Game 9: ANGELO STATE RAMS (3-5, 3-3 LSC) vs. UT PERMIAN BASIN FALCONS (5-3, 4-2 LSC)
Saturday, Oct. 30, 6 p.m. CT, Midland, Texas – Astound Broadband Stadium
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THE MATCHUP
The Angelo State University football team will look to keep the winning ways going as they head up north to face off against UT Permian Basin at Astound Broadband Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 24.

Saturday marks the 10^th game between the two teams, dating back to 2016. The Rams lead the series seven wins to two but the Falcons have won two of the last three games.

SERIES HISTORY: Angelo State vs. UT Permian Basin
All-Time Series: ASU, 7-2
Last Meeting: Oct. 4, 2025 (San Angelo, Texas – UTPB, 28-14)

LAST TIME OUT
Last week, the Rams hosted Texas A&M-Kingsville for Breast Cancer Awareness Night at LeGrand Stadium at 1^st Community Credit Union Field.

Offensively, the Blue and Gold racked up 450 yards of total offense, rumbling for 288 yards on the ground while airing it out for 162 yards. Canon Wiese led all players with 173 yards on the ground and scored all four of ASU's touchdowns.

Maddox Maher got his third career start and tossed the rock for 162 yards and a touchdown. Alan Dobbins led the receiving room with 61 yards off five catches.

Defensively, the Rams racked up eight tackles for loss and four sacks, led by Iverson Moore, who notched five total tackles, two for loss, and a sack. Mathew Onyejiaka led the team with nine total tackles. Dabrein Moss nabbed an interception while the Blue and Gold racked up 14 pass breakups, led by Shamareon "Bobo" McKinnon, who had five on the night.

SCOUTING THE FALCONS

• UT Permian Basin enters the weekend on a 5-3 overall record and 4-2 in LSC play. Last week, they traveled to face off against Central Washington and fell 42-13 for the Falcons second straight loss.
• The Falcons have the ninth-best offense in the LSC, gaining 385.3 yards and scoring 35.6 points per game.
• UTPB have had a carousel of quarterbacks see action over the past few weeks with Nate TenBarge seeing the most action, completing 53.17% of his passes for 1,406 yards and 13 touchdowns and five interceptions. Expect to see Braxton Baker and James Solomon to see snaps as well as each have seen action over the past few weeks.
• Traylen Suel leads the rushing attack as he has rumbled for 312 yards and two touchdowns on just 47 carries.
• The Falcons boast the best total defense (statistically) in the LSC as they have allowed 381.9 total yards and 24.9 points per game.

WINNING WITH WIESE
Rams senior running back, Canon Wiese, was named Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Week, becoming the second member of the Blue and Gold to earn LSC weekly honors this season after accounting for all four of the Rams' touchdowns in a 28-14 victory over Texas A&M-Kingsville Saturday night.

The Water Valley native rushed for 173 yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries while adding a receiving touchdown on one of his three catches for 18 yards. Wiese's four-touchdown performance powered an Angelo State offense that totaled 450 yards in the conference victory.

Wiese scored the Rams' first three touchdowns, helping Angelo State build a 21-0 lead heading into the fourth quarter. His longest scoring play came on a 74-yard touchdown run late in the first half, giving the Rams a two-touchdown advantage at the break.

SCORING ON DEFENSE
The Rams defense is second in the Lone Star Conference in total defense, allowing 382.1 yards per game; 151.6 yards per game on the ground and just 230.5 yards through the air, with the secondary recording 48 pass breakups. Furthermore, the Rams' three defensive touchdowns against the Lobos on Oct. 10 put the Blue and Gold fifth in DII in that category.

DISCIPLINE FOOTBALL
The Angelo State football team leads the LSC in the fewest penalties per game (5.63) and penalty yards per game (53.38).

THE AMAZING ALAN
Redshirt freshman wide receiver Alan Dobbins is second on the team with 34 catches, 423 yards and five touchdowns. The Del Rio, Texas native had a breakout game against Western Colorado, catching eight passes for 94 yards and a touchdown.

