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Game Day: #2 Midwestern State vs. #10 Northwest Missouri State

Football MSU Athletic Communications

GAME DAY: No. 2 Mustangs set to tangle with No. 10 Northwest Missouri

Setting the Stage
No. 2 Midwestern State takes on No. 10 Northwest Missouri State in the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
 
Kickoff is set for noon.

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 Midwestern State Sports Information Office.  LINK
  • Live Scoreboard - Follow all of the action from around the NCAA Division II courtesy of the Augustana (S.D.)'s playoff scoreboard   LINK

For the Record
Midwestern State is making its fourth NCAA Division II playoff appearance advancing to the second round for the second time in program history on the strength of a bye.
 
The Mustangs fell in the first round to Colorado Mines in 2004 before coming from behind to upend Missouri Western 28-26 in the opening round in 2006. MSU then fell to Northwest Missouri State 27-0 in Maryville.
 
MSU returned to the playoffs in 2009 dropping a 24-21 slugfest to Abilene Christian.
 
Midwestern enjoyed its first unbeaten regular season in school history and will set a program record for wins in a season with a victory over Northwest Missouri Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
 
The Mustangs have lost just once at home in the last three seasons - to ACU in the 2009 postseason - and have been victorious in nine consecutive games including unbeaten home ledgers in 2009, 2010 and 2011.
 
Northwest Missouri advanced to the second round with a 35-29 come-from-behind win last Saturday at Missouri Western.
 
The Bearcats have advanced to the national quarterfinal round each season since 2004 including five consecutive title game appearances from 2005-09.
 
NWMSU boasts a 33-12 overall postseason record (11-5 on the road) in 16 playoff appearances winning titles in 1998, 1999 and 2009.

Who's Hot
The Midwestern State ground attack continues to sizzle as the New Pony Express is rolling up 327.2 yards per game.
 
Harlon Hill finalist Brandon Kelsey leads the way with 902 yards on 96 carries with 11 touchdowns. The junior from Arlington is the top rushing quarterback in NCAA Division II and has rushed for 100-or-more yards in four of his last five games.
 
Sophomore Keidrick Jackson became the first MSU running back to rush for 100-or-more yards in four consecutive games since former NFL'er Dominic Rhodes eclipsed the century mark in five straight contests in 2000.
 
Jackson has accounted for 860 yards on 126 carries with 17 touchdowns this season.
 
Redshirt-freshman speedster Jimmy Pipkin has needed just 53 carries to amass 655 yards and seven touchdowns, while bruising senior Lester Bush has accounted for 558 yards on 117 totes with 12 touchdowns.

About the Series
Midwestern State and Northwest Missouri State are meeting for the fourth time on the gridiron Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium and for the second occasion in the postseason.
 
The Bearcats claimed regular season wins by counts of 52-14 on Sep. 4, 1997 in Wichita Falls and 55-16 on Sep. 5, 1998 in Maryville.
 
Northwest Missouri claimed a 27-0 win in the second round of the 2006 NCAA Division II Playoffs at Bearcat Stadium.

Quick Hits
  •  A win would give Midwestern State its second postseason victory during the Bill Maskill era and the 11th victory of the season would break the school single-season record of 10 set in 1947 and matched in 2006.
  • Midwestern State claimed its first ever No. 1 national ranking taking the top spot of the D2Football.com's final regular season poll. The Mustangs are ranked No. 2 in the American Football Coaches' Association rankings.
  • The Mustangs are 10-27 against nationally ranked opposition since joining Division II in 1997, but own wins over No. 16 Texas A&M-Kingsville, No. 9 Abilene Christian and No. 20 West Texas A&M this season.
  • MSU has scored 190 points in the second quarter in 10 games this season which is more than 21 NCAA Division II teams have scored all season.
  • Midwestern State has scored touchdowns in each of its last 36 quarters of play dating back to the fourth quarter of the season opener at Missouri S&T.
  • Saturday's game against Northwest Missouri marks the Mustangs' third home NCAA Division II playoff game. MSU beat Missouri Western in 2006 and fell to Abilene Christian in 2009 - both were first-round matchups.
  • Ninety-five of MSU's 461 rushes (20.6 percent) have gone for 10-or-more yards this season as Brandon Kelsey leads the way with 31 carries of double-figure results. Keidrick Jackson has 20 and Jimmy Pipkin has 17 while Lester Bush has pounded out 14.
  • The Mustangs boast 14 rushes of 40-or-more yards including 87- and 83-yard spurts by redshirt-freshman Jimmy Pipkin.
  
-- MSUMustangs.com --
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Players Mentioned

Lester Bush

#8 Lester Bush

RB
5' 9"
Senior
3L
Keidrick Jackson

#32 Keidrick Jackson

RB
5' 9"
Sophomore
1L
Brandon Kelsey

#6 Brandon Kelsey

QB
6' 2"
Junior
2L
Jimmy Pipkin

#11 Jimmy Pipkin

RB
6' 0"
Freshman
RS

Players Mentioned

Lester Bush

#8 Lester Bush

5' 9"
Senior
3L
RB
Keidrick Jackson

#32 Keidrick Jackson

5' 9"
Sophomore
1L
RB
Brandon Kelsey

#6 Brandon Kelsey

6' 2"
Junior
2L
QB
Jimmy Pipkin

#11 Jimmy Pipkin

6' 0"
Freshman
RS
RB