Football 10/16/2010 1:00:00 AM MSU Sports Information

Game Day: #15 Midwestern State looking for fast track against Angelo State

Setting the Stage

No. 15 Midwestern State plays host to Angelo State in a Lone Star Conference South Division contest Saturday night at Memorial Stadium.

Kickoff time is set for 8 p.m.

Where to Find the Game

100.9 BOB FM - The broadcast features the play-by-play voice of two-time Lone Star Conference Broadcaster of the Year Bill Powers. He is joined by KAUZ anchorman Chris Horgen, who serves as color analyst.

On the Web - BOB-FM's audio broadcast is simulcast on BOBradio.fm. Link

Live Stats - Live stats are available courtesy of MSUMustangs.com Link

For the Record

Midwestern State needs a quick bounce back after suffering its first setback last week at No. 5 Abilene Christian.

The Mustangs enjoy the home turf of Memorial Stadium for three of the final five games of the regular season, but the two road games come against No. 7 West Texas A&M and No. 9 Texas A&M-Kingsville.

The Mustangs have won their last eight regular season contests at Memorial Stadium.

Who's Hot

The Midwestern State ground game continues to chew up the yards as the nation's No. 10 rushing attack.

The Mustangs have done it by committee as three different runners have gone for at least 100 yards including senior Marcus Mathis (twice), senior quarterback Zack Eskridge (ENMU) and redshirt-freshman Keidrick Jackson (UCO).

Junior Lester Bush hasn't cracked the 100-yard barrier, but the Houston native has come on the last three games after sitting out the first three games due to injury.

Bush pushed the piles for 86 yards on 17 carries and a touchdown against Abilene Christian last week after bursting 64 yards on six totes and two TDs against Incarnate Word.

Bush accounted for 48 yards on eight carries in his season debut at Central Oklahoma on Sep. 25. He ranks third on the squad with 198 yards on 31 carries for a 6.4 yards per carry average.

Eskridge has also gained the hot hand through the air as he has passed for at least 212 yards in each of the last four weeks including a 263-yard, one-touchdown performance last week at Abilene Christian.

Junior wideout David LIttle has emerged as Eskridge's top target as the Monroe, La. native has caught at least five balls including a TD pass in five of six games this season.

Little has accounted for 21 receptions for 260 yards over the last two weeks.

About the Series

Midwestern State meets Angelo State for the 13th time on the gridiron Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium.

The Mustangs own a 7-5 edge in the series, but ASU claimed the last meeting on Ryan Smith's 36-yard field goal with three seconds remaining to give the Rams a 20-17 victory.

It was one of three losses for MSU by three points last season with two coming on field goals with 3-or-less second remaining with the other coming on Garrett Lindholm's 55-yard field as time expired to lift Tarleton State to a 31-28 win in Stephenville.

Speaking of close losses, the Mustangs are 6-2 against Angelo State during the Bill Maskill era with the other loss coming on J.D. Williams' 20-yard field goal to give the Rams a 30-29 victory in 2005 at San Angelo Stadium - also with 3 seconds remaining. MSU's average margin of victory in the its six wins during the Maskill era is 23.5 points.

Midwestern is 4-2 against the Rams all time at Memorial Stadium including victories in each of the last four contests.

Quick Hits

Junior running back Lester Bush rushed for a career high 86 yards on 17 carries and has now accounted for three touchdowns over the last three games.

Six different MSU rushers have carried the ball 25 times thus far this season as five are averaging better than 6 yards per carry including Keidrick Jackson (7.9), Zack Eskridge (7.4), Lester Bush (6.4), Chauncey Harris (6.0) and Marcus Mathis (5.9).

Junior wide receiver David Little finished with seven receptions for 79 yards including a 35-yard strike for a score on a fourth-and-4 situation to give the Mustangs a 28-24 lead with 8:05 to go in the fourth quarter.

Little has already eclipsed his single-season high with 39 receptions which has gone for a team leading 441 receiving yards and five touchdowns.

Little has TD receptions in five of six games this season.

Senior kicker Jose Martinez connected on field goals of 41 and 31 yards and was perfect on two PATs to account for eight points which was good enough to pass former All-America quarterback Daniel Polk as MSU's all-time leading scorer. Martinez now has 267 career points which is more than Polk, who accounted for 266 from 2004-07.

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Players Mentioned

#8 Lester Bush: RB; 5' 10"; Junior; 2L

#18 Zack Eskridge: QB; 6' 4"; Senior; 2L

#33 Chauncey Harris: RB; 5' 10"; Freshman; RS

#32 Keidrick Jackson: RB; 5' 9"; Freshman; RS

#4 David Little: WR; 6' 3"; Junior; 2L

#49 Jose Martinez: PK; 5' 10"; Senior; 3L

#1 Marcus Mathis: RB; 5' 7"; Senior; 3L

Players Mentioned

#8 Lester Bush
: 5' 10"; Junior; 2L
: RB

#18 Zack Eskridge
: 6' 4"; Senior; 2L
: QB

#33 Chauncey Harris
: 5' 10"; Freshman; RS
: RB

#32 Keidrick Jackson
: 5' 9"; Freshman; RS
: RB

#4 David Little
: 6' 3"; Junior; 2L
: WR

#49 Jose Martinez
: 5' 10"; Senior; 3L
: PK

#1 Marcus Mathis
: 5' 7"; Senior; 3L
: RB