DIME TO DONNY
Senior wide receiver Donny Bishop finds himself atop the team, in a couple of categories: receptions (36) and receiving yards (434) while being second in touchdowns (3). The Midland Lee product has accumulated 66 catches for 782 yards and nine touchdowns in his career.

DIRECT TO DISCH
Cameron Dishler has racked up seven rushing touchdowns so far in the 2026 campaign, which is good for third best in the Lone Star Conference. The Rams' leading rusher was named LSC First Team All-Conference last season after he ran for 411 yards and three touchdowns in the seven games, he appeared in.

DYNAMIC DUO
The Rams defensive back room will look to bring over the success from last season as they return cornerbacks Demetris Charles and Tre Liger. Charles received the nod for second-team All-Conference after recording 46 total tackles, three interceptions and six pass deflections. Liger earned an honorable mention after recording 39 tackles. 3.5 for loss, two interceptions and seven pass deflections.

ALL CONFERENCE LINEMEN
The Angelo State offensive line will look to create success in the trenches game as they return two all-conference selections; redshirt juniors Viliami Salakielu and Isaiah Mworia while adding Jose Chavez in the portal from Western New Mexico, who earned honorable mention honors last season.

AFCA PRESEASON RANKINGS
Angelo State began the 2026 season receiving votes in the American Football Coaches' Association (AFCA). The Rams are one of five Lone Star Conference programs recognized in the preseason poll. The Blue and Gold will face five opponents mentioned in the preseason poll during the first six weeks of the season. Fort Hays State and West Texas A&M, both of whom the Rams will host this season, received votes. Central Washington (No. 7), Western Colorado (No. 11) and Western Oregon (No. 22) each earned spots in the top 25, while UT Permian Basin, whom the Rams will see in week nine, is ranked No. 18.

PRESEASON LONE STAR CONFERENCE POLL
Angelo State was selected to finish fourth in the Lone Star Conference preseason poll announced back on July 23. The Rams received 215 points and one first place vote, trailing West Texas A&M (217, 1), Western Oregon (247, 9) and reigning LSC Champion, Central Washington (276, 16).

LSC PLAYERS TO WATCH
In addition to the preseason poll, running back Cameron Dischler and corner back Eugene Liger were named to the Lone Star Conference Players to Watch list. Dischler, a redshirt junior majoring in kinesiology, led the Rams' rushing attack last season with nearly 500 rushing yards while scoring three touchdowns on the ground. Liger, a fifth-year senior from Cypress, Texas, started all 11 games in the secondary and totaled 44 tackles, including 3.5 tackles for loss. He also recorded seven pass breakups and two interceptions during the 2025 campaign.

HOME SWEET HOME
The Angelo State football program is just one win away from totaling 50 wins since opening LeGrand Stadium at 1st Community Credit Union Field back in 2014. The Rams have accumulated a 49-22 overall record over the 11 seasons the Blue and Gold have called it home.

STAFF DEPARTURES
Following the 2025 campaign, the Angelo State football program saw a shuffle in its staff as former Offensive Coordinator, Kevin Kilmer, went to Oklahoma State, former Defensive Coordinator, Gary Salgado, went to Stephen F. Austin State, and former defensive backs coach, Del Howard, moved onto Presbyterian.

A NEW PERSPECTIVE
With the staff departures following the 2025 season, head coach, Jeff Girsch, went internally and externally to complete his staff for the 2026 campaign. Internally, longtime Recruiting Coordinator and Wide Receiver coach, Jason Johnson, was promoted to Associate Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator while Offensive Line coach, Bill Weber, became Assistant Head Coach and Run Game Coordinator. Externally, Bemidji State defensive coordinator, Joe Ford was brought in to serve in the same role for the Rams. Finally, Dennis Osagiede came in from CSU Pueblo to become the defensive line coach while Rob Messinger completes the staff to serve as the Wide Receiver coach and Recruiting Coordinator.