even in their offense, averaging 190.1 passing yards and 179.8 rushing yards per game.
- WT has allowed the third fewest sacks in the conference, giving up 10 on the year.
- Tre'Jon Henderson ranks seventh in the conference in rushing yards with 70 per game after transferring from Central Washington.
- After taking over midway through the season, Kanon Gibson has thrown for 1,115 yards and 10 touchdowns in five games this season.
- JT Cavender leads the Buffs with 99 tackles this season which ranks third in the conference.
FULLER AND RASCOE EARN WEEKLY HONORS:
For the second time this season, the Rams collected two honors in one week after Fuller and Rascoe were named LSC Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week respectively. Fuller has earned the award four times this season while Rascoe is the second player to earn the accolade with
Kenton Allen being named twice this season.
4th IN REGIONAL POLL:
In the second NCAA Division II South Central Regional ranking, the Rams moved up one spot to No. 4 after their win over the Wolves. The top seven teams will advance to the playoffs with the top seed receiving a bye and two, three, and four seeds hosting first-round games. The field for the 2024 NCAA Division II Football Championship will be announced during the selection show on Sunday, Nov. 17 at 5 p.m. CT on NCAA.com.
IN THE RANKINGS:
The Rams climbed to No. 21 in the AFCA Division II Top 25 Coaches' poll while D2Football.com has the ASU at No. 19.
FULL(ER) HOUSE:
Braeden Fuller has been responsible for 21 touchdowns this season and has recorded multiple touchdowns in five games this season. Fuller holds the second-best efficiency rating in the conference at 148.8, ranks second in total offense per game at 240.3, and is the only quarterback in Division II with no interceptions on more than 200 passing attempts this season.
OUTSCORING THE LSC:
During conference play, the Rams have outscored the opposition 277-76, allowing only 9.5 points per game. ASU is averaging more than 120 yards of offense compared to their opponents, collecting 383 yards while allowing 258.1 per game.
DEFENDING THE PYLONS:
The Rams are allowing only 11.4 points per game this season with two shutouts. They lead the Lone Star in points allowed and rank seventh overall in Division II. ASU has also allowed the second-fewest yards per game in the conference (269.2) which ranks 17
th in Division II.
BALL HAWKIN:
ASU's defense extended its interception streak against the Wolves, picking off opponents at least once in each game this season, leading the Lone Star with 14 interceptions. The Rams have now recorded at least one interception in 12 of their last 13 games going back to last season.
CHANGING POSSESSION:
ASU's defense has collected 23 turnovers this season, ranking eighth in Division II, and has the second-best turnover margin in the country at plus-1.70. The Rams are holding opponents to a 3
rd down conversion percentage of .289, the lowest in the conference, and have allowed 143 first downs all season which is 16
th in Division II.
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. 14 | Braeden Fuller – 18-of-33, 332 passing yards, 4 TDs; 1 rushing TD
Nov. 11 | Braeden Fuller – 13-of-25, 315 passing yards, 3 TDs; 1 rushing TD
Defensive Player of the Week
Oct. 7 | Kenton Allen – 12 tackles, 10 solo, FR, TD
Nov. 4 | Kenton Allen – 13 tackles, 4 solo, INT
Nov. 11 | Eric Rascoe – 11 tackles, FR, INT, .5 sack
Special Teams Player of the Week
Oct. 14 | 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 eight games 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 46-14 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:
- Rideaux recorded his first multiple touchdown game of his career, catching two passes against WOU.
- Zeek Freeman is averaging the third highest yards per catch in the conference at 22.4
- Bradley Larson is third in the conference in points, averaging 6.4 per game, and in field goals with 10.
- Fuller has collected 2,403 total offensive yards this season, the second most in the LSC.
- The Rams lead the LSC in sacks with 25 on the season.
- Rascoe ranks 7th in the LSC in interceptions with 3 and is 13th in sacks with four.
- Kenton Allen is sixth in the conference in total tackles with 91 on the season.
- Dylan Neeley is seventh in the LSC in tackles for loss (8.5) and sacks (4.5).
- Andrew Pitts ranks second in the league in passes defended (17).
- The Rams have the third best passing defense in the LSC, allowing 154.5 yards per game.
- ASU is averaging 22.4 yards per kick return which is third in the LSC.
- Cade Fuller is averaging 45.3 yards per punt which leads the conference.
