Midwestern State vs. Texas A&M-Commerce
Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015 | 3 p.m.
A&M-Commerce Memorial Stadium | Commerce, Texas
Records: Midwestern State (7-0, 4-0); Texas A&M-Commerce (6-1, 5-0)
Video: LionAthletics.com (PPV) 
Audio: Mustangs Digital Network (Free) 
Live Stats: LionAthletics.com 
 
LONE STAR CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP ON THE LINE
Midwestern State battles Texas A&M-Commerce with the Lone Star Conference championship on the line Saturday afternoon at A&M-Commerce Memorial Stadium. With a win, the Mustangs stake claim to at least a share of their fourth LSC title and can clinch an outright championship with win over A&M-Commerce and another next week against Texas A&M-Kingsville. Texas A&M-Commerce clinches the title outright if the Lions defeat the Mustangs to complete a season sweep of the LSC.
 
ABOUT THE SERIES
- Midwestern State and Texas A&M-Commerce meet for the 20th time on the gridiron Saturday afternoon in Commerce.
- The Lions own an 11-8 edge in the series which dates back to 1947, but the Mustangs have controlled the series since the turn of the new millennium.
- Midwestern State has won the last four and eight of the last nine dating back to the 2001 season with the Lions' only win coming by a 27-25 count on Sept. 10, 2005 in Commerce.
- The Mustangs are 7-1 against Texas A&M-Commerce with Bill Maskill at the helm of the program (dating back to 2002).
- MSU boasts an average victory margin of 18.8 points per game over the last nine meetings while scoring 39.4 points per game.
- The Mustangs erased a 17-point deficit with 12:21 to play to rally for a 40-37 victory in over time in the last meeting on Oct. 25, 2014 at Memorial Stadium in Wichita Falls.
 
SCOUTING TEXAS A&M-COMMERCE
- Texas A&M-Commerce peeled off five consecutive wins -- all LSC victories -- since taking a 51-44 loss to No. 10 Delta State on Sept. 12 in Commerce.
- The Lions can clinch its second consecutive outright Lone Star Conference championship with a win over MSU on Saturday.
- Another week, another high powered offense for the Mustangs. Texas A&M-Commerce is the fourth team MSU will face coming in averaging more than 500 yards of total offense per game.
- The Lions rank 14th in NCAA Division II piling up 500.9 yards per game including 244.4 rushing (21st in NCAA II) and 256.4 passing (51st in NCAA II).
- Junior Richard Cooper ranks 10th in NCAA Division II amassing 135.4 yards per game on the ground while senior Theo Wofford averages 105.0 yards per game while ranking third in NCAA Division II at 8.3 yards per carry.
- Senior Harrison Stewart has thrown for 1,684 yards while completing 59 percent of his passes with an LSC-best 18 touchdowns.
- The Lions boasts a trio of capable receivers in junior Darby Smith (26 rec., 517 yds.), junior Lance Evans (27 rec., 488 yds.) and junior Derrick Macon (21 rec., 330 yds.).
- Texas A&M-Commerce ranks third in the LSC in total defense allowing 389 yards per game led senior linebacker Charles Woods (65 tackles) and sophomore defensive lineman Tre'von Taylor (4.5 sacks).
- Colby Carthel is 22-9 (.710) in his third season at A&M-Commerce.
 
ABOUT BILL MASKILL
- Bill Maskill is in his 16th season as a head coach and 14th campaign at Midwestern State.
- Maskill has led the Mustangs to winning ledgers in each of his years at the helm of the program including the school's first Lone Star Conference championship in 2009 and first undefeated regular season in 2011.
- Under Maskill's guidance, MSU has advanced to the NCAA Division II postseason in the 2004, 2006, 2009, 2011 and 2012 seasons while amassing a 108-41 record (.725).  He was named LSC Coach of the Year in 2009, 2011 and 2012, and was the AFCA Regional Coach of the Year in 2011.
- In all, Maskill has coached 16 All-Americans (to some 54 mentions), 59 all-region selections and 67 All-Lone Star Conference first teamers in his 13 seasons in Wichita Falls.
- Maskill is starting his 47th year as a football coach. His coaching experience includes stops as a Division I assistant at Vanderbilt (twice), Southern Methodist, Wake Forest, Oregon, Tulane, Louisville, Arizona State, Bowling Green and Iowa.
- Maskill has a 121-49 overall record (.712) and led Southeast Missouri State to a 1988 MIAA co-championship.
 
