Midwestern State vs. Texas A&M-Kingsville
Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015 | 7 p.m.
Memorial Stadium | Wichita Falls, Texas
Records: Midwestern State (7-1, 4-1); Texas A&M-Kingsville (1-7, 0-5)
Video: Mustangs Digital Network (PPV) 
Audio: Mustangs Digital Network (Free) 
Live Stats: MSUMustangs.com  
 
MUSTANGS TAKE ON TEXAS A&M-KINGSVILLE ON HOMECOMING
Midwestern State takes on Texas A&M-Kingsville in the final regularly scheduled game of 2015 Saturday night at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
 
ABOUT THE SERIES
- Midwestern State and Texas A&M-Kingsville meet for the 17th time on the gridiron Saturday night at Memorial Stadium.
- The Mustangs own a 10-6 lead in the series that dates back to the 1997 season.
- MSU remains the only team with more than 10 games against Texas A&M-Kingsville to control the edge in the series.
- The Mustangs have won the last four meetings and nine of the last 10 against the Javelinas dating back to the 2005 season.
- Midwestern is 6-1 all-time against the Javelinas in games played at Memorial Stadium including wins in the last five games.
- The Hoggies last win over MSU came in a 27-7 results on Nov. 6, 2010 in Kingsville.
- TAMUK's last win in Wichita Falls came by a 29-23 count on Oct. 4, 2003.
- Midwestern State is averaging 46 points per game in its last nine wins over the Javelinas including a 73-point outburst on Oct. 20, 2007 -- on Homecoming.
- MSU's 73-6 win in 2007 remains the largest margin of defeat for any Texas A&M-Kingsville squad.
-TAMUK has scored 10-or-fewer points in three of the last five meetings.
 
SCOUTING TEXAS A&M-KINGSVILLE
- Texas A&M-Kingsville rolls into Saturday's matchup at Midwestern State on a six-game skid but four of those games were decided by 10-or-fewer points.
- The Javelinas rank seventh in the Lone Star Conference and 104th in NCAA Division II in total offense churning out 363.6 yards per game including 129.4 on the ground and 234.2 through the air.
- Junior quarterback Myles Carr ranks fourth in the LSC in total offense at 219.6 yards per game. The transfer from Fresno State has thrown for 1,682 yards on 117-of-207 passing with 13 touchdowns and 10 interception.
- Senior Shawn Vasquez is ninth in the LSC in rushing with 445 yards on 93 carries (4.8 ypc) with three touchdowns.
- Junior wide receiver Shawn Autry rates third in the LSC in receiving yards with 31 catches for 608 yards and six touchdowns.
- Sophomore wideout Jordan Thomas is fifth in the LSC with 29 receptions for 540 yards and four touchdowns.
- The Hoggies boasts the LSC's No. 4 defense allowing 395 yards per game and lead the league (31st in NCAA II) with 2.75 sacks per game.
- Daren Wilkinson is in his first season at the helm at Texas A&M-Kingsville after spending the last seven seasons as an assistant at Colorado State-Pueblo.
 
A THRILLER OF A HOMECOMING
- Midwestern State reeled off wins in each of its last six Homecoming contests after taking a 37-16 loss to Tarleton State on Oct. 11, 2008.
- The Mustangs have won 11 out of 12 games on Homecoming dating back to the 2002 season and are 12-2 under head coach Bill Maskill.
- The Mustangs are scoring 35.6 points per game for Homecoming games since the start of the Bill Maskill era with an average margin of victory of 12.8 points.
- MSU has enjoyed two of the biggest blowouts in school history on Homecoming weekend beating Texas A&M-Kingsville 73-6 on Oct. 20, 2007 and Abilene Christian 70-28 on Oct. 22, 2011.
 
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 108-42 record (.720).  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 121-50 overall record (.708) and led Southeast Missouri State to a 1988 MIAA co-championship.
 
A QUICK LOOK BACK
- Midwestern State committed a season-high six turnovers in a 27-14 loss at Texas A&M-Commerce last Saturday. The six turnovers were the most since giving up six in a 44-17 win at Texas A&M-Kingsville on Oct. 21, 2006.
- The loss was just the second in 11 games against teams ranked in the AFCA Division II Top 25 since the start of the 2011 season.
- Midwestern held Texas A&M-Commerce 131 yards under its season average of 501 yards of total offense as the lions ranked 14th in NCAA Division II coming into the week.
- It was the first time the Lions failed to score 30 points this season.
- MSU's seven-game winning streak was tied for the fifth longest in program history.
- The 7-0 start was the second best in MSU lore.
 
