Football 11/11/2011 11:19:00 PM

Game Day: No. 3 Mustangs seek perfection against RiverHawks

Setting the Stage

The No. 3 Midwestern State Mustangs put their 9-0 record on the line against former the Lone Star Conference member Northeastern State RiverHawks (7-3).

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
Live Stats - Live stats are available courtesy of the NSU sports information office. Link

For the Record

The Mustangs are 9-0 and are the Lone Star Conference Champions with an 8-0 league mark after beating No. 20 West Texas A&M 35-21 last Saturday at Memorial Stadium. The Mustangs are ranked third this week in the AFCA Division II Football Poll, their highest ranking ever.

Northeastern State brings a 7-3 season record into the contest. NSU is an independent this season after spending 15 seasons in the LSC. The RiverHawks join the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association next season. NSU beat fellow former LSC and future MIAA member Central Oklahoma 35-7 last Saturday in Edmond.

Who's Hot

Midwestern State never trailed in beating West Texas A&M to win its first outright Lone Star Conference title.

MSU continued it powerful ground game as the "New Pony Express" and rolled up 298 yards against the Buffaloes, marking the eighth consecutive game the Mustangs collected 290 or more rushing yards. MSU chalked up 475 yard of total offense.

The Mustangs average 556.0 yards of total offense a game, leading NCAA Division II and fourth behind Division I FBS Houston (617.0 ypg), Baylor (577.1) and Oklahoma State (557.3) in total offense in all of college football.

Junior quarterback Brandon Kelsey, a Harlon Hill Trophy regional finalist, directed the thundering machine. He rushed for 110 yards on 16 carries with three touchdowns (11, 44, 26) and completed 16-of-28 passes for 177 yards with an interception. For the season Kelsey has hit 124-of-177 passes for 1684 yards with 16 touchdowns and five interceptions and is third NCAA Division II with a 174.16 pass efficiency rating. He's leads the team, is second in the LSC and 44th nationally in rushing, averaging 86.7 yards a contest.

Sophomore Keidrick Jackson is became the first MSU player in six years with his three straight 100-plus games with his 104 yards on 22 carries against the Buffs. He also had 129 yards against Abilene Christian and 128 against Eastern New Mexico. He was the D2Football.com National Offensive Player of the Week and the Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Week for his 160 yards on 18 carries (8.9 per carry) with three touchdowns to go with his team-leading four receptions for 68 yards and a touchdown against Texas A&M-Kingsville. He's third in the Lone Star Conference and is 50th nationally in rushing with 83.6 yards a game, and leads the LSC and is sixth nationally in scoring averaging 10.7 points a contest.

Redshirt freshman Jimmy Pipkin saw limited action against WT. He is fifth the Lone Star Conference and is 69th nationally with his 76.9 yard average per game. He's got 615 yards on 51 carries on the season. He had 155 yards against Tarleton State and was named Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Week after that game and he led all rushers at the Lone Star Football Festival with 106 yards and broke an 87-yard touchdown run in the waneing seconds of the contest for MSU against Texas A&M-Commerce.

Senior Lester Bush picked up 70 yards against West Texas A&M, and crossed the goal line once. He's fourth on the team and ninth in the LSC with an average of 59.1 yards a game on the ground.

Bush and Jackson are tied for fourth on the career rushing touchdowns list with 22 TDs.

Senior David Little became MSU's career receptions leader with his nine catches for 88 yards versus WT. With 160 career receptions he passed former NFL receiver Bryan Gilmore (1996-99) who had 155 grabs for MSU. He's second in career receptions and touchdowns with 2,151 yards and 19 scores. He leads the team with 49 catches for 675 yards on the season (13.8 yards per reception).

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 64 stops and is fifth in the LSC with 7.1 tackles a game.

Sophomore Neiko Conway has three pass interceptions to lead the team this season, with a total of six in his 15 career games at MSU to tie for seventh on the all-time list.

The MSU defense leads the LSC by allowing only 20.6 points a game (35th nationally), 348.1 total yards a game (57th nationally), 100.1 yards rushing (ninth nationally) and leads the LSC in pass efficiency defense with a 114.40 rating (43rd nationally).

Northeastern State is the top team among Division II independents in passing offense with 304.4 yards a contest (ninth in the country) and is second amongst independents and 10th in total offense with 466.8 yards an outing. NSU is averaging 35.7 points a game (18th in D II).

Defensively, the RiverHawks allow 395.2 yards a game, including allowing 175.4 yards rushing. NSU gives up 28.3 points a contest.

About the Series

Midwestern State and West Texas A&M are meeting for the 12th time with MSU sporting a 9-2 series record. The Mustangs have an eight-game winning streak over the Hawks.

Quick Hits

The Mustangs are trying to complete an undefeated regular season for the first time in school history and could tie the 1949 and 2006 teams with 10 wins.
MSU is on an nine-game winning streak, tying the longest win streak in school history, set over two seasons (2005-06).
The Mustangs moved up to their highest-ever spot in the AFCA Top 25 this week at No. 3. MSU was fifth last week. The D2Football.com media poll has the Mustangs at No. 2.
Midwestern State has scored on 46 of it's 48 appearances in the red zone this season, scoring 43 touchdowns and three field goals.

-- 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