Date:	Saturday, October 20, 2012
Kickoff:	4 p.m.
Location:	San Angelo, Texas
Stadium:	San Angelo Stadium
Series:	Angelo State leads 25-14-2
Promotions:	Homecoming
Video:	AngeloSports.com/Showcase Subscription Rates: Daily $5.95 Monthly $9.95 Yearly $79.95
Radio:	KIXY 94.7 FM Jeremy Bryant (Play-by-Play) Randy Ward (Color)
Live Stats:	AngeloSports.com
Tickets:	325-942-BLUE or e-mail tickets@angelo.edu

FULL RELEASE

The Game

Angelo State returns to San Angelo Stadium for its 2012 Homecoming Game versus Texas A&M-Commerce at 4 p.m. The Rams hold a 25-14-2 series record and have won the last three matchups. Various homecoming activities will be going on and information can be found at www.angelo.edu/homecoming.

Texas A&M-Commerce

Texas A&M-Commerce comes into the game at 1-5 overall and 1-3 in the LSC. The lone victory for the Lions came in an overtime win over Texas A&M-Kingsville. The Lions are coached by Guy Morriss and have lost their last two games. 

Last Week

A late game special team's mistake thwarted Angelo State's (3-4, 2-2) upset bid in a 35-28 loss at No.13 Midwestern State (5-1, 4-1). Ram quarterback Blake Hamblin completed 13 of 27 passes for 183 yards and three touchdowns and ran 10 times for 43 yards. 

Defensive Improvement

The defensive improvement under head coach Will Wagner and defensive coordinator Mike Walton has been evident especially looking at the first seven games of 2011 and 2012. The defense, which has faced four ranked opponents so far is holding opponents to 67 yards per game fewer through the first seven games. Teams are finding it harder to pass on the Rams as well with opponents being limited to 594 yards less than 2011. 

Rushing Game

The Ram offense gained 351 yards of total offense and 168 came on the ground. The 168 rushing yards is the highest output of the season. Blake Smith was the leading rusher with 59 yards followed by Blake Hamblin's 43 yards. Donovan Roberts contributed 37 and Jermie Calhoun gained 29 yards. 

No Passing Allowed

The Ram defense limited No. 13 Midwestern Mustangs to only 59 yards in the air. It is the lowest output by the Mustangs and the lowest total by an Angelo State defense since holding Eastern New Mexico to zero yards in 2007. 

Turnovers

The Rams forced a season high three turnovers against No. 13 Midwestern State. The two interceptions are the most this season. It was Austin Sparks first interception of the season and his career while Rush Seaver picked off his second pass of his career and season. The fumble recovery was Samir Baker's career first. 

Double-Digit Tackles

Alvin Johnson and Rush Seaver were the Rams top two tacklers with 11 and 10 respectively. It is the second time this season the duo has both collected double-digit tackles. 

Defensive Touchdown

Rush Seaver's 25-yard interception return for a touchdown in the second quarter against the Greyhounds of Eastern New Mexico is the first interception returned for a touchdown since Terrance Preston performed the feat on Sept 11, 2010. 

Ranked Teams Everywhere

No. 13 Midwestern State was the second-straight nationally ranked opponent and the fourth of the season for the Rams. The other ranked opponents include No. 18 Valdosta State, No. 19 Abilene Christian  and No. 21 West Texas A&M. 

Defensive Player of the Week

Rush Seaver was named LSC Defensive Player of the Week for the week of Sept. 22 after upsetting No. 19 Abilene Christian. The sophomore registered 2.5 sacks, two tackles for loss and led the Rams with eight tackles. He was a part of the defense that limited the Wildcats to nine yards rushing. 

Stopping the Run

In 18 games under defensive coordinator Mike Walton, the Ram defense has held opponents under 100-yards rushing seven times. The nine rushing yards that Abilene Christian tallied is tied for the second lowest.  

Sacks Galore

The Rams pressured the LSC's Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, Mitchell Gale, all game and produced seven sacks for a defense that came in with only two for the season. The seven sacks are the most under defensive coordinator Mike Walton and the most since recording seven against Texas A&M-Commerce back on Sept. 11, 2011. 

Beating a Ranked Team

The Rams win over No. 19 Abilene Christian marks the first time Angelo State has defeated a ranked opponent since 2009.  ASU beat No. 17 Midwestern State 20-17 on a last second field goal by Ryan Smith. 

Moving Up The List

Blake Hamblin has thrown for 3,111 passing yards so far in his career. He has passed Dwight Burns for 11th on the list. Burns threw for 2,972 yards in his career. Up next on the career yardage list is Mike Jinks with 3,399 yards. 

