Football | 10/26/2017 11:41:00 AM
Goodwell, Okla—This Saturday, Oct. 28, marks the Inaugural Oklahoma A&M Showdown between your Panhandle State Aggies and fellow Oklahoma competitor, Langston University. Though both are fellow delegates of the Oklahoma A&M System, the time honored, spirited rivalry between the two universities runs deep. The last time the Aggies faced their competitive counterpart dates back to 2015 when then Aggies broke an eight-year losing stretch to Langston and claimed a 40-35 triumph over the Lions, and both teams are now eagerly out for victory.
After coming off a loss to SAGU, the team now faces long-time adversary Langston, ranked eighth in the nation among NAIA Division I programs, leaving the Aggies between a rock and a hard place. Though they ultimately fell to No. 18-ranked SAGU, the Aggies held their own well on both sides of the ball, keeping the Southwest Assemblies' No. 10-ranked offense at bay for the majority of their time on the field. Panhandle's defense pushed back against a solid line that normally rushes for 100-plus yards instead of the meager 54 yards they were allowed by the Aggies. Stacked penalties and turnovers, and an untimely interception in the fourth quarter left the Aggies facing demise at their own hands.
As the Aggies look to recover and refocus for the match up against Langston, their long week of preparation began in the video room. "As an offensive unit, you look at the video, says Head Coach Russel Gaskamp, "The video doesn't lie. You show the mistakes you made and you get better in practice. But at the same time you can also show the players what could have happened if we did it right. We left a lot of opportunities on the table."
Langston looks to prove their caliber reputation, ranked first in the country in scoring defense, second in total defense, and third in the country as a team in turnover margin, foreshadowing an arduous challenge for the Aggie offense. "We are going to have to protect the ball much better than we have recently and make some plays," says Coach Gaskamp.
Junior
Brandon Ramon made his debut as starting QB against SAGU, but Aggie fans are left wondering if he'll continue his role against Langston. With the adversity he faced on the field, Ramon fought to keep poised and in control to complete a collection of passes, but sophomore QB
D.J. Scott may resurface brandishing veteran experience on the season matched with his advantageous mobility. Keeping with the same pace as the previous week, the coaching staff will likely evaluate both quarterbacks and reach certitude in a game day decision.
This week the Aggies will have to embrace the opportunity of playing amidst a fanfare of Panhandle festivities this weekend but keep fixated on the task at hand. The Aggies reluctantly gave up their first CSFL loss to SAGU, but with a predominantly winning stretch behind them and impassioned fortitude on their side, the season's goals are far from unattainable. However, Coach Gaskamp has been resilient in keeping the team focused on the present and their current opponents. "We know that none of our goals are possible without beating Langston; our only goal is to go 1-0 this week," resolves Gaskamp.
The Aggies will need to defend their home turf as they take on the Langston Lions on Saturday, Oct. 28, at 1 p.m. at No Mans' Land in this Oklahoma A&M Showdown sponsored by TCEC, and they will need their fan base cheering them on. Everyone will want to stay until the clock ticks down to see which team will ring the commemorative Victory Bell on-field and who will stake the first claim on the traveling trophy.
Aggie fans and campus community are encouraged head out early to the Tailgate Zone which will open at 10 a.m. and will likely fill up quickly for this highly anticipated showdown game in conjunction with the Panhandle State Homecoming and PTCI Aggie Hall of Fame Class of 2017 Induction. Campus community or alumni who cannot attend the game can follow along at opsuaggies.com, where live streaming and stats of the game will be available.