A QUICK LOOK BACK
- Midwestern State improved to 7-0 for the second time in school history with a 35-10 win over Humboldt State (Calif.) last week at Memorial Stadium.
- It was the Mustangs' nine win in their last 10 tries against nationally ranked opponents during the regular season dating back to the start of the 2011 campaign.
- The Mustangs held the nation's top scoring attack (50 ppg) to 40 points below its average while outscoring Humboldt State 35-3 over the game's final 55 minutes of play.
- MSU held the 10th-best total offense (505 ypg) to 391 yards.
- The Mustangs rolled up 528 yards of total offense going over the 500-yard barrier for the second time this season.
 
MUSTANGS UP FOR THE BIG GAME
- Midwestern State has won nine of its last 10 games against nationally ranked opponents during the regular season after thumping No. 10 Humboldt State (Calif.) on Oct. 17th at Memorial Stadium.
- The lone loss during the run came against West Texas A&M in the regular season finale of 2013 at Memorial Stadium.
- MSU defeated No. 6 Angelo State, West Texas A&M (receiving votes) and No. 10 Humboldt State (Calif.) while Texas A&M-Commerce comes in 11th. The Mustangs also beat current No. 23 Colorado Mesa earlier this season in Grand Junction.
 
MSU ENTERS AFCA TOP 10
- Midwestern State jumped ahead one spot to No. 10 in the AFCA Division II Top 25.
- The ranking is the highest since the Mustangs were ranked No. 8 on Nov. 12, 2012.
- The Mustangs have received mention in at least one poll in each season dating back to 2006 and have received a national ranking for at least one reporting period in each of the last seven seasons (since 2009).
- The Mustangs received a vote on at least one ballot in 105 of 107 reporting periods dating from the 2006 season to the end of the 2014 campaign including 47 straight periods from 2011-14.
- Super Region Four boasts 10 ranked teams including seven of the top 12 with No. 4 Ferris State (Mich.), No. 6 Colorado State-Pueblo, No. 7 Colorado Mines, No. 8 Ashland (Ohio), No. 10 MSU, No. 11 Texas A&M-Commerce, No. 12 Grand Valley State (Mich.), No. 17 Michigan Tech, No. 23 Colorado Mesa and No. 24 Angelo State (Texas).
- Four of MSU's opponents are receiving including Colorado Mesa (No. 23/Sept. 12), Angelo State (No. 24/Oct. 3), Humboldt State (No. 16/Oct. 17) and Texas A&M-Commerce (No. 11/Oct. 24). West Texas A&M (Oct. 10) was receiving votes prior to its game with the Mustangs.
- The Mustangs spent four weeks in the Top 25 in 2014 topping out at No. 16 on Sept. 29.
 
IN OTHER POLLS...
- Midwestern State moved up nine spots to No. 9 in the D2Football.com poll one spot behind Texas A&M-Commerce.
- Midwestern State jumped ahead four spots to No. 6 in the Hero Sports/Bennett Rankings, while Texas A&M-Commerce is third. The Lions are installed as a 5-point favorite by the web site.
- Midwestern State is ranked second in the latest Massey Ratings one spot ahead of Texas A&M-Commerce.
 
