Game 10:
#23 ANGELO STATE RAMS (7-2, 7-0 LSC) vs. WESTERN OREGON WOLVES (6-3, 6-1 LSC)
Saturday, Nov. 9, 3 p.m. CT, Monmouth, Ore. – McArthur Field
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The Rams make their longest trip of the year as Angelo State heads to the west coast to take on Western Oregon on Saturday, Nov. 9 with kickoff set for 3 p.m. CT.
 
LAST TIME OUT:                                                                                                                                                            
The Rams held on to their undefeated record in conference play with a dramatic 17-16 win over 17^th-ranked Central Washington. After a late touchdown by the Wildcats, a false start backed CWU up five yards before missing the tying extra-point attempt with 34 seconds to play. Braeden Fuller threw a 75-yard touchdown pass to Zeek Freeman on the first play from scrimmage while Kenton Allen came up with 13 tackles and a key fourth-quarter interception to lead the defense.
 
SERIES HISTORY: Angelo State vs. Western Oregon
All-Time Series: 4-0, ASU
Last Meeting: Nov. 11, 2023 (San Angelo, Texas) – ASU, 31-13
The Rams have controlled the short series against the Wolves, winning all four meetings since the 2018 season. ASU is averaging 32.5 points per game against Western Oregon and is 2-0 in Monmouth with the last road win coming during the 2022 season (30-7).
 
SCOUTING THE WOLVES:

• The Wolves enter Saturday's contest with the second-best conference record at 6-1, going 6-3 overall.
• WOU lost the first two games of the season to FCS opponents while the only loss in conference came at home to Texas A&M – Kingsville, 21-14.
• The Wolves have the third-best rushing offense in the LSC, averaging 195.7 yards per game.
• WOU has given up the second-highest average for passing yards, allowing 229.2 yards per game.
• The Wolves are tied with ASU for the most interceptions at 12 while Andrew Simpson leads the league in interceptions (6) and pass defended (17).
• The Wolves are averaging 26.1 points per game while giving up 23.1.
• Dominique Loggins ranks fifth in the conference in rushing yards with 672 and has run for five touchdowns.
• Jordan McCarty has thrown for 562 yards with four touchdowns on 92 attempts after taking over and has rushed for five touchdowns.

 
ONE WIN AWAY:
With two games remaining in the regular season, the Rams are one win away from clinching at least a share of the Lone Star Conference Championship. A win over the Wolves would give the Rams the outright title for the second time in three seasons.
 
ALLEN EARNS LSC WEEKLY DEFENSIVE HONOR:
After recording a game-high 13 tackles against the Wildcats, Allen was named the Lone Star Conference Defensive Player of the Week. He also recorded an interception on the ASU 15-yard line to keep the score 17-10 with under eight minutes to play. Allen and company held CWU without a TD in the first and third quarters. It was the second defensive award for Allen this season, earning the honor after the UT Permian Basin game.
 
5^th IN REGIONAL POLL:
In the first NCAA Division II South Central Regional ranking, the Rams came in at No. 5. 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 next playoff ranking will be released on Tuesday, Nov. 12.
 
FULL(ER) HOUSE:
Braeden Fuller has recorded at least one touchdown pass in each of his last seven games, collecting 17 total touchdowns in that span with six coming on the ground. Fuller holds the second-best efficiency rating in the conference at 143.0, ranks third in total offense per game at 229.0, and is the only quarterback in Division II with no interceptions on more than 200 passing attempts this season.
 
OUTSCORING THE OPPOSITION:
During the seven-game win streak, the Rams have outscored opponents 239 to 60, averaging 376.6 total yards of offense while giving up only 8.6 points per game and 253.7 yards.
 
DEFENDING THE PYLONS:
The Rams are allowing only 10.9 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 (267.0) which ranks 17^th in Division II.
 
BALL HAWKIN:
ASU's defense extended its interception streak against the Wildcats, picking off opponents at least once in each game this season, leading the Lone Star with 12 interceptions. The Rams have now recorded at least one interception in 11 of their last 12 games going back to last season.
 
CHANGING POSSESSION:
ASU's defense has collected 19 turnovers this season, ranking 12th in Division II, and has the fifth-best turnover margin in the country at plus-1.44. The Rams are holding opponents to a 3^rd down conversion percentage of .304, the lowest in the conference, and have allowed 125 first downs all season which is 12^th in Division II.
 
PUNTER PROWESS:
Cade Fuller ranks third in the country in punting, averaging 45.9 yards per punt which leads the Lone Star. Fuller is currently 7^th in Division II's active leaders with a career average of 41.7 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. 14 | 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
Nov. 4 | Kenton Allen – 13 tackles, 4 solo, INT
 
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:

• The Rams have recorded the most sacks in the Lone Star with 22 on the season.
• Dylan Neeley ranks third in the conference in sacks with 4.5.
• Kenton Allen is fourth in the LSC in total tackles this season with 81.
• The Rams have recorded the most fumble recoveries in the conference with seven.
• Fuller leads the conference in passing yards with 1,627 yards, averaging 180.8 per game.
• Kel Williams ranks 13^th in the conference in receiving yards with 341, averaging 14.2 yards per catch.
• Andrew Pitts ranks second in the LSC in punt return average at 8.5 yards per return.
• Freeman is averaging 22.3 yards per catch, the third-highest average in the LSC.
• ASU averages 28.7 points per game, the third highest in the conference.
• Bradley Larson is fourth in the conference in scoring, averaging 6.2 points per game.
• The Rams have the fourth-best rush defense in the conference, allowing 112.6 yards on the ground per game.