Midwestern State vs. Colorado State-Pueblo
Saturday, Nov. 28, 2015 | 1 p.m.
Memorial Stadium | Wichita Falls, Texas
Records: Midwestern State (10-1); Colorado State-Pueblo (11-1)
Radio: ESPN 95.5 FM
Video: Mustangs Digital Network (FREE) 
Audio: Mustangs Digital Network (FREE) 
Live Stats: NCAA.com 
 
SETTING THE STAGE
For the second time in program history, Midwestern State enters the NCAA Division II Playoffs as the top seed in Super Region Four. The Mustangs take on defending national champion Colorado State-Pueblo Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. CSU-Pueblo claimed a 27-14 win over Indianapolis last week in Pueblo. The winner advances to face the victor between second-seeded Ferris State (Mich.) and sixth-seeded Grand Valley State on Saturday, Dec. 5 in the national quarterfinal round.
 
ABOUT THE NCAA PLAYOFFS
- The top seed in each region received an opening round bye to face the winner of the first round game between the Nos. 4 and 5 seeds. The Nos. 2 and 7 seeds and 3 and 6 seeds squared off in the first round with the winners advancing to play at the site of the highest remaining seed.
- The second winners move on to the Super Region finals which is the national quarterfinal round -- on  Dec. 5.
- The semifinal rounds feature matchups between the winners of Super Regions 1 against 4 and Super Regions 2 against 3 on Dec. 12 in the semifinals.
- Those two winners meet in the NCAA II National Championship game on Dec. 19 in Kansas City.
 
MUSTANGS IN THE NCAA PLAYOFFS
- Midwestern State makes its sixth appearance in the NCAA Division II Playoffs and the first since 2012.
- It marks the second time the Mustangs enter the postseason as the No. 1 seed in Super Region Four. MSU rolled off a 10-0 regular season in 2011 before falling to Northwest Missouri 38-31 in overtime at Memorial Stadium.
- The Mustangs will host a NCAA postseason game for a fourth time and for the first time since 2011.
- Midwestern's lone postseason win came against Missouri Western by a 28-26 count on Nov. 18, 2006 after Daniel Polk connected with DelJuan Lee for two scores in the final 3:41 to overcome a 26-14 deficit.
 
ABOUT THE SERIES
- Midwestern State and Colorado State-Pueblo meet for the first time on the gridiron Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium.
- The schools have met on the competitive surface numerous times in other sports.
- Saturday's game will be the fourth meeting in the last nine days for the programs as the Thunderwolves and Mustangs split a pair home-and-home games in men's basketball and CSU-Pueblo claimed a victory in women's basketball last Saturday in the Texas Woman's Pioneer Premiere in Denton.
 
SCOUTING THE THUNDERWOLVES
- Colorado State-Pueblo rides a 10-game winning streak into the second round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs after claiming a 27-14 win over Indianapolis last week at home.
- The Thunderwolves claimed a national championship in just the seventh season since the school resumed football before the 2008 season.
- CSU-Pueblo is 59-5 (.922) since the start of the 2011 season.
- The Thunderwolves are making their fifth consecutive NCAA postseason appearance, but will face their first true road test in their 10th playoff games Saturday at Midwestern State.
- CSU-Pueblo had one playoff win in their first three playoff appearance (2011, 2012, 2013) before making the run to the title last season.
- The Thunderwolves rank amongst the best in NCAA II on defense at 15th in total defense (301.1 ypg) and second in scoring defense (14.4 ppg).
- CSU-Pueblo boasted 13 first-team All-RMAC selections including Offensive Player of the Year Cameron McDondle (1,969 rushing yards), Defensive Player of the Year Morgan Fox (16 sacks, 19 TFLs), Offensive Freshman of the Year A.J. Thompson (1,378 passing yards, 12 TDs), Defensive Freshman of the Year Darius Williams (30 tackles, 2 interceptions) and Coach of the Year John Wristen.
 
TURNING THE TABLES ON THE RMAC
- Midwestern State efforts for its sixth win in its last seven tries against opponents from the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference - a league based in Colorado and New Mexico.
- This marks just the second time and RMAC member makes the trip off of the Rockies to Wichita Falls and the first since the Mustangs defeated New Mexico Highlands at Memorial Stadium in 2009.
- The Mustangs are 5-4 all-time versus the RMAC, but have won five of the last six with the lone loss coming to Colorado Mines in the 2004 NCAA Division II playoffs.
- The meeting with Colorado State-Pueblo marks MSU's fourth game against an opponent hailing from the Rocky Mountain State.
- The Mustangs fell 52-33 at Colorado Mines in the 2004 NCAA II playoffs then routed Adams State 41-15 on Aug. 25 in Alamosa to open the 2010 season.
- The Mustangs outlasted Colorado Mesa 16-13 in overtime on Sept. 12, 2015 in Grand Junction.
 
