Midwestern State vs. Angelo State
Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014 | 7 p.m.
LeGrand Stadium at 1st Community Credit Union Field | San Angelo, Texas
Records: Midwestern State (6-2); Angelo State (6-2)
Video: AngeloSports.com  
Audio: MSUMustangs.com  
Live Stats: AngeloSports.com  
 
ON THE FIELD
Midwestern State and Angelo State in the opening round of the Lone Star Conference Playoffs Saturday night at LeGrand Stadium at 1st Community Credit Union Field. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
 
The winner moves on to face the victor of the Texas A&M-Commerce/Tarleton State matchup next week for the LSC Playoff title. The losers battle for third place. Both games will be played at the site of the highest remaining seed.
 
SCOUTING THE RAMS
- Angelo State rides a three-game winning streak into Saturday night's matchup with Midwestern State.
- The Rams are coming off of a season-low scoring output, but capped off a 21-point fourth quarter with a Kyle Washington-to-Chris Omigie 4-yard scoring strike pull off a 34-31 win at Tarleton State to clinch the No. 2 seed in the LSC Playoffs.
- Angelo State ranks 23rd in NCAA Division II in total offense (477.9 yard per game) and is ninth in scoring offense at 42.6 points per game.
- Junior quarterback Kyle Washington has accounted for 2,730 yards of total offense throwing for 2,112 yards and 21 touchdowns while rushing for 618 yards and seven touchdowns.
- The Rams rank 142nd nationally and are sixth in the LSC in total defense (445.9 yards per game) and is 99th overall and fourth in the LSC in scoring defense allowing 29 points per game.
- Senior linebacker Rush Seaver ranks third in NCAA Division II with 14.1 tackles per game, while junior defensive end Clayton Callicut rates 15th in the nation with 1.9 tackles for loss per game. Both top the Lone Star Conference.
 
LAST WEEK VS. TARLETON STATE
- Angelo State overcame a 24-6 deficit midway through the third quarter to outscore Tarleton State 28-7 the rest of the way to claim a 34-31 win Saturday night in Stephenville.
- Junior quarterback Kyle Washington rolled up 93 yards on the ground while passing for 360 yards and four touchdowns as the Rams amassed 529 yards of total offense.
- Senior wide receiver Dakarai Pecikonis paced the receiving corps with eight receptions for 136 yards and two touchdowns.
- Senior linebacker Rush Seaver led defensive efforts with 16 tackles.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES (MSU vs. ANGELO STATE)
- Midwestern State meets Angelo State for the 18th time on the gridiron Saturday night at LeGrand Stadium at 1st Community Credit Union Field.
- The Mustangs own an 11-6 edge in the series which dates back to the 1946 season.
- MSU had its four-game winning streak snapped with a 45-31 loss earlier this season in Wichita Falls.
- Midwestern State is 4-3 all time against the Rams in San Angelo.
- MSU is 10-3 against Angelo State with Bill Maskill at the helm (2002-present).
 
ABOUT THE MUSTANGS OFFENSE
- Midwestern State rebounded from consecutive midseason losses to Angelo State and West Texas A&M to its last three games -- McMurry (71-13), Texas A&M-Commerce (40-37 in OT) and Texas A&M-Kingsville (48-7).
- The Mustangs have been nothing short of consistent on offense rolling up at least 426 yards in all eight games this season going over the 500-yard barrier four times.
- MSU ranks 18th in NCAA Division II in total offense (488.8 yards per game) and is ninth in rushing offense (281 yards per game).
- The ground attack has come on over the last four weeks as the Mustangs averaged 341.2 yards a game with only one running back -- Don Jerry (Grand Prairie, Texas / Arlington Bowie HS) -- appearing in each of the four games.
- Senior running back Chauncey Harris (San Antonio, Texas / Judson HS) erupted for consecutive 100-yard performances earning Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors with 169 yards and three touchdowns against Texas A&M-Commerce before going for 171 yards and another score last week against Texas A&M-Kingsville.
- Harris has accounted for 340 of his 462 yards this season over the last two weeks to raise his per carry average to 6.9.
- Sophomore running back Dante Taylor (Plano, Texas / Plano East SH) missed the last three weeks due to injury. He will look to continue a string of three consecutive 100-yard performances including back-to-back games with 159 yards against Angelo State and West Texas A&M. Taylor still leads the team with 579 yards on 81 carries good for five touchdowns and a 7.1 yards per carry average.
- Senior quarterback Jake Glover (White Settlement, Texas / Brewer HS) heads MSU's three-headed quarterback system passing for 1,117 yards and nine touchdowns. Sophomore Quade Coward (Cleburne, Texas / Cleburne HS) tops the trio with a 150.61 efficiency rating passing for 403 yards and three touchdowns. Redshirt-freshman Hagen Hutchinson (Stamford, Texas / Stamford HS) tops the group with a 7.1 yards per carry average rushing for 178 yards on 25 totes.
- Sophomore Statron Jones (Manor, Texas / Manor HS) leads the receiving corps with 23 receptions for 457 yards and five touchdowns.
 
ABOUT THE MUSTANGS DEFENSE
- Midwestern State held five of its eight opponents to fewer than 400 yards of total offense limiting Texas A&M-Kingsville to a season low 147 yards in a 48-7 win last week.
- The offensive output was the lowest against Midwestern State since the Mustangs held New Mexico Highlands to 124 total yards on Aug. 29, 2009.
- The Mustangs lead the Lone Star Conference and rank 64th in NCAA Division II in scoring defense allowing 24.9 points per game.
- MSU leads the LSC in team sacks and ranks 17th in NCAA Division II with 3.13 per game.
- The Mustangs accounted for 25 sacks this season including 14 in the last three 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 60 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.
- Senior safety Dayvyon Henry (Plano, Texas / Plano East SH (Trinity Valley CC)) (57 tackles), sophomore linebacker Adam Hill (Cedar Park, Texas / Cedar Park HS) (52 tackles) and junior linebacker Daniel Laudermilk (Austin, Texas / Austin HS) (51 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.
 
 A LOOK BACK
- Midwestern State scored the final 45 points after trailing 7-3 to claim a 48-7 win at Texas A&M-Kingsville.
- Senior running back Chauncey Harris (San Antonio, Texas / Judson HS) broke free on a 60-yard touchdown run on the second play from scrimmage of the second half on the way to running for a season-high 171 yards.
- Junior wide receiver Arsenio Phillips (New Orleans, La. / Roanoke, Texas Northwest (Howard Payne)) recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff to jump start a 28-point third quarter for MSU including 30-yard Jake Glover-to-Statron Jones TD strike, a 19-yard scoring jaunt by Don Jerry and an 11-yard hookup from Glover to Levy Wilson.
- The MSU defense permitted three first downs and 44 yards over Texas A&M-Kingsville's final 10 drives of the game.
- The Mustangs accounted for nine tackles for loss and four sacks.
- Sophomore linebacker Adam Hill (Cedar Park, Texas / Cedar Park HS) led the way with six tackles.
 
MUSTANGS NOTABLES
- Bill Maskill claimed his 101st win at Midwestern State last weekend against Texas A&M-Kingsville to run his mark to 101-39 (.721) in 12 seasons.
- Midwestern State clinched its 15th consecutive winning season with the 48-7 victory at Texas A&M-Kingsville.
 
UP NEXT
- Midwestern State will either take on Texas A&M-Commerce on the road or play host to Tarleton State Saturday at Memorial Stadium.