Football Set For Matchup With Rams

SAN ANGELO, Texas – Last year's meeting was one to remember for the Western New Mexico University football team, as the Mustangs played in a tough back-and-forth battle with Angelo State before taking the 20-14 victory. The two will meet again this Saturday at 6 p.m. (Central Time) in San Angelo.

The Mustangs led the entire game last year, although it got tight towards the end. The Mustangs scored the first 10 points of the game not even seven minutes into the contest and held a 10-0 lead at the break. Angelo State scored a pair of touchdowns in the third quarter around a WNMU score to leave the Mustangs with a 17-14 lead in the fourth quarter. A WNMU field goal moved the lead to 20-14 and then the defense took over from there. The Mustang defense posted two interceptions and a turnover on downs over the final three possessions to grab the victory.

WNMU enters this week at 2-6 overall and 1-4 in the Lone Star Conference having pulled off the 20-17 non-conference win over Fort Lewis last week erasing a 17-0 halftime deficit. Redshirt senior quarterback Javia Hall (Dallas, TX/Skyline) has completed 197-345 for 2,411 yards and 18 touchdowns. Hall is second in the nation in passing yards per game (344.4), fifth in total passing yards and first in completions per game (28.14). He also remains fifth in total offense per game (349.3). WNMU's passing offense ranks eighth in the nation and second in the conference at 318.3 per game.

Redshirt senior D'Angelo Bowie (Virginia Beach, VA/Landstown) leads the team with 47 receptions for 664 yards and six touchdowns. Freshman Elijah Jones (Gilbert, AZ/Campo Verde) adds 29 catches for 440 yards and three scores. Freshman Sean North (Corona, CA/Santiago) is second on the team with five touchdowns. Senior Evan Beebe (Chula Vista, CA/Mater Dei Catholic) adds 34 receptions for 431 yards and two scores. Bowie ranks eighth nationally in receptions per game (7.8), and leads the conference in receptions per game, receiving yards per game (110.7), third in receiving yards and fourth in touchdowns.

On the ground, senior Justin Harris (Temecula, CA/Chaparral) has 108 carries for 501 yards and three touchdowns. DeAndre Williams (Tucson, AZ/Tucson Magnet) adds 53 carries for 160 yards and a touchdown. Harris is sixth in rushing yards and rushing yards per game (62).

Reigning LSC Special Teams Player of the Week Collin Grady (Glendora, CA/Glendora) continued his strong season making a pair of field goals against Fort Lewis, including the winning 27-yard boot. In punting, he averages 37.5 per punt with eight inside the 20 and six that have gone over 50 yards.

On defense, redshirt senior Dominic Barry (Moreno Valley, CA/Vista Del Lago) has 82 tackles, with 29 solo, along with 10 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and seven quarterback hurries. He ranks 24^th nationally and fourth in the conference in tackles, third in the conference in tackles for loss per game (1.3) and ninth in sacks per game (0.56). Senior Ian Davis (Grass Valley, CA/Nevada Union) has 52 tackles, 31 solo, along with a half tackle for loss, an interception and two passes broken up. Davis recorded a big interception against Fort Lewis that helped start the comeback in the second half. He ranks 10^th in the conference in solo tackles per game (4). Senior Leo Marin (Carlsbad, CA/Carlsbad) adds 3.5 sacks and redshirt sophomore James Lee (Bayard, NM/Cobre) have three to rank second behind Barry.

WNMU ranks in the top-five in the conference in several categories including fifth in third down conversion percentage (37.8), second and 41^st nationally in defensive touchdowns (2), fourth and 45^th nationally in first downs held on defense (135), first and 26^th nationally in first downs offensively (178), third and 21^st nationally in kickoff return defense (17.74), second and 22^nd nationally in kickoff return average (23.81), second in passing yards allowed per game (223.4), third in punt return defense (6.57), fifth in rushing defense (135), fifth in sacks allowed (2.38), fifth in tackles for loss allowed (7.13), third and 31^st nationally in time of possession (31:48), third in total defense (358.4) and fourth in total offense (406.1).

Angelo State is 3-4 overall and 1-4 in the conference after starting the season strong with two straight wins and then after a pair of losses, they posted their third win of the year over Texas A&M-Kingsville. They lost the last two weeks to the top two teams in the conference in Midwestern State (41-27) and Texas A&M-Commerce (34-20).

Charlie Rotherham has passed for 1,411 yards and six touchdowns to go along five interceptions. Donovan Thompson has caught 50 balls for 716 yards and a touchdown. Lawson Ayo has five touchdowns to lead the team. On the ground, Josh Stevens has rushed 116 times for 580 yards and seven touchdowns. Two others have rushed for at least three touchdowns (Jake Faber and Rotherham).

On defense, Justin Jackson leads the team with 78 tackles, with 38 solo, along with seven tackles for loss. Grant Aschenbeck adds 69 tackles with four tackles for loss. Markus Jones has six sacks, while Fred Lawrence has two interceptions.

This will be the sixth home game already for the Rams this season.

Live video, stats and audio will be available for the game provided by Angelo State.

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Players Mentioned

#9 Dominic Barry: LB; 6' 0"; Redshirt Senior

#8 Evan Beebe: WR; 6' 2"; Redshirt Junior

#1 D'Angelo Bowie: WR; 5' 11"; Redshirt Senior

#23 Ian Davis: S; 6' 3"; Senior

#20 Collin Grady: DB; 5' 10"; Junior

#25 Justin Harris: RB; 5' 10"; Redshirt Junior

#82 Elijah Jones: WR/DB; 5' 11"; Redshirt Freshman

#2 James Lee: DL; 6' 4"; Redshirt Sophomore

#5 Leo Marin: DE/LB; 6' 3"; Redshirt Senior

#21 DeAndre Williams: RB/DB; 5' 9"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#9 Dominic Barry
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Senior
: LB

#8 Evan Beebe
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Junior
: WR

#1 D'Angelo Bowie
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Senior
: WR

#23 Ian Davis
: 6' 3"; Senior
: S

#20 Collin Grady
: 5' 10"; Junior
: DB

#25 Justin Harris
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Junior
: RB

#82 Elijah Jones
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Freshman
: WR/DB

#2 James Lee
: 6' 4"; Redshirt Sophomore
: DL

#5 Leo Marin
: 6' 3"; Redshirt Senior
: DE/LB

#21 DeAndre Williams
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: RB/DB