Midwestern State vs. Tarleton State
Saturday, Nov. 15, 2014 | 1 p.m.
Memorial Stadium | Wichita Falls, Texas
Records: Midwestern State (6-3); Tarleton State (4-5)
Video: None
Audio: MSUMustangs.com 
Live Stats: MSUMustangs.com  
 
ON THE FIELD
Midwestern State closes the regular season with a Lone Star Conference Playoff third-place game against rival Tarleton State Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
 
SCOUTING THE TEXANS
- Tarleton State looks to avoid a losing season with a win Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium.
- Four of the Texans' five losses have come by seven points or less.
- TSU boasts NCAA Division II's No. 3 offense averaging 529.4 yards per game while rating eight nationally scoring 43.7 points per game.
- The Texans are coming off of a season-best offensive output with 666 yards last week at Texas A&M-Commerce. It was TSU's third 600-yard offensive explosion of the season including 663 against Eastern New Mexico and 644 against Texas A&M-Kingsville.
- Tarleton State managed a season low 379 yards in its first matchup against Midwestern State.
- Sophomore quarterback Zed Woerner has passed for 772 yards in his first two collegiate starts over the last two weeks in place of injured starter Collin Strahan.
- Senior wide receiver Le'Nard Meyers leads a strong TSU receiving corps with 697 yards on 61 receptions, but the Texans enjoy strong contributions from sophomore Bubba Tandy (39 receptions, 658 yards) and senior Clifton Rhodes III (45 receptions, 531 yards).
- The injured Strahan leads Tarleton's rushing efforts with 599 yards and 10 touchdowns in eight games, while junior running back Zach Henshaw adds 592 yards and five TDs.
- Senior linebacker Marc Martinez paces the TSU defense with 104 tackles, while senior free safety Devin Figures adds 80 tackles.
- Senior linebacker Alex Anderson (10 tackles for loss) and senior defensive end Anthony Gonzalez (14.5 tackles for loss, 9.0 sacks) are the Texans top big play contributors.
- Tarleton State boasts a +12 turnover margin and has only coughed up one fumble all season.
 
LAST WEEK VS. TEXAS A&M-COMMERCE
- Tarleton State's upset bid fell three yards short as Zach Henshaw was pulled down for a one-yard loss on the final, untimed play from scrimmage allowing Texas A&M-Commerce to escape with a 56-49 win.
- The Texans erased a 48-28 deficit with 17 minutes to play to take a 49-48 lead with 8:24 to play afternoon after Zed Woerner hit Bubba Tandy for his third touchdown pass of the game.
- Woerner connected on 41-of-56 passes for a career-high 470 yards with three touchdowns.
- Senior wide receiver Le'Nard Meyers accounted for 145 yards on 15 receptions, while Rhodes III had 134 yards on seven catches.
- Tarleton State accounted for 39 first downs and 666 yards of total offense.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
- Midwestern State and Tarleton State meet for the 30th time on the gridiron Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium.
- The Texans lead the overall series 19-9-1, but MSU has claimed wins in three of the last four.
- Five of the last six meetings between the teams have been decided by five points or less.
- MSU is 6-7-1 all-time against the Texans in Wichita Falls.
- The Mustangs have won the last two meetings between the teams at Memorial Stadium (2010, 2011).
 
ABOUT THE MUSTANGS OFFENSE
- Midwestern State boasts the nation's 15th best offensive attack averaging 496.1 yards per game while scoring 38.7 points per game.
- The Mustangs are even better over the past four games piling up 521.5 yards per game including 330.8 yards per game on the ground.
- Senior running back Chauncey Harris (San Antonio, Texas / Judson HS) is working on a string of three 100-yard rushing performances and is coming off of a season-best 178-yard effort at Angelo State. He ran for 169  yards against Texas A&M-Commerce and 171 at Texas A&M-Kingsville in his previous two outings.
- Harris moved to 10th on MSU's all-time rushing list with 1,729 yards and needs 94 more to pass Jerrold Fuqua (1822 from 2002-03) and Derrick Wagoner (1781 from 1991-92) to jump to No. 8.
- Senior quarterback Jake Glover (White Settlement, Texas / Brewer HS) delivered his fourth 200-yard passing game of the season with 250 yards and three touchdowns Saturday at Angelo State.
- Glover completed passes to 10 different receivers against the Rams connected with eight different teammates from the start of the game.
- Sophomore running back Dante Taylor (Plano, Texas / Plano East SH) returned from a three-week absence due to injury to run for 64 yards on 16 carries with a touchdown.
 
ABOUT THE MUSTANGS DEFENSE
- Midwestern State boasts the second-best defense in the Lone Star Conference yielding 392.4 yards per game while allowing a league-low 26.7 points per game.
- The Mustangs held Angelo State to 293 yards over the final three quarters of football Saturday night at LeGrand Stadium. The Rams ripped MSU for 198 yards in the opening 15 minutes.
- MSU ranks second in the LSC in team sacks and ranks 35th in NCAA Division II with 2.78 per game.
- The Mustangs have at least two sacks in each game this season when the opponent is not Angelo State. MSU has no sacks in two tries against the Rams.
- The Mustangs accounted for 25 sacks this season including 14 in the last four games.
- Senior defensive ends Travis Stephens (Houston, Texas / Jersey Village HS (Kansas)) and Cameron Williams (Giddings, Texas / Giddings HS) lead the way with 3.5 sacks each.
- Junior safety Marqui Christian (Spring, Texas / Spring HS) leads the team with 65 total tackles despite missing two games due to injury and sitting out the first half against Texas A&M-Kingsville due to a targeting penalty against Texas A&M-Commerce.
- Junior linebacker Daniel Laudermilk (Austin, Texas / Austin HS) (58 tackles), sophomore linebacker Adam Hill (Cedar Park, Texas / Cedar Park HS) (57 tackles) and senior defensive back Dayvyon Henry (Plano, Texas / Plano East SH (Trinity Valley CC)) (57 tackles) all are over the 50-tackle barrier for the Mustangs.
- Senior cornerback Ricardo Riascos (Houston, Texas / Travis HS) accounts for two of MSU's five interceptions this season.
 
MUSTANGS NOTABLES
- Bill Maskill claimed his 101st win at Midwestern State against Texas A&M-Kingsville (11/1)  to run his mark to 101-40 (.716) in 12 seasons.
- Midwestern State clinched its 15th consecutive winning season with the 48-7 victory at Texas A&M-Kingsville.