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, 2012 and 2015 seasons while amassing a 111-42 record (.725).  He was named LSC Coach of the Year in 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2015, 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 74 All-Lone Star Conference first teamers in his 14 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 124-50 overall record (.713) and led Southeast Missouri State to a 1988 MIAA co-championship.
 
MUSTANGS MOVE UP TO 9TH IN AFCA TOP 25
- Midwestern State closed the regular season reaching its high-water mark at No. 9 in the AFCA Division II Top 25.
- 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 eight ranked teams including six of the top 13 including No. 2 Ferris State (Mich.), No. 3 Ashland (Ohio), No. 4 Colorado State-Pueblo, No. 9 MSU, No. 12 Grand Valley State, No. 13 Indianapolis, No. 20 Texas A&M-Commerce, and No. 21 Colorado Mesa.
- Three of MSU's opponents are receiving mention including Colorado Mesa (No. 21/Sept. 12), Humboldt State (No. 11/Oct. 17) and Texas A&M-Commerce (No. 20/Oct. 24 and Nov. 14). 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 moved up one spot to No. 10 in the D2Football.com Poll after claiming a 37-33 win at Texas A&M-Commerce.
- Midwestern State is up two spots to No. 2 in the Hero Sports/Bennett Rankings, while CSU-Pueblo is sixth. The Mustangs were ranked No. 1 prior to the opening round of the playoffs.
- The Mustangs are ranked fifth in the latest Massey Ratings a spot behind CSU-Pueblo. The site predicts a 27-20 win for the Thunderwolves as a 6.5-point favorite.
 
MASTERFUL AT MEMORIAL
- Since Bill Maskill took over the reins of the MSU football program in 2002, the Mustangs have compiled a 60-13 record at Memorial Stadium - good for an impressive .822 winning percentage.
- MSU has a 94-50 overall record in its 26th season playing home contests at Memorial Stadium.
- The Mustangs are 67-15 (.817) at home since 2000.
- MSU has won 31 of its last 34 regular season games at Memorial Stadium dating back to the 2008 season.
 
COMEBACK KIDS
- Midwestern State has trailed on the scoreboard at one point in eight of 11 games this season.
- The Mustangs have overcome double-figure deficits four times this season and in each of the last three games including a 37-33 win over Texas A&M-Commerce in the LSC Playoff Championship.
 
DEFENSIVE/SPECIAL TEAMS SCORING
- Midwestern State have accounted for eight touchdowns on defense or special teams this season.
- The Mustangs have scored TDs on defense or special team in six games including multiple scores against No. 6 Angelo State (10/3) and No. 11 Texas A&M-Commerce (11/14).
- MSU has scored on four fumble returns, two returns resulting from blocked punts, a kick return and an interception return.
- The opportunistic Mustangs have scored a touchdown on defense or special teams in each of their last three games.
 
MSU PLACES 22 ON ALL-LSC SQUAD
- Midwestern State boasted 22 players to earn All-Lone Star Conference accolades.
- Earning special honors were senior safety Marqui Christian (J.V. Sykes Defensive Player of the Year/Defensive Back of the Year), senior Alfredo Moreno (Offensive Lineman of the Year), senior Daniel Laudermilk (Linebacker of the Year), running back Vincent Johnson (Freshman of the Year) and Bill Maskill (Coach of the Year).
- Seven Mustangs were named to the first team in senior OL Alfredo Moreno, sophomore OL John Rowell, senior TE Derek Lockhart, senior DE Harold Wills, senior LB Daniel Laudermilk and senior S Marqui Christian.
- Four Mustangs garnered second-team honors including junior OT Denzell Dotson, junior WR Statron Jones, senior PK Andy Alkhazshvilly and senior CB Dominique Williams.
- Ten MSU performers gained honorable mention including Joel Onyia (Sr./OL), Akoakoa Kennedy (Jr./OL), Arsenio Phillips (Sr./WR), Hagen Hutchinson (So./QB), Vincent Johnson (Fr./RB), Darian Childers (Jr./DT), Edgar Luna (Jr./DT), Tyler Massey (Fr-RS/DT), Adam Hill (Sr./LB), Mitchell Henton (So./P) and Bobby Joe Nielsen (So./DS).
 
