Angelo State Rams Looking for First Win Against West Texas A&M

SAN ANGELO, TX — The Angelo State football team will try to earn its first win of the season Saturday when it hosts West Texas A&M.

It would be a great time to start since it’s the Lone Star Conference opener for both teams.

The Rams are coming off an encouraging 23-21 loss to No. 11-ranked Western Colorado two weeks ago. ASU led 14-3 in that contest but couldn’t keep up in the high altitude of Gunnison, Colorado, which has an elevation of 7,700 feet, making it the highest college football stadium in the world.

It was an improvement from a season-opening 35-14 loss at home to Fort Hays State.

Sophomore quarterback Ayden Arp threw for 229 yards and two TDs against Western Colorado on 19-of-27 passing, but he was sacked five times. Alan Dobbins had eight catches for 94 yards and a TD.

An area of concern is a running game that produced just 59 yards. The Rams have only 151 yards on the ground so far this year.

If ASU isn’t able to earn a win this week, the Rams will face the prospect of an 0-5 start with its next two games against No. 10 Western Oregon and No. 16 Central Washington.

ASU and West Texas A&M had a 45-44 shootout last year that the Buffs won 45-44 in Canyon. It was Arp’s first college start, and he had a big day on the ground with 20 carries for 144 yards and a TD, along with 189 yards and two TDs through the air on 13-of-26 passing.

West Texas A&M also enters this game with an 0-2 record. The Buffs fared much worse against Western Colorado with a 52-21 loss at home, followed by a 56-14 loss at No. 7 Grand Valley State two weeks ago.

ASU holds a 22-17 lead in the series against West Texas A&M, which began in 1983.

The Rams and Buffs will kick off Saturday’s game at 6 p.m. at LeGrand Stadium at 1st Community Credit Union Field.