Angelo State Rams Look to Secure Home Playoff Game With Win Saturday

SAN ANGELO, TX — The Angelo State University football team locked up the Lone Star Conference title last week with one game still to play.

But the Rams’ work is far from complete.

ASU hosts West Texas A&M at 6 p.m. Saturday at LeGrand Stadium with a chance to earn a first-round game at home in the NCAA Division II playoffs next week.

ASU is at No. 4 in the most recent Super Region 4 rankings. The No. 2-4 seeds will get a home playoff game, while the 5-7 seeds have to travel.

A Rams’ win Saturday — particularly a convincing one — would likely secure a top-four finish.

“We’re excited to come back home and get a little bit of a celebration (for the LSC title) with our fans, but obviously our No. 1 goal is to beat West Texas A&M,” ASU head coach Jeff Girsch said. “And we’re going to have to play well and prepare well this week to do so.”

No. 21-ranked ASU (8-2 overall, 8-0 LSC) is on an eight-game winning streak, capped by last week’s 38-16 win at Western Oregon.

The Rams’ defense — ranked No. 7 in the nation with 11.4 points allowed per game — continued its stellar play as Western Oregon’s only touchdown came on a blocked punt.

ASU’s rock-solid offensive line also delivered another strong performance as sophomore quarterback Braeden Fuller threw for 315 yards and three TDs, including scoring passes of 80 and 33 yards to Zorhan Rideaux.

West Texas A&M is 5-5 overall and 5-3 in conference play after last week’s 17-12 win over Midwestern State.

The Buffs have won four of their last five games after a slow start, which has coincided with former Wink standout Kanon Gibson taking the reins at QB.

“It’s been a tale of two seasons for them,” Girsch said. “They made a change at quarterback, and they’ve got on a roll here. (Gibson) is a good football player. We’ve seen him for a million years here. He used to come to all of our camps.”

Girsch also praised WT’s defense, which hasn’t allowed more than 24 points in a game the last six weeks.

“Defensively, I think they’re very good, and their linebacker crew is top-end,” Girsch said.

ASU won last year’s meeting 27-10 in Canyon. The teams have played 37 times, with ASU holding a 21-16 edge.

The Rams will find out their playoff fate during the NCAA Division II Selection Show at 5 p.m. Sunday on ncaa.com.

The current Super Region 4 rankings are led by Colorado State-Pueblo, followed by No. 2 Augustana (South Dakota), No. 3 Minnesota State-Mankato, No. 4 Angelo State, No. 5 Western Colorado, No. 6 Central Washington and No. 7 Bemidji State.

Other teams still in contention for one of the seven playoffs spots are No. 8 Sioux Falls, No. 9 Colorado Mesa and No. 10 Colorado Mines.

With a win over No. 9 Colorado Mesa, it's possible No. 5 Western Colorado could jump ASU for the No. 4 spot, even with a Rams' win.

After all, Western Colorado dropped a spot in this week's rankings after its less-than-impressive 21-17 victory over a three-win Chadron State team.

There's also an outside chance for No. 7 Bemidji State to vault into top-four consideration with a win over No. 2 Augustana.