Angelo State Renews Rivalry With Sul Ross State for Homecoming

SAN ANGELO, TX — The Angelo State Rams will host Sul Ross State at 6 p.m. Saturday for homecoming.

It will be their first meeting in 49 years.

ASU and Sul Ross used to play when they were NAIA schools, but the rivalry went dormant for nearly half a century before Sul Ross jumped up to NCAA Division II this year.

Sul Ross is 2-5 overall and 1-4 in the Lone Star Conference after earning its first LSC win last week, 34-20 over Western New Mexico.

The Rams (5-2 overall, 5-0 LSC) are riding a five-game winning streak and are heavy favorites for Saturday's game at LeGrand Stadium at 1st Community Credit Union Field.

ASU head coach Jeff Girsch said his team won’t be overlooking the Lobos, who have the LSC’s second-leading passer, Andrew Martinez (1,343 yards, 12 TDs, 8 INTs), and the leading receiver, Austin Ogunmakin (27 catches, 569 yards, 2 TDs).

“They’re well coached, and if you take a look at their wide receiver room, it’s impressive. They’ve got some kids that can really go,” Girsch said. “We’re going to have our hands full with those kids. They have a great skill set there. But at the end of the day, I think they’re going to have their hands full too with Angelo State.”

If any team can match up with Sul Ross’s dangerous offense, it would appear to be the Rams.

ASU’s defense has allowed the fifth-fewest points (10.3 per game) in the nation. The Rams have given up a combined 14 points in the last four games.

ASU has a defensive line loaded with depth, an experienced linebacking corps and a lockdown secondary.

“We’re playing good football right now. I like the excitement and energy. And, knock on wood, we’re pretty healthy. That’s the biggest part,” Girsch said.

ASU’s offense, which failed to score more than 26 points in any of its first four games, has scored at least 36 points the last three games.

“When you’re breaking in a new quarterback and those types of things, it just takes a little bit of time,” Girsch said. “Braeden (Fuller) has taken so many steps forward at the quarterback position.

“We’ve got a good group on offense, and it was just a matter of time before things started clicking and working right, and I’m really proud of the way we’ve been playing.”

When ASU has to punt the ball, the Rams have the luxury of Cade Fuller, who is second in the nation with a 46.4-yard average.

ASU’s five-game winning streak has the Rams as the top vote getter among teams not in the Top 25 in this week’s American Football Coaches Association poll.

ASU began the year ranked No. 24 before tumbling out of the Top 25 with back-to-back losses.

The Rams and Western Oregon are tied atop the LSC standings at 5-0, while No. 20-ranked Central Washington is third at 4-1.

ASU will play both teams the next two weeks. The Rams will host Central Washington next week before traveling across the country to play Western Oregon in Monmouth on Nov. 9.