MSU SLIPS TO 14TH IN AFCA TOP 25
- Midwestern State dropped four spots to No. 14 after suffering their first loss of the season Saturday at Texas A&M-Commerce.
- The Mustangs reached No. 10 in the Oct. 19th poll at 7-0. The ranking was 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 14 including No. 3 Ferris State (Mich.), No. 4 Colorado State-Pueblo, No. 5 Ashland (Ohio), No. 8 Texas A&M-Commerce, No. 9 Grand Valley State (Mich.), No. 12 Colorado Mines, No. 14 MSU, No. 19 Colorado Mesa and No. 22 Michigan Tech.
- Three of MSU's opponents are receiving mention including Colorado Mesa (No. 19/Sept. 12), Humboldt State (No. 15/Oct. 17) and Texas A&M-Commerce (No. 8/Oct. 24). Angelo State (Oct. 3) was ranked No. 6 and 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 dropped six spots to No. 15 in the D2Football.com after falling to Texas A&M-Commerce, who moved up three spots to No. 5.
- Midwestern State stayed steady at No. 6 in the Hero Sports/Bennett Rankings. The site installs MSU as a 36-point favorite over Texas A&M-Kingsville.
- The Mustangs are ranked fourth in the latest Massey Ratings behind West Georgia, Texas A&M-Commerce and Northwest Missouri.
 
LSC CHAMPIONSHIP/PLAYOFF
- Midwestern State is assured of the No. 2 seed in the LSC Playoffs and will host a championship bracket semifinal on Nov. 7 at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff will be at 7 p.m.
- If Eastern New Mexico defeats West Texas A&M Saturday in Canyon, the Greyhounds will be the No. 3 seed and head to Wichita Falls.
- If WT defeats ENMU and Tarleton State beats Angelo State, then WT secures the No. 3 seed.
- All other scenarios result in ties to be broken by coin flips.
 
MASTERFUL AT MEMORIAL
- Since Bill Maskill took over the reins of the MSU football program in 2002, the Mustangs have compiled a 59-13 record at Memorial Stadium - good for an impressive .817 winning percentage.
- MSU has a 93-50 overall record in its 26th season playing home contests at Memorial Stadium.
- The Mustangs are 66-15 (.815) at home since 2000.
- MSU has won 30 of its last 33 regular season games at Memorial Stadium dating back to the 2008 season.
 
OFFENSE TEAM NOTES
- Midwestern State committed a season-high six turnovers in a 27-14 loss at Texas A&M-Commerce which were the most since giving up six in a 44-17 win at Texas A&M-Kingsville on Oct. 21, 2006.
- The Mustangs turned the ball over on their final four possessions of the game after pulling to within 21-14 with 4:59 to go in the third quarter.
- MSU was held to a season-low 315 yards and were limited to fewer than 200 rushing yards for the first time since a beating Colorado Mesa in overtime on Sept. 12.
- Senior tight end Derek Lockhart accounted for both of MSU's touchdowns catching a 13-yard pass at the 7:28 mark of the third quarter then fell on a fumble in the end zone just 2 1/2 minutes later.
- Junior wideout Statron Jones paced MSU with 71 yards on seven receptions.
COWARD, MUSTANGS FLAP JACKS
- 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 ROLLS OVER 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 23-of-28 trips to the Red Zone including touchdowns on 16 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 56.5 percent run and 43.5 percent passing.
- The passing game has produced 50.7 percent of MSU's offensive production.
 
DEFENSIVE TEAM NOTES
- Midwestern State boasts the top defensive unit in the Lone Star Conference ranking 25th nationally in scoring defense (20.0 ppg) and 74th in total defense (379.1 ypg).
- MSU tops the LSC in scoring defense (20.0), total defense (379.1 ypg) and is third in passing yards allowed (210.3 ypg).
- The Mustangs have forced 17 turnovers (10 fumble recoveries, 7 interceptions) which have netted 47 points.
- Midwestern held four of its eight opponents under 200 yards passing.
MSU STYMIES LIONS IN SECOND HALF
- Midwestern State limited Texas A&M-Commerce to 101 yards in the second half as four of the six drives after halftime were four plays or less.
- The defense limited the Lions to just 10 points on six MSU turnovers.
- Senior linebacker Daniel Laudermilk and junior defensive lineman Edgar Luna led the way with eight tackles while Harold Wills, Tari Jones and Calvin Stewart all made seven stops.
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 fourth in NCAA Division II with four blocked punts over the first eight 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.