Angelo State (2-0, 0-0 LSC) vs. Central Oklahoma (0-2)
Date	Saturday, Sept. 17
Location	San Angelo Stadium San Angelo, Texas
Kickoff	2 p.m.
Game Notes	Game Notes
Radio	KIXY 94.7 FM Jeremy Bryant // Play-by-Play   Randy Ward // Analyst
Live Stats	AngeloSports.com

The Game
After earning a pair of road victories to open the season, Angelo State returns home for the 2011 home opener against Central Oklahoma. It has been 308 days since the Rams have played in San Angelo Stadium, with the last game coming on Nov. 13, 2010, against the Bronchos on Military Appreciation Day.

The Series
Angelo State holds a 17-6-1 advantage in the all-time series that dates back to 1973. In the first meeting, the Rams and Bronchos settled for a 7-7 tie. ASU has been victorious in the last two meetings with the last win coming on Nov. 13, 2010, at San Angelo Stadium. The Rams earned a 49-35 victory with former ASU quarterback Josh Neiswander going 28-for-44 for 391 yards and five touchdowns in his final game as a Ram.

The Coaches
Angelo State: Will Wagner (Hardin-Simmons, '96) begins his first year as head coach of the Rams after serving at Northwest Missouri State for 12 years. The Odessa native helped the Bearcats win three national championships as an assistant head coach and defensive backs coach.

Central Oklahoma: In his fourth year at the head of the  Central Oklahoma program is Tracy Holland, who directed the Bronchos to the Lone Star Conference North Division championship in his first year at the helm. Holland, who became just the 11th head coach in the illustrious 104-year history of the program on Dec. 27, 2007, is 13-22.  He has coached 35 first or second team All-Lone Star Conference North Division performers in that span.

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 1988-89, 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.

Four Scores and Seven Days Ago
Seven days ago, the Rams scored four touchdowns in the fourth quarter to erase  a 21-point deficit and earn a 49-42 win against Chadron State. The first score came on a forced fumble with the other three coming from the right arm of ASU quarterback Blake Hamblin. The sophomore tossed for 176 yards and three scores in the fourth quarter. Hamblin finished the game 24-for-37 with 271 yards and four touchdowns, all career-highs. For his efforts, the Rowlett native was tabbed the Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Week, marking the first of his career.

Reservation for Six
In last year's contest between Angelo State and Central Oklahoma, each team made the most of their red zone opportunities. The Rams went 5-for-5 inside the 20-yard line with five touchdowns, while the Bronchos went 4-for-4 with four touchdowns. ASU would go on to earn a 49-35 victory.

“Akin” to be Back
After missing week one against Western State, junior wide receiver C.J. Akins returned to the lineup last week against Chadron State and made an immediate impact. The Harker Heights native caught five balls and racked up 117 yards while also scoring the game-winning touchdown with :24 left in the contest. This marks Akins' third career 100-yard game with his last triple-digit performance coming against Abilene Christian (10/30/10) when he caught seven balls for 129 yards.

DJ Has Us Falling In Love
In last week's come-from-behind win, Angelo State linebacker D.J. Clough jump started the Rams' first double-digit fourth-quarter comeback since 2005. Trailing 42-21 with 14:54 left in the game, Clough stripped the Eagles' running back and ran it back for a touchdown. This was the first of four consecutive unanswered touchdowns for the Rams. The senior captain finished the game with four tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Sham-Wow!
One of the strong points of the Rams' kicking game last season was punter George Shamblen. After being out of the game for three years, Shamblen went on to post the fifth-best punting average in the nation at 43.39-yards per kick in 2010. The All-American has picked up where he left off, as the senior has a 44.6-yard punt average with a long of 58 this season. The reigning Lone Star Conference Special Teams Player of the Week pinned Chadron State inside its own 20 three times last week, while also booting two punts over 50 yards.

Tip of the Cap, Friend
ASU head coach Will Wagner and assistant head coach Theron Aych will wear red visors to honor Scott Bostwick this season after their friend and colleague suffered a heart attack and passed away in June. Wagner coached with Bostwick who was the defensive coordinator at Northwest Missouri State for 17 years before being named the Bearkats' head coach in January.

“Coach Bostwick was like a brother to me,” Wagner said. “We coached together for 13 years and I learned a lot about defensive football from him. He had the biggest heart; he would drop everything he was doing to help you out. He was a great coach, mentor and friend who never lived out his dream of leading the Bearcats out onto the field as their head coach, and that's a shame. Bostwick was famous in the MIAA and around D-II football for wearing a red hat on the sidelines so the defensive players could spot him easily. I am grateful for all he did for me and I wear this red hat to honor him.”

On This Day
•    Sept. 17, 2005 - Angelo State against Central Oklahoma
After entering the second half down 16-3, the Rams went on to score 20 unanswered points in the second half while the defense shut down the Bronchos offense including a goal line stand with just 2:37 left in the game. Down 16-13 the Rams put together a memorable 99-yard drive that ended with a Kyle Fox touchdown run with 1:14 left on the clock. ASU's defense stepped up again as Davon Rodgers intercepted a pass by UCO to help seal the victory. Fox led the Rams with 141 yards on the ground and two touchdowns.