Midwestern State vs. Eastern New Mexico
Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015 | 7 p.m.
Memorial Stadium | Wichita Falls, Texas
Records: Midwestern State (8-1); Eastern New Mexico (6-3)
Video: Mustangs Digital Network (PPV)  
Audio: Mustangs Digital Network (Free) 
Live Stats: MSUMustangs.com 
 
SETTING THE STAGE
Midwestern State and Eastern New Mexico kick off the Lone Star Conference Playoffs Saturday night at Memorial Stadium. The winner moves on to face the victor of the other championship bracket semifinal between Texas A&M-Commerce and Angelo State -- played at 2 p.m. Saturday in commerce -- on Nov. 14 at the site of the highest seed for the LSC Playoff championship. The losers will also square off next Saturday at the site of the highest seed. West Texas A&M, Tarleton State, Texas A&M-Kingsville and Panhandle State fill out the non-championship bracket.
 
ABOUT THE LSC PLAYOFFS
- This is the second and final edition of the LSC Playoffs with the addition of Texas-Permian Basin and Western New Mexico to the league beginning next season.
- The LSC Playoffs were created as a way to add a pair of quality games to the regular season schedule in a postseason atmosphere.
- This year's top bracket features LSC champ Texas A&M-Commerce as the top seed against No. 4-seeded Angelo State, while second-seeded Midwestern State takes on No. 3-seed Eastern New Mexico. The winners move on to the LSC Playoff championship while the losers square off in a season finale.
- Last season, Midwestern State dropped a 41-36 decision at Angelo State as the No. 3 seed before falling 44-41 at home to fourth-seeded Tarleton State.
 
ABOUT THE SERIES
- Midwestern States meets Eastern New Mexico for the 22nd time on the gridiron Saturday night at Memorial Stadium.
- The Mustangs have won the last two meetings and 13 of the last 14 dating back to the 2002 season.
- Eastern New Mexico's lone win since 2002 came by a 40-21 count on Nov. 9, 2013 at Blackwater Draw.
- The Mustangs boast an average margin of victory of 21.3 points a game over their last 14 contests with Eastern New Mexico.
- Eastern New Mexico is making its first appearance at Memorial Stadium since 2012 and just their third showing since the start of the 2007 season.
- MSU is 7-2 all-time against the Greyhounds at Memorial Stadium and won the last five dating back to a 36-33 loss in 2001.
 
SCOUTING THE GREYHOUNDS
- Eastern New Mexico had its four-game winning streak snapped 52-42 by West Texas A&M last week in Canyon.
- The Greyhounds have scored 40-or-more points in each of their last five games and in seven of nine games this season with the only exceptions of Midwestern State (24 points) and Texas A&M-Commerce (31 points).
- ENMU boasts the fifth-best total offense in NCAA Division II rolling up 513.7 yards per game.
- The Greyhounds rank second in the nation piling up 372.9 rushing yards per game, but were held to a season-low 179 yards last time out against Midwestern State.
- Sophomore running back Kamal Cass leads the Lone Star Conference and ranks 11th in NCAA II with 1,078 yards, while junior D'Maurjeric Tucker rates ninth in the league with 468 yards.
- Senior quarterback Jeremy Buurma is eighth in the LSC averaging 165.3 total yards per game and has ENMU ranked first in team pass efficiency rating.
- Eastern New Mexico ranks sixth in the LSC in total defense allowing 443.3 yards per game.
- Head coach Josh Lynn is 23-17 (.575) in his fourth season at the helm at ENMU.
 
LAST TIME OUT VS. ENMU
- Junior quarterback Quade Coward rushed in from 2 yards out to cap off a 13-play, 90-yard drive to lift Midwestern State to a 28-24 win over Eastern New Mexico on Sept. 19 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
- ENMU jumped out to a 14-0 lead and led 17-7 at the half before the Mustangs scored two touchdowns in 49 seconds in the third quarter on a 49-yard pass from Hagen Hutchinson to Arsenio Phillips and Alec DiValerio returned a fumble 32 yards for a score with 8:58 to play in the third quarter.
 
