Game 2:
#10 ANGELO STATE RAMS (1-0, 0-0 LSC) vs. EMPORIA STATE HORNETS (1-0, 0-0 MIAA)
Saturday, Sept. 6, 6 p.m., San Angelo, Texas. – LeGrand Stadium at 1^st Community Credit Union Field
Watch of FloCollege |  Live Stats  |  Listen Live
 
The 10^th-ranked Rams will host their home opener on Saturday as they welcome in Emporia State for a nonconference game at LeGrand Stadium at 1^st Community Credit Union Field with kickoff set for 6 p.m.
 
GAME THEME: Blue Out!
 
LAST TIME OUT:
The Rams opened the 2025 season with a 28-7 victory on the road against Fort Hays State. Braeden Fuller threw for 177 yards with three touchdowns while Corey Sandolph brought in four catches for 46 yards and two scores. ASU's defense held the Tigers scoreless in the second half with Marquis Brown recording a team-high 13 tackles and an interception.
 
SERIES HISTORY: Angelo State vs. Emporia State
All-Time Series: 0-1, ESU
Last Meeting: Sept. 7, 2024 (Emporia, Kan.) – ESU, 17-12
The Hornets held on to a 17-12 victory over the Rams in the second game of the year last season. ASU struggled in the redzone, coming away with four field goals. The Rams found success running the ball, ending the game with 239 rushing yards.
 
SCOUTING THE HORNETS:

• Emporia State opened its season at home, defeating Minot State 27-7 last week.
• The Hornets finished with almost 400 yards of total offense, throwing for 292 yards and two touchdowns.
• ESU was picked to finish fifth overall in the MIAA Preseason Poll.
• Defensive back Tyler Schultze was named to the D2Football.com Elite 100 Watch List after leading the MIAA in interceptions with five a season ago.
• 10 different receivers caught a pass in ESU's first game of the season, with Malik O'Atis leading the team with 12 catches for 90 yards and a touchdown.
• Diego Cearns led the Hornets in rushing with 71 yards on 13 carries.
• Quarterback Ben Harris made his first start for the Hornets last week, completing 37-of-52 passing with two touchdowns and an interception.
• The Hornets had three players with nine tackles against Minot State, including Landon Boss, who finished with three tackles for loss and a forced fumble.

 
IN THE RANKINGS:
The Rams moved up in the rankings in all polls as both the AFCA and D2Football.com gave the Rams the 10^th spot in the Top 25.
 
HEAD COACH PROFILE – JEFF GIRSCH
Jeff Girsch recorded his 50^th career win as head coach last week, becoming the fastest coach in program history to reach that milestone. He holds a career winning percentage of .769 and has been selected as the LSC Coach of the Year three times in his career, most recently in 2024. Prior to being named head coach, Girsch spent five years as the defensive coordinator for the Rams.
 
TRIO ON THE OUTSIDE:
The Rams saw production from multiple wideouts in the first game of the season as Zeek Freeman, Corey Sandolph and Donny Bishop all found the endzone against the Tigers. Freeman brought in a 60-yard catch-and-run for the first score of the season while Sandolph doubled up for two touchdown catches.
 
BALL HAWKIN:
With an interception against Fort Hays, the Rams have recorded at least one pick in each of their last 16 games, dating back to Oct. 28, 2023.
 
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.
 
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 led the rushing attack for the Rams with 79 yards on 11 carries, averaging 7.2 yards per carry.
• The Rams had three different players complete a pass in the first game of the season, including Kaeden Smith, who threw a touchdown after taking the handoff.
• The Rams collected seven tackles for loss against Fort Hays State, while Devonte Robertson and Mathew Onyejiaka each had a sack.
• After converting from quarterback to running back, Chad Pharies averaged 7.8 yards per carry in four attempts last week.
• Eugene Liger recorded five tackles and a pass breakup from the corner.