No. 20 Midwestern State at No. 17 Angelo State
When: 6 p.m. Saturday at 1st Community Credit Union Field at LeGrand Stadium in San Angelo, Texas
Broadcast: www.LoneStarConferenceNetwork.com/asu/ (PPV)
The Matchup: These teams share two key similarities heading into this week. Neither team has yet to play a game at home this season, and both teams overcame deficits of more than 20 points for an incredible win last week.
Midwestern State stunned the NCAA Division II world with a 31-30 win over No. 7 Texas A&M-Commerce at Choctaw Stadium in Arlington last week. The Mustangs were trailing 23-0 midway through the second quarter before rallying to score the game-tying touchdown with 25 seconds remaining in regulation.
Freshman Ritse Vaes provided the eventual margin of victory with his point-after attempt, and the MSU defense knocked down a hail mary pass in the end zone to seal the near improbable triumph.
Angelo State was down 24-0 late in the second quarter before a touchdown with 51 seconds left in the first half jump-started the offense. ASU scored three more touchdowns in the second half to defeat Chadron State 28-24.
No matter how this game begins, both teams have shown they can’t be counted out until the final buzzer.
Players to Watch:
MSU
Dillon Sterling-Cole, QB, Sr, Orange, Texas (Westfield HS)
Dylon Davis, DB, Soph, Abilene, Texas (Cooper HS)
Austan Davis, OL, Sr, Sulpher Springs, Texas (Sulphur Springs HS)
ASU
Zach Bronkhorst, QB, Jr, Galveston, Texas (High Island HS)
G’Karri McCoy, DT, Sr, Dallas, Texas (Hillcrest HS)
CJ Odom, RB, Jr, Hemet, Calif. (West Jordan HS)
Key to Victory: Two stats that are typically accurate in predicting football games are turnovers and red zone conversions. The team to execute from the 20-yard line to the goal line will win this week’s clash.
MSU has converted all nine red zone attempts on offense this season with an impressive eight touchdowns. However, the Mustangs have not faced a defense as good at denying teams in the red zone as they will against the Rams.
THIS SEASON, the ASU defense has only allowed its opposition three touchdowns and no field goals in seven red zone attempts.
The Rams offense has not been as efficient as MSU scoring on 6-of-10 red zone attempts with five touchdowns and three blocked field goal attempts. On the flip side, the Mustangs have allowed opponents to score on all six red zone attempts this year with five touchdowns.
I think the Rams block better on field goal attempts at home this week, providing the very slim margin of victory.
Prediction: I think the Rams block better on field goal attempts at home this week, providing a very slim margin of victory.
Angelo State by 3