RV ANGELO STATE RAMS (9-2) vs. #23 MINNESOTA – DULUTH (9-2)
Saturday, Nov. 20, 1 p.m. CST – San Angelo, Texas – LeGrand Stadium at 1^st Community Credit Union Field
Radio: 101.9 KWFR
Live Video: LSC Network
Live Stats: angelostats.com
 
Seeded second in Super Region Four and advancing to the NCAA Division II playoffs for the first time since the 2014 season, the Angelo State football team will host seventh-seeded Minnesota – Duluth on Saturday. It is the seventh time ASU has made the playoffs in Division II and the first time hosting a playoff game since 2005.
 
LAST WEEK:
The Rams closed out the regular season on the road with a dominating victory over Texas A&M – Kingsville, winning 58-19 to earn the eighth straight victory over the Javelinas. ASU scored 29 points in the first quarter alone, totaling 546 yards of offense, including 305 yards on the ground. Zach Bronkhorst tallied four touchdowns on the night, tossing three touchdowns while adding another on the ground. Alfred Grear finished with 102 yards rushing on only five attempts, breaking away for a 63-yard score. ASU's defense held the Javelinas only 18 yards on the ground, a season-low for all opponents.
 
SERIES HISTORY: Angelo State vs. Minnesota – Duluth
All-Time Series: Tied 0-0
Last Meeting: This will be the first meeting between these two teams.
 
SCOUTING MINNESOTA – DULUTH:
UMD enters the playoffs with a 9-2 overall record, claiming a share of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference title with a 49-35 win over Northern State in the final game of the regular season. The Bulldogs have won their last three games, including a 41-15 rout of Augustana who held the 17^th rank in the AFCA Top 25 at the time. One of their two losses came against Bemidji State who earned the fifth seed in Super Region Four.
 
The Bulldogs were the sixth highest-scoring offense in the NISC, averaging 34.3 points per game. In comparison, that mark would rank second in the Lone Star, averaging the same number of points as West Texas A&M. The Bulldogs are averaging 407.6 yards of offense per game, ranking 50^th overall in all of Division II. Defensively, UMD ranks 36^th overall in total defense in DII, allowing 22.9 points per game which is the fourth-lowest total in the NISC. They are allowing a league-best 311.6 yards off offense per game and have tallied 18 interceptions and 33 sacks on the season, both marks leading the NISC.
 
Cazz Martin leads the run game for the Bulldogs, totaling 1,023 yards rushing this season with eight touchdowns. He is one of three running backs in the NISC to surpass the 1,000-yard mark and is averaging 93 yards per game. UMD has used three quarterbacks this season with John Larson tallying 1,019 yards and 11 touchdowns with only two interceptions. Logan Graetz has thrown 104 attempts for 813 yards including nine touchdowns and one interception while Garret Olson has thrown 72 attempts, 627 yards with eight touchdowns and three picks. Defensively, Brad Dati leads the team in tackles with 84 on the season, adding 16 tackles for loss and two interceptions. Nate Pearson has tallied a team-high nine sacks while Michael Kirkendoll has four picks on the year.
 
QUICK HITS:
DOMINATING ON DEFENSE:
The Rams continue to cause trouble for opposing offenses, moving to seventh overall in total defense in all of Division II, and third in rushing defense, giving up only 65.6 yards on the ground per game. The Rams are seventh in turnover margin (plus-1.27) and have the 17^th ranked scoring defense in DII.
 
MAKE IT FIVE IN A ROW:
The Rams closed out the regular season on a five-game winning streak, scoring 30-plus points in all five games while breaking the 50-point mark in three of those. In that span, they have outscored opponents 232 to 53.
 
SCORING ON DEFENSE:
ASU has tallied a defensive touchdown in each of the last five games with Donavyn Jackson returning a fumble 19-yards against the Javelinas. Andrew Pitts leads the Rams with five interceptions and has three returns on the year.
 
RUNNING PAST THE OPPOSITION:
Angelo State holds the top rushing offense in the Lone Star while ranking 13^th overall in Division II with 228.5 yards per game. They have tallied 2,514 yards on the ground this season.
 
1,000-YARD MILESTONE:
Leading the Rams run game is Nathaniel Omayebu III who surpassed the 1,000-yard mark last week, totaling 1,018 yards rushing. He leads the LSC in both yards and touchdowns, collecting nine so far this season.
 
TOUCHDOWN GENERATOR:
Bronkhorst has been responsible for 21 touchdowns this season, throwing for 13 while rushing for eight others. The two-time LSC Offensive Player of the Week has tallied the second-most rushing touchdowns.
 
RETURNING TO THE POSTSEASON:
This is the seventh time the Rams have advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs and the first since the 2014 season. They last hosted a playoff game during the 2005 campaign, falling to national champion runner-up Northwest Missouri State. The Rams also advanced to the NAIA playoffs on three occasions before moving to Division II, winning the national championship in 1978.