Red-Hot Rams Continue Conference Title Pursuit at Midwestern State

SAN ANGELO, TX — The Angelo State Rams football team will continue its pursuit of a Lone Star Conference title Saturday when it travels to play Midwestern State.

The game is set for 7 p.m. at Memorial Stadium in Wichita Falls.

ASU’s 0-2 start to the season seems like a distant memory with the way the Rams have been playing since conference play began.

ASU has rattled off four straight wins, including a 38-0 shutout of Texas A&M-Kingsville last week, and the Rams are now tied atop the LSC standings with Western Oregon.

Midwestern is 3-3 overall and 2-2 in conference play. The Mustangs have suffered a pair of big losses to UTPB (27-3) and Kingsville (40-13), which makes ASU appear to be a heavy favorite.

Big games remain for ASU, like matchups with Western Oregon and No. 21-ranked Central Washington, but the Rams don’t want to overlook this road trip.

“We’re making sure our guys understand that this conference is loaded with talent, and talent can beat you if you’re not playing well,” ASU head coach Jeff Girsch said.

ASU won this game 27-12 last year.

Midwestern is led by running backs Devin Cross (63 carries, 452 rushing yards) and Jalen March (68-292).

“They’re going to try to come out and run it. That’s what they’re built on,” Girsch said. “But they have the capability to throw it as well. We’re going to line up and play our game and make them defend us and what we do as well.”

ASU quarterback Braeden Fuller threw for 332 yards and four touchdowns on 18-of-33 passing last week. A week earlier, he ran for 146 yards and three TDs.

The Rams’ defense is looking every bit like the Top 10 defense it was last year. ASU has allowed only one TD in the last 12 quarters.

The Rams are giving up an average of 10.8 points per game, which is seventh-best in the nation in NCAA Division II.

ASU will play at home again 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, against Sul Ross State.

The Rams are receiving votes in the American Football Coaches Association Top 25 poll. They have the seventh-most among teams not in the Top 25.

Central Washington is the LSC’s only team in the national rankings, though the Wildcats fell from No. 9 to No. 21 after a 14-13 loss last week to UT Permian Basin.