Angelo State Rams Ready to Run it Back in 2024 Football Season

“We still had a 7-3 record, and a lot of schools would be happy with that, but we’re not one of them,” said ASU head coach Jeff Girsch, whose team reached the national quarterfinals in 2021 and ‘22. 

“We want to win every single game we play. We want to finish as the Lone Star Conference champions every year and compete for a national championship, and we didn’t get that opportunity.

“I felt like we were one of the top seven in our region, but I understand we had those three losses. We have our chance this year to right those wrongs, so to speak, and not have three losses.”

Two of the teams that beat ASU last year — by a combined 13 points — were Colorado Mines and Central Washington, which went on to play for the regional title.

Colorado Mines lost in the national championship game to Harding.

ASU’s other loss was 28-23 against the eventual LSC champ, the University of Texas-Permian Basin.

So the Rams’ three defeats were by a combined 18 points to teams that all made the playoffs.

With all of their returning experience and depth, the Rams are ready to run it back again.

The one spot where ASU isn’t loaded with experience, however, is at quarterback.

Only 16 passes were thrown last season by someone other than Gerald Gardner, a second-team all-conference player who threw for 2,129 yards and 17 touchdowns.

The frontrunners to replace Gardner are Braeden Fuller, a sophomore from Floresville who saw limited action last season, and Kaeden Smith, a freshman from Manvel.

Both are seeing equal time with the first- and second-team offenses, Girsch said.

“I anticipate there’s a good chance of seeing both those guys in (the first game),” Girsch said.

ASU has a crowded QB room with sophomore Chad Pharies and freshman Tyler Hill, a former standout at San Angelo Central, also in the mix.

For more on the Rams’ QB situation, see our story from Wednesday here.

Whoever takes the reins of the offense will be surrounded by playmakers.

ASU returns its top six wide receivers from last season, led by Zorhan Rideaux (35 catches, 600 yards, 4 TDs) and Kyle Bradford (21-513, 3 TDs). 

Girsch said Cisco College transfer Corey Sandolph could also make an impact in the receiving corps.

Former Christoval standout Brayden Wilcox returns to lead the backfield. He had 510 rushing yards last year and was a big factor in the passing game with 35 catches.

Sophomore Jayden Jones, who had 262 rushing yards, is also back.

An exciting newcomer is freshman Cameron Dischler. He rushed for 2,441 yards and 28 TDs his senior year at Orangefield. He averaged 9.9 yards per carry.

“He’s a redshirt from East Texas that we absolutely love,” Girsch said. “He’s a physical runner and he’s good out of the backfield catching the ball, so I think we’ll see him quite a bit at the running back position, too.”

The Rams have a strong offensive line that will be led by Jake Long, who is transferring back to ASU from Duke. Long was the Lone Star Conference Lineman of the Year in 2022.

The 2023 Lineman of the Year, Noah Plsek, is also back, alongside first-year all-LSC lineman Connor Fisher.

ASU had a Top 10 defense last season, ranking No. 8 nationally out of 161 schools in NCAA Division II in yards allowed.

The Rams are stocked with returners from that unit, led by linebacker Eric Rascoe, who has been named first-team all-conference in back-to-back years.

“He’s an outstanding football player and an outstanding leader,” Girsch said. “He’s a dude who’s graduated already with two degrees, but he wanted to come back and get a couple more classes and play this year.”

Andrew Pitts, who was a first-team All-American cornerback in 2022, had another stellar season in 2023, adding all-conference return specialist to his list of accolades.

Other key returners include versatile safety Jordan McKinney, linebacker Stephen Woods and defensive lineman Owen Seaver.

Newcomer Emmanuel Mann, a transfer from Middle Tennessee State, could be a big addition to the Rams’ secondary.

The Rams even have all-conference returners on special teams like kicker Bradley Larson and punter Cade Fuller.

“We’ve got a strong group and we’re excited about it,” Girsch said. “Hopefully, when you’ve got that many veterans returning, you’ve got some good things waiting for you.”

The Rams’ nonconference schedule consists of two games to Kansas to begin the season. Fort Hays State (7-4) and Emporia State (9-3) are from the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) and will be in ASU’s region next year.

The Rams then jump into LSC play at home Sept. 14 against Eastern New Mexico. 

“If you win the Lone Star Conference, you’re a good football team,” Girsch said. “We want a chance to play in the last one. That’s our goal each and every year, but it starts with the Lone Star Conference, and then we’ll go from there.”

2024 Angelo State football schedule 

Aug. 29   at Fort Hays State   7 p.m.

Sept. 7   at Emporia State   1 p.m.

Sept. 14   Eastern New Mexico*   6 p.m.

Sept. 21   at Western New Mexico*   7 p.m.

Sept. 28   Open

Oct. 5   at UT-Permian Basin*   6 p.m.

Oct. 12   Texas A&M-Kingsville*   6 p.m.

Oct. 19   at Midwestern State*   7 p.m.

Oct. 26   Sul Ross State*   6 p.m.

Nov. 2   Central Washington*   6 p.m.

Nov. 9   at Western Oregon*   1:05 p.m.

Nov. 16   West Texas A&M*   6 p.m.

*Lone Star Conference game