SAN ANGELO, TX — The Angelo State University football team will begin its season with back-to-back games in Kansas, starting at 7 p.m. Thursday at Fort Hays State.
It’s the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
Expectations are high for Angelo State, which is ranked No. 24 in NCAA Division II by the American Football Coaches Association. The Rams return nearly everyone from last year’s 7-3 team.
The one spot where ASU isn’t experienced is at quarterback, where the Rams must replace Gerald Gardner.
Angelo State Quarterback Gerald Gardner
(Credit: angelosports.com/Arthur Spragg)
Sophomore Braeden Fuller, who saw limited action last season, has been announced as the starter for the season opener, while redshirt freshman Kaeden Smith is the backup.
Fort Hays State, which went 7-4 last year, returns 11 starters on offense and nine on defense.
“They’re a very athletic football team and well coached, so it’s exciting to get a chance to go play them,” said ASU head coach Jeff Girsch, who is 40-12 since taking over the Rams in 2018. “They’re kind of like us. They have a ton of returners, so it should be a great contest for both of us in Week 1.”
ASU will then have nine days to prepare for a game at Emporia State, which went 9-3 last season, on Saturday, Sept. 7.
Fort Hays State and Emporia State are both in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, which will be realigned into ASU’s region next season.
“Playing two MIAA schools, which is one of the top conferences in the country in my opinion, it’s a great addition for us,” Girsch said. “The strength of schedule for us, those are two teams well above .500 from a strong conference, so we’re excited about getting those two.”
ASU will make its home opener with the start of Lone Star Conference play against Eastern New Mexico at 6 p.m. Sept. 14 at 1st Community Credit Union Field at LeGrand Stadium.
The Rams were picked to finish second in the LSC preseason poll behind Central Washington, which reached the national quarterfinals last season.
ASU missed out on a spot in the playoffs last season, despite finishing the year with a three-game winning streak to get to 7-3. The Rams were coming off back-to-back trips to the national quarterfinals in 2021 and 2022.
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