Football 9/18/2010 12:45:14 AM By Trey Reed/Sports Information Director

Game Day: #12 MSU takes on Southwestern Oklahoma today in home opener

No. 12 Midwestern State plays host to Southwestern Oklahoma in its home opener Saturday night at Memorial Stadium.

Kickoff is set for 7 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 while KAUZ anchorman Chris Horgen.

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

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

For the record

Midwestern State looks to continue its dominance over the Lone Star Conference North Division Saturday night against Southwestern Oklahoma State at Memorial Stadium.

Not coincidently, the Mustangs have asserted stellar play early in the season during the Bill Maskill era. MSU efforts to improve to 3-0 for the fifth-straight season.

In fact, Midwestern has won its first four games in each of its last four campaigns after accomplishing the feat just one other time in program history when MSU rolled to a 6-0 start on the way to a mythical small college national championship in 1949.

Who's hot

Midwestern State senior quarterback Zack Eskridge posted his first 100-yard rushing game while helping the Mustangs to a 44-17 win last Saturday at Eastern New Mexico.

The Rockwall native accounted for 276 yards of total offense including a game-high 137 yards on the ground while completing 15-of-28 passes for 139 yards and a touchdown.

Senior running back Marcus Mathis continues to impress rolling up 94 yards on 16 carries and a touchdown and is averaging 102 rushing yards a contest.

The Midwestern State defense is holding strong and ranks 34th nationally in total defense allowing 266.5 yards per game, but is 17th in pass efficiency defense after intercepting five passes last week against Eastern New Mexico.

The Mustangs are second in NCAA Division with a +3.50 turnover margin.

About the series

Midwestern State and Southwestern Oklahoma meet for the 19th time on the gridiron Saturday night at Memorial Stadium.

The Mustangs own a 12-6 edge in the series and have won the last eight meetings of the series by an average margin of 21 points dating back to the 2000 season.

Midwestern is 4-3 against the Bulldogs in games played at Memorial Stadium, but has won the last four on its home turf.

Southwestern's last win in the series came by the count of 31-15 on Sep. 28, 1996 in Wichita Falls.

Quick Hits

Midwestern State improved to 32-1 against the current LSC North membership since the Bill Maskill era began in 2002 with last Saturday's win at Eastern New Mexico.

The Mustangs improved to 2-0 for the fifth-straight season. The win upped Maskill's winning percentage at Midwestern to .700 -- 62-28.

Senior quarterback Zack Eskridge's 18-yard TD connection with David Little was the 50th of his career last week at Eastern New Mexico.

Senior running back Marcus Mathis became the fourth MSU rusher to run for 2,000 career yards with a 4-yard rush with 9:07 remaining in the first quarter. Mathis joins Daniel Polk, Dominic Rhodes and Ross Harrison. Mathis currently has 2,085 rushing yards.

Eskridge led the Mustangs with a career-best 137 rushing yards from the quarterback position. It's only the 13th most rushing yards by a signal caller in MSU history as Daniel Polk surpassed the total nine times and Phillip Boggs accomplished the feat three times. It was the most rushing by an MSU QB since Polk ran for 290 against Abilene Christian on Nov. 10, 2007.

With Tarleton's loss at Central Oklahoma last Saturday, MSU now has fewer losses than any Lone Star Conference since the start of the 2000 season with 34. The Mustangs and Texans each have 10-straight winning campaigns which is the longest streak in the league.

Midwestern was penalized 17 times for 180 yards last Saturday at Blackwater Draw which are the most penalty yards since the Mustangs were penalized 182 yards against Southeastern Oklahoma on Sep. 18, 2004. The 17 penalties were the fourth most in a single game in program history.

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