Football 10/28/2011 11:10:00 PM

Game Day: No. 8 Mustangs visit Eastern New Mexico

Setting the Stage

The No. 8 Midwestern State Mustangs take their unbeaten record to Blackwater Draw, N.M. to face the Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds.

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 TV-6 anchorman Chris Horgen, who serves as color analyst.
On the Web - BOB-FM's audio broadcast is simulcasted on BOBradio.fm. Link
Streaming Video - A pay-per-view streaming video webcast is available from ENMU. Link
Live Stats - Live stats are available courtesy of the ENMU sports information office. Link

For the Record

The Mustangs are 8-0, 7-0 in the Lone Star Conference after demolishing then ninth-ranked Abilene Christian 70-28 last Saturday on Homecoming at Memorial Stadium. The Mustangs are ranked eighth this week in the AFCA Division II Football Poll.

Eastern New Mexico sports a 2-6 season record, 1-4 in Lone Star Conference play after falling 52-21 to No. 24 West Texas A&M in Canyon last Saturday.

Who's Hot

Midwestern State is coming off their most explosive offensive output in history, recording 740 yards of total offense against Abilene Christian.

The Mustangs have the top total offense in all of NCAA Division II, averaging 576.7 yards a game. In fact, the Mustangs second in all of college football, behind Houston's 606.1 yards a contest.

MSU continued it powerful ground game as the "New Pony Express" rolled up 436 yards against the Wildcats -- the fifth-best performance in MSU history -- marking the sixth consecutive game the Mustangs have collected 290 or more rushing yards.

Junior quarterback Brandon Kelsey earned Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Week with his 319 yards of total offense in the 70-28 triumph. Kelsey threw for 205 yards against the Cats, hitting 16-of-24 with a touchdown, and he rushed for 114 yards including a touchdown. It was his third 200/100 game this season and just the eighth in MSU history. He's leading the LSC and is second nationally in pass efficiency with a 182.92 rating by completing 96-of-136 passes for 1364 yards with 14 touchdowns and four interceptions. He's also third in rushing in the league (and 52nd in Division II) with 586 for an average of 83.7 yards a game and six touchdowns.

Redshirt freshman Jimmy Pipkin, who earned Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors against Tarleton State, just missed his third straight 100-yard game, collecting 94 yards on just seven carries. He leads the Lone Star Conference and is 36th nationally with an 89.2 yard average, with 40 carries for 535 yards. He broke the second longest run of the season and fifth longest in MSU history with an 83-yard touchdown. In the Mustangs second game of the year, he led all rushers at the Lone Star Football Festival with 106 yards and broke an 87-yard touchdown run (fourth longest in MSU history) in the waning seconds of the contest for MSU against Texas A&M-Commerce.

Sophomore Keidrick Jackson, the D2Football.com National Offensive Player of the Week and the Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Week against Texas A&M-Kingsville, racked up 129 yards on 16 carries against ACU. He's sixth in the Lone Star Conference and is 76th nationally in rushing with 74.3 yards a game, and leads the LSC and is fifth nationally in scoring averaging 12.0 points a contest.

Senior Lester Bush picked up 58 rushing yards against ACU. He's fourth on the team, and seventh in the LSC with an average of 60.7 yards a game on the ground.

Senior David Little hauled in his fourth seven reception game of the year. He chalked up 86 yards on those grabs. He has 38 catches for 572 yards on the season (15.1 yards per reception). He's second in career receptions, yardage and touchdowns with 149 grabs for 2,048 yards and 19 touchdowns. He needs seven receptions to break the career receptions record of 155 by Bryan Gilmore (1996-99) and two touchdowns to smash the record of 20 by Andy Tanner (2006-09).

The MSU defense is second in the LSC and 22nd nationally in scoring defense allowing 18.6 yards a game. MSU leads the LSC and is 25th nationally in Pass Efficiency Defense with a 109.13 rating, while allowing just 106.3 yards rushing to rank second in the league and 19th nationally in rush defense.

Senior linebacker Ty Duncan, the Lone Star Conference Defensive Player of the Week after the Missouri S&T game, continues to lead the tackle chart with 52 stops and ranks fifth in the LSC avaraging 7.4 tackles a game.

Sophomore Neiko Conway has three pass interceptions to lead the team this season, with a total of six to join a tie at seventh on the MSU career interceptions list.

Eastern is keyed offensively by junior Wesley Wood at quarterback. Wood has thrown for 2,141 yards, completing 233-of-362 passes with 17 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

ENMU is averaging 23.9 points and 388.2 total yards a contest.

Defensively, the Greyhounds are giving up 484.5 yards and 38.9 points a game.

Junior linebacker Lane Wood leads the Hounds tackle chart with 54 stops in six games (6.8 per game).

About the Series

Midwestern State and Eastern New Mexico are meeting for the 17th time, with MSU holding a 12-4 series advantage. MSU has won the last nine meetings and have a 6-1 record at Greyhound Stadium -- winning six straight. MSU won last year's meeting 44-17 at Blackwater Draw.

Quick Hits

The Mustangs moved up in the AFCA Top 25 this week at No. 8. MSU was 12th last week. The D2Football.com media poll has the Mustangs at No. 9.
Midwestern State has scored on all 37 of it's appearances in the red zone this season, scoring 34 touchdowns and three field goals.
MSU is seeking to gain a share of the 2011 Lone Star Conference championship with a win.
The Mustangs have a seven-game winning streak and can equal their best single-season win streak of eight from 1991 with a victory.

-- MSUMustangs.com --

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Players Mentioned

#8 Lester Bush: RB; 5' 9"; Senior; 3L

#22 Neiko Conway: DB; 5' 10"; Sophomore; 1L

#7 Ty Duncan: LB; 6' 2"; Senior; 3L

#32 Keidrick Jackson: RB; 5' 9"; Sophomore; 1L

#6 Brandon Kelsey: QB; 6' 2"; Junior; 2L

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

#11 Jimmy Pipkin: RB; 6' 0"; Freshman; RS

Players Mentioned

#8 Lester Bush
: 5' 9"; Senior; 3L
: RB

#22 Neiko Conway
: 5' 10"; Sophomore; 1L
: DB

#7 Ty Duncan
: 6' 2"; Senior; 3L
: LB

#32 Keidrick Jackson
: 5' 9"; Sophomore; 1L
: RB

#6 Brandon Kelsey
: 6' 2"; Junior; 2L
: QB

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

#11 Jimmy Pipkin
: 6' 0"; Freshman; RS
: RB