LSC Football Fans-

The Lone Star Conference Football Blog is up and going, once again.


Let's catch up on some things:

We have 3 new teams that have joined the Lone Star Conference Football ranks.






The Angelo State Rams:

2015 Season Record: Overall (7-4) LSC Record (3-3): Lost to Midwestern (9 point loss), TAMC (3 point loss), ENMU (18 point loss) and TAMC (1 point loss)

Head Coach: Will Wagner (6th Season as Rams Head Coach) Record: 31-25 (.553%)

Will Wagner has promoted Drew Dallas to offensive coordinator. Dallas has been an integral part of the offensive staff at Angelo State since 2011 as a graduate assistant and promoted to assistant coach in 2012. He has worked with the wide receivers since 2011 and picked up recruiting coordinator duties in 2012.The Ram offense is coming off a record-setting season by leading the nation in total offense with 560.4 yards per game (ASU Athletics SID).



ASU play-by-play caller Jeremy Bryant wins JAKE TRUSSELL AWARD for 2nd straight year.




Who returns to the Rams lineup?


The Rams Offense have 5 offensive starters returning from last season's campaign.

Offensive impact players:






The Rams Defense have 5 defensive starters returning to the lineup.

Defensive impact players:




Willie Brown - ILB

Rams Offense: Pistol Formation
Rams Defense: 4-2-5 Formation
-With Some Variations


2016 Angelo State Schedule:

Date Opponent Time/Result

September 1st @ McKendree 6 p.m.

Lebanon, Illinois

September 10th @ Northern Michigan 3 p.m.

Marquette, Michigan

September 17th @ Tarleton State* 7 p.m.
Stephenville, Texas


September 24th Eastern New Mexico* 6 p.m.
San Angelo, Texas \\ Family Day


October 1st @ Texas A&M-Kingsville* 7 p.m.
Kingsville, Texas


October 8th Oklahoma Panhandle State* 6 p.m.
San Angelo, Texas \\ Homecoming


October 15th @ Midwestern State* 7 p.m.
Wichita Falls, Texas


October 22nd Texas A&M-Commerce* 6 p.m.
San Angelo, Texas


October 29th @ Western New Mexico* 1 p.m.
Silver City, New Mexico


November 5th @ West Texas A&M 6 p.m.
Canyon, Texas


November 12th UT Permian Basin 6 p.m.
San Angelo, Texas \\ Military Appreciation

Home games in BOLD *Lone Star Conference Game


Nov. 19 - NCAA Playoffs Begin
The Rams begin the season with two formidable foes for their 2 out of conference schedule games, one opponent from the GLVC and one from the GLIAC (both on the road with long travel distances). The Rams will have no easy ride with these OOC opponents. After the first 2 games, the Rams head into their LSC schedule and will be in good position to have a winning record heading into week 7 to take on a LSC favorite in Midwestern State. However, those LSC opponents will be no pushover, you can be sure that Kingsville is improved and the Greyhounds will not let the Rams walk through unscathed. The Rams have a really great 2016 schedule, and improvement in OOC foes compared to 2015. Overall, I am looking forward to see how they lineup and matchup against the GLVC and GLIAC opponents.

Coach Wagner Comments about their 2016 Schedule:

Our schedule should be great for the regional rankings with us playing 2 teams in region. McKendree and N Michigan are 2 great teams and if we are able win those games, it gives you a lot of credit within the region.

Coach's Corner with Head Coach Will Wagner


Our expectations are for us to compete. To be a great program you have to be able to develop your players so when you do lose a key player, you have another kid ready to go.

Notable JUCO transfers for the Rams:






Josh Stevens - RB


Thoughts on the Upcoming Season:

Everyone thought that Angelo was going to be the team to beat and the frontrunner last year, especially with the level of talent and leaders on the Rams roster. However, that turned out not to be the case for the senior years of Kyle Washington and Clayton Callicutt. The Rams still turned in a good year; however, it was not what they had set out to be or what we all expected. I can only imagine that with the disappointment from last season (including not making the playoffs), expectations are high for this season to be better than their previous season. That task will not be an easy one with all the playmakers that have moved on due to graduation.

The Rams do have some returners who garnered some attention in the honors category last season. Those returning players to keep an eye on in 2016 are the following: Safety Richard Franklin, RB Trey Green, CB Fred Lawrence, WR/PR Donovan Thompson, LT Rance Layton, LB Willie Brown and Center Tyler Hamilton.