LSC CHAMPIONSHIP/PLAYOFF
- Midwestern State can clinch at least a share of its fourth Lone Star Conference championship with a win over Texas A&M-Commerce.
- The Mustangs claimed titles in 2009, 2011 and 2012.
- Texas A&M-Commerce can clinch its second consecutive outright LSC title with a win over Midwestern State.
- The winner of Saturday's game also earns two more home games in the Lone Star Conference Postseason Tournament set for Nov. 7 and 14.
 
YES, THEY CALL IT A STREAK
- Midwestern State is riding its sixth winning streak of at least seven games after routing No. 10 Humboldt State, 35-10.
- The Mustangs have posted five winning streaks of at least seven games since the start of the Bill Maskill era in 2002.
- With a win over the Lions, the Mustangs will start a season with eight consecutive victories for the second time during the Maskill era and for the first time since winning 10 straight in 2011.
- With a win, MSU would win eight straight games for the first time since reeling off 10 consecutive victories from Sept. 10-Nov. 12, 2011.
 
MSU TOPS LSC IN NEW MILLENIUM
- Midwestern State has blazed its way to the top of the Lone Star Conference as one of the steadiest programs in all of NCAA Division II.
- The Mustangs have averaged more than seven wins a season since the start of the 2000 season and overtook Tarleton State to become the league's winning percentage leader over the last decade after defeating Southwestern Oklahoma 46-9 on Sep. 18, 2010.
 
OFFENSE TEAM NOTES
- Midwestern State rolled up 500 yards of total offense for the second time in 2015 finishing with 528 in a 35-10 win over Humboldt State.
- The Mustangs rushed for more than 200 yards for the fourth consecutive week finishing with 236 on 41 carries.
- Junior quarterback Quade Coward claimed LSC Offensive Player of the Week honors accounting for a career-high 358 yards of total offense passing for 292 yards and four touchdowns while leading the team in rushing for the second time this season with 66 yards on five carries.
- Senior wideout Arsenio Phillips caught five passes for a career-best 106 yards with two touchdowns (25, 26).
- Junior wideout Statron Jones accounted for 83 yards catching two passes for 43 yards to go along with a 40-yard touchdown run on a jet sweep in the third quarter.
JOHNSON, MSU RUNS PAST WT
- Midwestern State piled up more than 200 rushing yards for the third consecutive game chewing up 271 yards on the way to 453 yards of total offense in a 24-17 win over West Texas A&M.
- The 271 rushing yards were the second most this season by the Mustangs.
- True freshman Vincent Johnson delivered the 11th best rushing game in school history finishing with 190 with two touchdowns.
- Junior Quade Coward threw for 182 yards on 13-of-22 passing while running 52 yards on eight carries.
MUSTANGS TAKE DOWN ANGELO STATE
- Midwestern State accounted for 231 of its 374 yards of total offense in the second half including 148 yards on 28 carries.
- The Mustangs controlled the clock for 20:25 of the second half to seal the victory.
- Junior quarterback Quade Coward carried the ball three times for 51 yards on MSU's eight-play, 93-yard drive in the third quarter resulting in a 24-yard strike from Coward to Statron Jones to tie the game at 13-13.
- Jones led the team with seven catches for 62 yards including the 24-yard TD strike.