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 109-42 record (.722).  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 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 122-50 overall record (.709) and led Southeast Missouri State to a 1988 MIAA co-championship.
 
A QUICK LOOK BACK
- Midwestern State won for the seventh consecutive year on Homecoming taking a 49-41 win over Texas A&M-Kingsville.
- The Mustangs have won 12 of their last 13 games on Homecoming dating back to the 2003 season.
- MSU faced a deficit at halftime for the fourth time this season before scoring 35 second-half points to toll to the win.
- Sophomore quarterback Hagen Hutchinson threw for a career-high 295 yards connecting on 19-of-27 passes with three touchdowns.
- Sophomore Don Jerry returned MSU's first kickoff for a touchdown since Tremaine Forrest went the distance in 2003.
- Senior safety Marqui Christian became MSU's all-time tackle leader finishing with 10 stops.
 
MSU CLIMBS TO 11TH IN AFCA POLL
- Midwestern State moved ahead three spots to No. 11 in the latest American Football Coaches' Association Poll.
- 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 eight of the top 18 including No. 3 Ferris State (Mich.), No. 4 Colorado State-Pueblo, No. 5 Ashland (Ohio), No. 11 MSU, No. 12 Texas A&M-Commerce, No. 16 Colorado Mesa, No. 17 Grand Valley State, No. 18 Indianapolis (Ind.), No. 21 Colorado Mines and No. 22 Michigan Tech.
- Three of MSU's opponents are receiving mention including Colorado Mesa (No. 16/Sept. 12), Humboldt State (No. 13/Oct. 17) and Texas A&M-Commerce (No. 12/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 moved up three spots to No. 12 in the D2Football.com Poll after claiming a 49-41 win over Texas A&M-Kingsville.
- Midwestern State slipped one spot to No. 7 in the Hero Sports/Bennett Rankings, while Eastern New Mexico is ranked 14th. The site predicts the Mustangs would defeat the Greyhounds on a neutral field.
- The Mustangs are ranked fifth in the latest Massey Ratings behind West Georgia, Colorado State-Pueblo, Northwest Missouri and Texas A&M-Commerce.
 
MSU IN THE REGIONAL RANKINGS
- Midwestern State is ranked third in the latest edition of the NCAA II Super Region Four Rankings.
- The top seven teams advance to the NCAA postseason with the top seed receiving an opening round bye.
- The final regular season rankings are set for release on Nov. 9 and the playoff field will be unveiled on Sunday, Nov. 15.
- If the playoffs started today, the field would include Ferris State, Texas A&M-Commerce, MSU, Ashland, Colorado Mesa, Colorado State- Pueblo and Indianapolis.
 
OFFENSIVE TEAM NOTES
- 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 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 26-of-31 trips to the Red Zone including touchdowns on 19 of those possessions.
- MSU has scored touchdowns on each of its last six trips to the Red Zone including a TD against Humboldt State, two at Texas A&M-Commerce and three versus Texas A&M-Kingsville.
- 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 52.5 percent of MSU's offensive production.
 
DEFENSIVE TEAM NOTES
- Midwestern State boasts the top defensive unit in the Lone Star Conference ranking 43rd nationally in scoring defense (22.3 ppg) and 93rd in total defense (388.6 ypg).
- MSU tops the LSC in scoring defense (22.3), total defense (388.6 ypg) and is fourth in passing yards allowed (225.7 ypg).
- The Mustangs have forced 18 turnovers (10 fumble recoveries, 8 interceptions) which have netted 47 points.
- Midwestern held four of its nine opponents under 200 yards passing.
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
- Midwestern State ranks fourth in NCAA Division II with four blocked punts over the first eight weeks of the season.
- 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.
- Sophomore Don Jerry earned LSC Special Teams Player of the Week after returning a kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown against Texas A&M-Kingsville on Oct. 31. It was MSU's first kickoff return for a touchdown since Tremaine Forrest took the opening kick back 92 yards in a 30-20 win over Northeastern State on Sept. 27, 2003.