I think that the Rams are in a good place to adapt right back into becoming a top-tier team in the LSC. I feel that they have enough returners coming back to be able to have success early and get some early season wins to build team confidence and morale.

Wide Receiver Donovan Thompson comes back to the Rams after a stellar season, racking up 1,133 yards and 8 TDs, while LB Willie Brown returns as the tackle leader with 43 tackles with 7 sacks.

Where do the Rams go from here? Can Will Wagner keep the Rams on a path of success and fill the voids of some great players? I have a feeling that we will learn a whole lot about Ram football during week 1 and 2.

Joe's Preseason LSC Rankings:


2......................



3. .....................

5......................

6......................









ANGELO STATE DEPTH CHART
vs.McKENDREE

(According to ASU Athletics)

OFFENSE
WR 3 Mark Munson (6-0, 205, Sr.)
5 Ricky Pelzer (6-3, 195, Sr.)

LT 75 Rance Layton (6-6, 295, Jr.)
65 Kevin Nash (6-4, 265, R-Fr.)

LG 70 James Hawkins (6-2, 330, Jr)
63 Blake Harrison (6-3, 300, R-Fr.)

C 53 Tyler Hamilton (6-1, 305, Sr.)
77 Nolan Osmanski (6-3, 305, Sr.)

RG 55 Ashmeed Ahamad (6-1, 295, Jr.)
78 Andre Gillette (6-3, 305, Jr.)

RT 72 Reggie Harris (6-2, 305, Sr.)
65 Kevin Nash (6-4, 265, R-Fr.)

TE 85 Cole Rogers (6-4, 230, Jr.)
80 Colt Owen (6-3, 230, So.)

WR 13 Brennan Bibbs (5-11, 165, R-Fr.)
17 Tyler Wilson (6-1, 195, So.)

QB 10 Jake Faber (6-4, 215, Jr.)
16 Jesse Drummer (6-3, 240, R-Fr.)

RB 27 Trey Green (5-8, 205, Sr.)
22 Josh Stevens (5-9, 170, Jr.)

WR 8 Donovan Thompson (6-0, 190, Jr.)
7 Lawson Ayo (5-11, 185, Fr.)

DEFENSE
DE 91 Grant Peterson (6-6, 260, Sr.)
54 Michael Walling (6-5, 240, So.)

DT 50 Bright Ihegworo (6-1, 250, R-Fr.)
45 Jesus Vargas (5-10, 290, Sr.)

DT 99 Matt Andre (6-0, 320, Jr.)
74 Jesse Hanson IV (6-0, 270, Sr.)

DE 43 Markus Jones (6-2, 265, So.)
44 Grant Coonce (6-3, 255, Jr.)

LB 14 Grant Aschenbeck (6-1, 230, So.)
11 Melvin Robinson (6-0, 230, Sr.)

LB 37 Willie Brown (5-10, 215, Sr.)
33 Isaiah Aneke (5-9, 240, Sr.)

CB 15 Fred Lawrence (5-9, 165, Jr.)
6 Levontre Edwards (5-10, 180, Sr.)

FS 2 London Dial (6-2, 190, Sr.)
29 Myron Turner, Jr. (6-0, 175, R-Fr.)

R 24 Richard Franklin (5-10, 210, Sr.)
1 Darius Doakes (6-1, 215, R-Fr.)

S 4 Justin Jackson (6-0, 210, So.)
2 London Dial (6-2, 190, Sr.)

CB 9 Kevin Wharry (5-10, 170, Sr.)
28 Jordan Coleman (5-8, 155, R-Fr.)

SPECIALISTS
KO 23 Casey Eyman (6-0, 195, Jr.) or
48 Connor Flanigan (5-11, 175, R-Fr.)

PK 23 Casey Eyman (6-0, 195, Jr.) or
48 Connor Flanigan (5-11, 175, R-Fr.)

HOLD 13 Brennan Bibbs (5-11, 165, R-Fr.)

SS 47 Stephan Dugas (6-2, 220, Sr.)
LS 47 Stephan Dugas (6-2, 220, Sr.)

P 23 Casey Eyman (6-0, 195, Jr.)

KR 3 Mark Munson (6-0, 205, Sr.)
15 Fred Lawrence (5-9, 165, Jr.)

PR 8 Donovan Thompson (6-0, 190, Jr.)



Angelo State (0-0) v. McKendree (0-0), Thursday, 6 p.m. Kickoff

Lebanon, Illinois Leemon Field








Prediction: Angelo State 34 McKendree 27