Angelo State and A&M-Kingsville Meet in First-Place Conference Battle

SAN ANGELO, TX — The Angelo State and Texas A&M-Kingsville football rivalry has decided the Lone Star Conference title many times over the years.

With both teams carrying undefeated conference records into Saturday’s clash, the matchup could once again go a long way toward determining the LSC champ.

ASU (3-2 overall, 3-0 LSC) and Kingsville (4-1, 3-0) will meet at 6 p.m. Saturday at LeGrand Stadium at 1st Community Credit Union Field.

The two teams are part of a four-way tie atop the LSC standings with No. 8-ranked Central Washington and Western Oregon.

The Rams are coming off a 36-7 win last week over the conference’s defending champ, UT Permian Basin.

Now they have to refocus for their next big test.

“When you look at Kingsville, they’re so much like Angelo State,” said ASU head coach Jeff Girsch. “They’re really good on defense, and they have great players offensively. They have a lot of similarities to what we do scheme-wise, and I think a lot of that has to do with the fact their offensive coordinator, Sean Lagerstrom, used to be here with us.

“It’s just a matter of going out and playing another really good football game.”

ASU put together its most impressive performance of the season last week on the road against UTPB.

The Rams’ defense knocked the Falcons’ starting quarterback out of the game in the first quarter, and they locked down their vaunted group of receivers.

“I felt really good defensively all day. We came to play,” Girsch said. “It was a very physical football game. I thought both defenses were two of the top defenses in the conference, along with Kingsville coming up this week.”

ASU cornerback Andrew Pitts recorded his fourth interception of the season. It was also his 20th career pick, breaking his own program record he had set two weeks earlier.

“We have a rotation with three corners. We say we’ve got three starters, and we really do. Emmanuel Mann and Jatavian Neal, along with Andrew, did a great job, as well as our safeties. They were just outstanding and shut down their passing game,” Girsch said.

ASU sophomore quarterback Braeden Fuller had a breakout rushing performance with 15 carries for 146 yards and three TDs, highlighted by an 86-yard run that gave the Rams a 22-0 lead early in the third quarter.

Fuller was also a solid 9-of-15 passing for 112 yards and a TD.

“Braeden is one of those guys that when he gets out in the open, he’s tough to catch,” Girsch said. “He’s 6-3 and has long strides, and he can really go. And he pulled away from guys. It was fun to watch.”

Kingsville lost its first game of the season to Colorado Mesa (16-13), but the Javelinas have bounced back with four straight wins over Mississippi College (27-7), UTPB (20-14), Sul Ross State (56-21) and Midwestern State (40-13).

ASU and Kingsville have both yet to allow more than 21 points this year.

ASU beat the Javelinas 38-16 last year in Kingsville.

After beginning the year with four of their first five games on the road, the Rams will now play four of their final six games at home.

A home matchup with No. 8 Central Washington looms on Nov. 2.