Answering the Bell

No. 19 Abilene Christian got out to an early 9-0 lead after its first two drives of the game. Trailing in its third-straight game, the Rams were able to fight the adversity. A one-yard run by Blake Hamblin cut the lead to 9-7 and the defense took up the slack. The Wildcats were held scoreless through the second and third quarters as the Rams scored 28 points en route to a 28-23 victory. 

The Century Mark Part II

One game after Dakarai Pecikonis caught his 100th career reception, senior C.J. Akins grabbed his 100th career reception against ACU. Akins totaled six catches on the night for 56 yards.

The End of a Rivalry

The rivarly betwen ACU and Angelo Stat started back in 1964 with ACU winning the first meeting 33-22. Over the next 44 years the two teams have faced each other every season except for 1971. The teams have battled twice during a season three times. The Rams have the longest winning streak with 11 straight victories form 1987 to 1995. The Wildcats are winners of the last six games. Abilene Christian is the team the Rams have played the most in program history. 

Anchoring the Line

The Ram offensive line has seen a plethora of new faces with Trent Davis, Anthony Landry,  Anthony Lewis, Steven Jackson and Rodney Smith, all seeing playing time for the first season at ASU. Isi and Watkin Cocker, brothers from Euless, are two that have helped shore the line up as well. The duo started their first game together against Chadron State. 

Too Many Turnovers

The Rams gave Chadron State four turnovers that prevented Angelo State from finding a rhythm on the offensive end. The three fumbles and one interception were the most in a game since ACU forced two fumbles and two interceptions on Oct. 10, 2009. 

Defensive Stand

The Rams defense held Western State to 175 total yards in its season opening 42-14 win. The 175 yards is the fewest yards allowed by an Angelo State defense since Sept. 19, 2009 when Central Oklahoma only mustered 172 total yards. 

Rare Feats

Fans got to see something that the Rams haven't done in quite a while during the Western State game. The first quarter blocked punt by Jared Ross and the scoop and score by Courtney Moore were both something the Rams haven't accomplished in a while. The last time the Rams blocked a punt was against Texas A&M-Commerce in 2008. Ram fans haven't seen a blocked punt returned for a touchdown since prior to 1999. 

Team Captains

Isi Cocker, Blake Hamblin, Alvin Johnson and Rush Seaver were named captains by their teammates. 

Building a Foundation

The 2012 Rams roster will take on a younger look with 73 players being underclassmen. A total of 56 have yet to receive any experience at the collegiate level. The infusion of youth should provide the foundation needed to build success at Angelo State. 

Young Guns

A year after not playing a single true freshman, the Rams had five true freshman in the first game of the season. Clayton Callicutt, Riley Davis, Jared Kutz, Brandon Lee and Joseph Pickett all saw action. Pickett averaged 50.5 yards per punt while Kutz recorded a 58.0 yard per kick average on kickoffs. Davis was the Rams fourth leading tackler and Callicutt made four tackles. Lee had one tackle for loss during the game. 

Five States Represent the Rams

Five states throughout the United States makeup the Rams football roster. Arizona, Illinois and New Mexico each have one player with California being second most with five. Texas dominates the roster as 93 of the team's 101 players call the Lone Star State home. 

Head Coach

Angelo State: Will Wagner (Hardin-Simmons, '96) in his second season as head coach of the Rams. The Odessa native helped Northwest Missouri State win three national championships as an assistant head coach and defensive backs coach.

Staff Additions

Head coach Will Wagner added three new coaches to his staff. Drew Dallas and Gary Salgado both were promoted from graduate assistant positions. Dallas is the recruiting coordinator and wide receivers coach, while Salgado takesRA over the special teams unit and coach the defensive line. The other new member is offensive line coach Jay Eilers. Eilers played collegiately at Northwest Missouri State and has 13 years of experience in both the high school and college ranks. 

The Program

Angelo State won the NAIA National Championship in 1978 and has won three Lone Star Conference  Championships (1978, 1984, 1987). The Rams have seen five NCAA D-II playoff appearances and produced 57 All-Americans. Angelo State has sent 11 student-athletes on to successful NFL careers, including Pierce Holt, who earned two Super Bowl rings with the San Francisco 49ers in 1988 and 1989. He was a two-time Pro Bowl selection and was inducted into the NCAA Division II Football Hall of Fame in 2000. Legendary Baylor head coach Grant Teaff coached at ASU, and has been inducted into the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame with Holt and former Rams' tackle Rodney Cason.

Follow From Home

If you cannot attend the Angelo State football game, ASU has you covered. Jeremy Bryant will call the game with help from analyst Randy Ward on 94.7 KIXY-FM, which will also be streamed on AngeloSports.com. Live updates will be provided on Angelo State's Facebook page along with its Twitter account, @AngeloSports.