No. 17 Midwestern State opens the 2010 season Thursday night on the road against New Mexico Highlands at Perkins Stadium in Las Vegas, N.M.
Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. (Central Time).
Midwestern State attempts to get off on the right foot for the 10th-straight season as the Mustangs have claimed wins in their season opener in each campaign since 2001.
The Mustangs have used the great starts as the catalyst for 10-straight winning seasons which includes 5-0 starts in 2006 and 2007 and a 4-0 beginnings in 2008 and 2009.
MSU has dominated the months of August and September during the Maskill rolling to a 26-7 mark (.788) since the beginning of the 2002 season.
The Mustangs have also faired very well against NCAA Division II non-conference opponents posting a 6-1 record against non-conference Division II opponents since 2002 which includes wins in each of their last five games -- Arkansas Tech in 2003, Adams State in 2007, Newberry (S.C.) in 2008 and New Mexico Highlands and Incarnate Word in 2009.
Harlon Hill candidate Zack Eskridge carries numerous positive streaks into the 2010 season.
The senior from Rowlett has passed for at least 200 yards in each of his last 12 games and 16 of the last 17 with the lone exception coming at Abilene Christian in the final game of the 2008 season.
The streak is the longest in program history, while the 16 career games of 200 or more passing yards are more than any other MSU signal caller.
The Collegiate Draft Services Preseason All America has passed for a touchdown in 16 consecutive games which includes 12 contests with multiple TD hookups.
Eskridge led all of NCAA Division II with a pass efficiency rating of 180.21 last season on his way to Daktronics Super Region 4 and Lone Star Conference Offensive Back of the Year honors.
Senior running back Marcus Mathis returns to the lineup after missing the final six games last season after suffering an arm injury against Tarleton State.
Mathis comes into his senior campaign fifth on the school's all-time rushing list with 1,860 yards and can rush his way all the way up to second with 682 yards this season. Former teammate Daniel Polk ran for 3,590 yards from 2003-07.
Senior safety Ryan Craven needs eight tackles to become just the 12th MSU player to amass 200 tackles in a career.
Craven has already enjoyed a stellar collegiate run with 192 tackles while also racking up three interceptions, seven pass breakups, five fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles and three blocked kicks since arriving on campus in 2007.
Eskridge, Mathis and Craven all played prep football at Rockwall High School.
Midwestern State meets New Mexico Highlands for the third time on the gridiron Thursday night at Perkins Stadium.
The series is knotted 1-1, but the Mustangs claimed a 41-0 win in the 2009 season opener as Zack Eskridge passed for 219 yards and three touchdowns to kick start a phenomenal season while leading the Mustangs to their first Lone Star Conference championship and a trip to the NCAA Division II postseason.
The performance was a perfect counter to NMHU's victory back in 1995 when current Cowboys' coach Chad Roanhaus passed for 339 yards and a pair of touchdowns to lift NMHU to a 40-23 win in Las Vegas during MSU's first season competing at the NCAA Division II level.
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Ryan Craven is prepared to make his 33rd career start at the safety position which easily is the most on the team. Zack Eskridge and Marcus Mathis are next in line with 24 and 23 starts, respectively.
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Zack Eskridge needs 23 yards to become the second quarterback in MSU history to eclipse 5,000 career passing yards. Phillip Boggs threw for 5,592 yards from 1999-03.
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Marcus Mathis will become the fourth rusher in MSU history to amass 2,000 yards after he runs for 140 yards this season.