OFFENSIVE TEAM NOTES
- Sophomore quarterback Hagen Hutchinson completed passes to 10 different receivers for 255 yards and a touchdown against Texas A&M-Commerce on Nov. 14.
- Junior Dante Taylor (56 yards) and sophomore Don Jerry (53 yards) paced a rushing attack that produced 137 yards and two TDs.
- Senior wide receiver Terrence Smith caught four passes for a team-high 61 yards.
- Senior wide receiver Arsenio Phillips caught his team-best sixth touchdown on a 30-yard reception in the fourth quarter.
MUSTANGS RALLY PAST ENMU -- AGAIN
- Midwestern State scored 13 points in the fourth quarter to earn its second consecutive come-from-behind win taking a 26-21 decision over Eastern New Mexico on Nov. 7.
- Sophomore quarterback Hagen Hutchinson delivered his second career 100-yard rushing day going for 123 yards on eight carries while throwing for 150 yards on 18-of-40 passing.
- Junior wide receiver Statron Jones made six catches for 68 yards.
- Sophomore Don Jerry scored his second and third rushing TDs of the season in the fourth quarter.
HUTCHINSON PASSES MSU PAST TAMUK
- Midwestern State erupted for 35 points in the second half to overcome a 10-point halftime deficit in a 49-41 win over Texas A&M-Kingsville on Oct. 31.
- Sophomore quarterback Hagen Hutchinson threw for a career-high 295 yards and three touchdowns completing 19-of-27 passes.
- Hagen completed TD passes to Michael Gerst (23), Tyrique Edwards (53) and Levy Wilson (31) while Dante Taylor (3), Orlando Haymon (8) and Reggie Gipson (11) all scoring rushing touchdowns.
- The Mustangs failed to rush for 200 yards for the second straight game (152) after running for at least 200 in the previous four games.
- MSU's 295 passing yards were the second most this season and the most since throwing for 357 yards against Tarleton State.
- Redshirt-freshman Tyrique Edwards caught three passes for a season-high 97 yards with a touchdown.
MUSTANGS TURN IT OVER AT COMMERCE
- 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 RUN 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 33-of-38 trips to the Red Zone including touchdowns on 23 of those possessions.
- The Mustangs have scored on their last 13 trips to the Red Zone (10 touchdowns) over the five games dating back to the second half of the West Texas A&M game (10/10).
- Midwestern's play call tendencies are 55.1 percent run and 44.9 percent passing.
- The passing game has produced 52.2 percent of MSU's offensive production.
 
DEFENSIVE TEAM NOTES
- Midwestern State boasts the top defensive unit in the Lone Star Conference ranking 47th nationally in scoring defense (23.2 ppg) and 84th in total defense (386.2 ypg).
- MSU tops the LSC in scoring defense (23.2), total defense (386.2 ypg) and is fourth in passing yards allowed (214.3 ypg).
- The Mustangs have forced 25 turnovers (14 fumble recoveries, 11 interceptions) which have netted 71 points.
- MSU has scored on four fumble and one interception return this season.
- Midwestern held five opponents under 200 passing yards.
DEFENSE SPURS COMEBACK AT A&M-C
- Midwestern State forced three turnovers in the fourth quarter as the Mustangs rallied from an 11-point deficit with 9:52 to play to win 37-33 over Texas A&M-Commerce in the LSC Playoff Championship on Nov. 14.
- The MSU defense came up big against an A&M-C team that had turned the ball over just the three times all season as junior linebacker Adam Hill forced a Richard Cooper fumble recovered by senior safety Marqui Christian before senior defensive end Harold Wills returned an interception 4 yards for the game winning touchdown with 6:14 to play.
MUSTANGS SMOTHER HOUNDS AFTER HALF
- Midwestern State limited Eastern New Mexico to 108 yards in the second half while holding the Greyhounds to 358 yards of total offense. ENMU came into the game ranked fifth in NCAA II at 513.7 yards per game.
- The Mustangs forced turnovers on four straight possessions in the first half then forced the Hounds to punt on seven of its last eight drives including five three-and-outs.
- The Hounds managed 35 yards on six possessions outside of their 13-play, 73-yard third quarter scoring drive after the half.
MIDWESTERN SACKS JAVELINAS
- The Mustangs racked up a season-high five sacks against Texas A&M-Kingsville led by junior defensive lineman Kerry Holiday, who notched 2 1/2 sacks.
- MSU yielded more than 400 yards for the first time since giving up 482 at Angelo State on Oct. 3 as the Hoggies amassed 464 yards.
- Texas A&M-Kingsville is just one of three teams to pass for 300-or-more yards against the MSU defense with 349 joining Tarleton State (346) and Angelo State (351).
- Junior linebacker Adam Hill recorded a career-high 13 tackles.
- Juniors Jared Tuilagi Darian Childers as well as senior Alpha Kamara were also in on sacks for the Mustangs.
- Junior Cullen Craft recorded his first interception at MSU making his first start in place of the injured Dominique Williams.
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
- Five different Midwestern State players have blocked kicks for the Mustangs.
- 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 Herb Whitehurst blocked a punt against Texas A&M-Commerce in the LSC Championship before scooping and scoring from 12 yards out in the second 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.