SAN ANGELO, TX — The No. 5-ranked Angelo State University football team will face perhaps its biggest obstacle in the way of defending its Lone Star Conference title when No. 9 UT Permian Basin comes to town this weekend.
The matchup is scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday at LeGrand Stadium at 1st Community Credit Union Field.
ASU won the conference title in 2022 and ‘24, while UTPB won in ‘23.
Both teams are off to perfect 4-0 starts this year and appear to be the frontrunners for the title again. No. 17 Central Washington is the only other LSC team in the Top 25.
“Playing a team like UTPB here in San Angelo is something special,” ASU head football coach Jeff Girsch said. “These are the kinds of games you look forward to and the ones you remember. …
“It’s going to be two really good teams going at it that I think respect each other. It’s going to be a fun game and a fun atmosphere.”
ASU has played nearly all of its last three games without quarterback Braeden Fuller, who strained his calf in the first quarter of the Rams’ Week 2 win over Emporia State.
Fuller hasn’t played since then. He remains a game-time decision this week, but there’s hope that after a bye last week that he’s finally ready to return.
UTPB is led by quarterback Kanon Gibson, an all-state player at Wink High School. The West Texas A&M transfer has thrown for 848 yards and eight touchdowns with no interceptions, while rushing for 193 yards.
Girsch said the Falcons have a stable of receivers and maybe the best running back the Rams will see this year in Kory Harris, who was second-team all-conference last year as a freshman.
UTPB’s defense is led by Tristan Exline, who was last year’s co-Linebacker of the Year in the LSC.
UTPB stunned then-No. 5 Central Oklahoma 34-14 to start the year, followed by wins over Adams State (41-7), Texas A&M-Kingsville (43-30) and Midwestern State (37-15).
The Rams have won every game by 21 points or more except for a 31-20 victory over Eastern New Mexico on a rainy, windy night.
ASU dominated UT Permian Basin 36-7 last year in Odessa, running away with the contest after injuring the Falcons’ QB early in the game.
Girsch expects a much more evenly matched game Saturday.
“It’s going to be one of those fourth-quarter games, I’ve got a feeling,” Girsch said. “I don’t think anybody’s going to run away with the football game Saturday. I think it’s one of those games that will be a true Top 10 matchup.”
Angelo State is also inviting the community to take part in a full ASU Game Day of activities on Saturday, including a Ram Jam tailgate party from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. with a free concert.
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