- Coward connected on 13-of-27 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown while rushing for a team-high 63 yards in relief of sophomore quarterback Hagen Hutchinson, who exited due to injury in the first quarter.
MIDWESTERN ROASTS TEXAN DEFENSE
- The Mustangs erupted for 676 yards of total offense in a 63-46 win over Tarleton State on Sept. 26. It was the fifth largest output in program history and the most yards ever hung on a Tarleton State defense.
- The Mustangs have scored at least 60 points in a single game in each of the last five seasons.
- Sophomore quarterback Hagen Hutchinson accounted for 320 yards of total offense completing 19-of-30 passes for 251 while rushing for a team-best 69 yards with three touchdowns.
- Hutchinson accounted for each of MSU's first six touchdowns.
- It was the first time an MSU player had accounted for 300 yards of total offense since Brandon Kelsey amassed 348 yards at West Texas A&M on Nov. 3, 2012.
- Senior wideout Ryan Hyman accounted for a season-high 103 yards on eight receptions. It was the first-team an MSU receiver accounted for 100 yards since Statron Jones had 132 yards on six catches against Angelo State on Oct. 4, 2014.
- Five different MSU's rushers accounted for at least 49 yards.
MSU SLIPS PAST GREYHOUNDS
- Midwestern State rolled up a then season-high 400 yards in total offense in a 28-24 win over Eastern New Mexico in the Lone Star Football Festival at AT&T Stadium (9/19).
- Junior quarterback Quade Coward engineered a game-winning 13-play, 90-yard drive in 2:42 and scored the winning touchdown with 21 seconds remaining against Eastern New Mexico.
- True freshman running back Vincent Johnson rushed for a career-best 83 yards including a 9-yard TD run in the second quarter to pace MSU's season-best team total of 193 yards.
- Vincent's 9-yard touchdown burst in the second quarter was MSU's first rushing touchdown scored by a running back this season.
- Coward came on in relief of starter Hagen Hutchinson to complete 12-of-29 passes for 132 yards while rushing for 43 yards on nine carries with a touchdown.
- Senior wide receiver Arsenio Phillips set career highs with seven receptions for 84 yards including a 49-yard TD reception on a halfback pass from Hutchinson in the third quarter.
- Senior wide receiver Terrence Smith also set career bests with six catches for 85 yards against the Greyhounds.
HISTORIC NOTABLES VS. COLORADO MESA
- MSU failed to account for an offensive touchdown for just the fifth time in the Bill Maskill era (since 2002) in a 16-13 overtime win over Colorado Mesa on Sept. 12. MSU didn't score an offensive touchdown previously in a 2008 game against Northeastern State (W. 7-3), in the 2006 playoffs against Northwest Missouri State (L, 27-0) and twice in the 2004 season (Tarleton State (L, 19-3) and Texas A&M-Kingsville (L, 27-3)).
- The Mustangs failed to account for a rushing touchdown against Colorado Mesa (9/12) for the first time since falling 27-24 to Tarleton State in the 2013 season opener at AT&T Stadium.
RED ZONE/TENDENCIES
- MSU has scored on 21-of-26 trips to the Red Zone including touchdowns on 14 of those possessions.
- The Mustangs scored on seven consecutive trips to the Red Zone against Eastern New Mexico and Tarleton State before being limited to a pair of field goals against Angelo State.
- Midwestern's play call tendencies are 54.0 percent run and 46.0 percent passing.
- The passing game has produced 50.6 percent of MSU's offensive production.
 
