Game 1:
#13 ANGELO STATE RAMS (0-0, 0-0 LSC) vs. RV FORT HAYS STATE (0-0, 0-0 MIAA)
Thursday, Aug. 28, 7 p.m. CT, Hays, Kan. – Lewis Field Stadium
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The 2025 campaign is set to begin on Thursday for the 13
th-ranked Angelo State football team as the Rams travel to Fort Hays State for a nonconference game set for 7 p.m.
This will be the second season in a row that the Rams will open the season in Hays, Kan.
SERIES HISTORY: Angelo State vs. Fort Hays State
All-Time Series: 0-1, FHSU
Last Meeting: Aug. 30, 2024 (Hays, Kan.) – FHSU, 21-7
In the 2024 season-opener, the Tigers held on to a 21-7 victory over the Rams in their first meeting in program history. Originally scheduled for the night before, thunderstorms postponed the game to the following Friday afternoon.
Kaeden Smith scored the lone touchdown for the Rams, scrambling for a 28-yard run during the second quarter. ASU's defense held the Tigers to only one touchdown in the last three quarters of the game.
SCOUTING THE TIGERS:
- Fort Hays State finished the 2024 season with an 8-3 overall record, going 6-0 at home. They were selected to finish third overall in the 2025 MIAA Preseason poll behind Central Oklahoma (1) and Pittsburg State (2).
- The Tigers received two players on the D2Football.com Elite 100 Watch List in offensive lineman Josh Shaw and linebacker John Johnson.
- Johnson is the top returning tackler for the Tigers, collecting 63 tackles in eight games.
- Last season, the Tigers led the MIAA in scoring defense (16.9 ppg) and ranked second in total defense (330.1 yds/game).
- Quarterback Caleb Heavner returns to lead the Tigers after throwing for 1,649 yards last season with 13 touchdowns and two interceptions. He added 353 yards on the ground with five rushing touchdowns.
- Jabari Lewis is the top receiver returning for FHSU, collecting 29 targets for 469 yards and three touchdowns.
- Defensively, Gaven Haselhorst returns after totaling 3.5 sacks and 6.0 tackles for loss.
IN THE RANKINGS:
The Rams received several preseason rankings heading into week one, as the AFCA selected the Rams at No. 13. ASU also received the No. 12 spot from D2Football.com while FloCollege released their first ever Top 25 rankings with the Rams at No.11.
FULLER EARNS PRESEASON POTY:
Quarterback
Braeden Fuller was selected as the Lone Star Conference Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. A 2024 Harlon Hill Award Finalist and the 2024 OPOTY for the conference, Fuller led the conference in passing yards (2,318) and touchdowns (19). He also added 10 rushing touchdowns and 678 yards on the ground.
VETERANS IN THE TRENCHES:
Owen Seaver and
Kriovanni Johnson are back to lead the Rams' front line on defense. Seaver, the 2024 LSC Defensive Lineman of the Year, totaled 6.5 tackles for loss with 41 total tackles while Johnson finished with 26 tackles including six for loss.
HEAD COACH PROFILE – JEFF GIRSCH
Entering his seventh season as head coach of the Rams,
Jeff Girsch earned his third LSC Coach of the Year honor last year after leading the Rams to a 9-2 overall record, going 9-0 in conference play. Girsch holds a .765 winning percentage at ASU and is currently the winningest coach in program history, earning two LSC titles in the last three seasons.
THREE RAMS ON D2FOOTBALL.COM ELITE 100 WATCHLIST:
The Rams had three players named to the D2Football.com Elite 100 Watchlist. Newcomer
Stefaan Forbes was named First-Team punter while defensive end
Owen Seaver was selected Second-Team Defense and Fuller was named to the Offensive Squad.
PICKED TO REPEAT IN LSC PRESEASON POLL:
Totaling 292 points and 23 first-place votes, the Rams were selected first overall in the LSC Preseason Poll. Rounding out the top three were Central Washington at two and UT Permian Basin at three.
QUICK HITS:
- Jayden Jones and Cameron Dischler return in the backfield for the Rams. Jones finished with 315 rushing yards and five touchdowns, while Dischler had 229 yards with three touchdowns and collected four receiving touchdowns.
- Dalton Perry is back under center for the Rams after starting every game last season.
- Zeek Freeman leads the returners at wideout, collecting 14 passes last season for 312 yards and two touchdowns.
- Xavier Walton is the top returning tackler for the Rams after totaling 45 at the safety position, along with two interceptions.