DEFENSIVE NOTABLES
- Midwestern State boasts one of the top defensive units in the Lone Star Conference ranking 23rd nationally in scoring defense (19.0 ppg) and 84th in total defense (380.4 ypg).
- MSU tops the LSC in scoring defense (19.0), is second in total defense (380.4 ypg) and third in passing yards allowed (211.6 ypg).
- The Mustangs have forced 17 turnovers (10 fumble recoveries, 7 interceptions) which have netted 47 points.
- Midwestern held four of its seven opponents under 200 yards passing.
MUSTANGS MUZZLE JACKS ATTACK
- Midwestern State limited NCAA Division II's top scoring attack to 10 points -- 40 points below Humboldt State's season average.
- The Mustangs conceded a touchdown on the opening possession and proceeded to hold the Lumberjacks to three points the rest of the way including a second-half shutout.
- MSU held Humboldt to 114 yards under its average total offense attack limiting the Jacks to 391 total yards. HSU came in averaging 505 yards per game.
- Senior cornerback Dominique Rouse earned LSC Defensive Player of the Week honors finishing with seven tackles with an interception and three pass breakups.
MSU MAKES BUFFS ONE DIMENSIONAL
- West Texas A&M senior running back Geremy Aldridge-Mitchell rushed for 189 yards which is a season high against the Mustangs but it took him 40 carries to accomplish.
- The Mustangs forced and recovered two fumbles for the third consecutive game and have produced multiple turnovers in five of six games this season.
- MSU kept West Texas A&M out of the end zone until the final 90 seconds of the game.
MUSTANGS FRUSTRATE ANGELO STATE
- Midwestern State held the Rams to 482 yards of total offense which was more than 100 yards under their season average as ASU led NCAA Division II piling up 586.8 yards per game.
- The Mustangs produced four turnovers including interceptions by linebackers Adam Hill and Calvin Stewart and fumble recoveries by Stewart and Sir'Vell Ford.
- The Mustangs limited the Rams to 292 yards of total offense over the last three quarter after surrendering 190 through the first stanza.
TARLETON'S LATE SPLURGE SPOILS DAY
- The Mustangs limited Tarleton's 19th-ranked offense to 141 total yards over its first nine possessions while building a 49-17 lead with 4:03 to play in the third quarter (9/26).
- The Texans rolled up 414 yards over their final six possessions against the MSU reserves.
- The Mustangs made seven tackles for loss including sacks by Herb Whitehurst, Tyler Massey and Eric Olson.
MUSTANGS STIFLE EASTERN NEW MEXICO
- The Mustangs limited Eastern New Mexico's third-ranked rushing attack to less than half of its season average holding the 'Hounds to 179 rushing yards on 58 attempts (3.1 ypc). ENMU came in averaging 362.5 rushing yards per game.
- Eleven different MSU players recorded at least five tackles against the Greyhounds including career highs by Calvin Steward (9), Emerson Evans (9), Deneldric Hudgens (7) and Darian Childers (6).
- Senior safety Marqui Christian earned Lone Star Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors for the second time this season after finishing with a team-high 13 tackles against ENMU.
MSU MAKES MESA WORK FOR EVERY INCH
- Midwestern State limited Colorado Mesa to 4.0 yards per play as the Mavericks used 91 plays to churn out 362 yards of total offense.
- Senior linebacker Daniel Laudermilk finished with a career-high 18 tackles including 2.5 for loss.
- Senior safety Marqui Christian made nine tackles with a sack and a forced fumble.
- Senior cornerback Dominique Rouse made a key interception in the overtime period allowing MSU to win the game in overtime.
- Junior linebacker Adam Hill made eight tackles and made interception in the first quarter.
- Senior safety Tari Jones accounted for the lone touchdown of the game scooping and scoring on a bad punt snap midway through the second quarter.
MUSTANGS DOMINATE IN SEASON OPENER
- Midwestern State allowed the sixth fewest yards in NCAA Division II (171.0) in a season opening win over Truman State.
- Nine different players were in on seven tackles for loss while seven players recorded a pass breakup.
- Senior safety Marqui Christian recorded his 12th career game with at least 10 tackles finishing with a team-high 11 stops.
- Redshirt-freshman linebacker Drew Bolin made eight tackles in his MSU debut.
- Junior linebacker LaFrontae Conkleton jumped a slant route for his first collegiate interception in his first defensive appearance as a converted running back.
 
SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
- Midwestern State ranks 17th in NCAA Division II with four blocked kicks over the first seven weeks of the season.
- Junior defensive end Kerry Holiday was credited with a block against Truman State (9/5), junior defensive lineman Robert Kitchen got one at Colorado Mesa (9/12) and Cameron Drummond blocked a field goal against Eastern New Mexico (9/19).
- Senior Michael Gerst broke free through the middle of the formation for a blocked punt against Angelo State allowing Sir'Vell Ford to scoop and score a touchdown from 12 yards out in the final minute of the third quarter.
- Senior safety Tari Jones accounted for MSU's lone touchdown at Colorado Mesa on Sept. 12 scooping a fumbled punt snap and racing 30 yards for a TD. It was MSU's first fumble returned for a touchdown since Taiyon Jackson returned on 90 yards for a score at Angelo State on Oct. 26, 2013.