Midwestern State vs. Angelo State
Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015 | 7 p.m.
LeGrand Stadium at First Community Credit Union Field | San Angelo, Texas
Records: Midwestern State (4-0, 2-0); Angelo State (4-0, 1-0)
Video: AngeloSports.com 
Audio: Mustangs Digital Network (Free) 
Live Stats: AngeloSports.com 
 
ON THE FIELD
Midwestern State faces Angelo State in a matchup of the lone two remaining unbeaten teams in the Lone Star Conference Saturday night at LeGrand Stadium at First Community Credit Union Field in San Angelo. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Midwestern is looking for its first 5-0 start since the 2011 team rolled off 10 straight wins.
 
SCOUTING THE RAMS
- Angelo State is looking to move to 5-0 for the eighth time in program history and for the first time since beating Midwestern State 30-29 in
5-0 for first time since beating MSU 30-29 on Sept. 24, 2005.
- The Rams also won their first five games on the way to a 5-0 start in 1989, 6-0 starts in 1977 and 1982, 7-9 in 1980, 9-0 in 1997 and 14-0 on the way to an NAIA national championship in 1978.
- Will Wagner is in his fifth season at the helm of the Angelo State football program and carries a 28-21 record into Saturday's game against Midwestern State.
- Angelo State boasts NCAA Division II's top total offense pouring on 586.8 yards per game. The Rams third in scoring offense (47.8 ppg), 10th in passing offense (341.8 ypg) and 19th in rushing offense (245.0 ypg).
- ASU senior quarterback Kyle Washington has blitzed the Mustangs for 1,336 yards of total offense in three starts. He has completed 54-of-94 passes for 717 yards with 10 touchdowns and one interception.
- Washington has accounted for rushing totals of 184, 250 and 185 yards against the Mustangs for a total of 619 yards with four more touchdowns.
- ASU ranks 39th in NCAA Division II and second in the Lone Star Conference yielding 327.0 yards per game of total defense.
 
ABOUT THE SERIES
- Midwestern State meets Angelo State for the 19th time on the gridiron Saturday night at LeGrand Stadium at First Community Credit Union Field.
- The Mustangs lead the series which dates back to the 1946 season by an 11-7 margin.
- The teams have split the eight games between the programs played in San Angelo.
- The Mustangs are 10-4 against Angelo State during the Bill Maskill era (since 2002).
- Angelo State swept two games against MSU last season taking a 45-31 win on Oct. 4, 2014 at Memorial Stadium then defeated the Mustangs 41-36 in the opening round of the Lone Star Conference Playoffs on Nov. 8, 2014 in San Angelo.
- Midwestern won seven of eight games played between the programs from 2006-13 by an average of 20.1 points per game.
- Saturday's game marks just the second time the Mustangs visit LeGrand Stadium at First Community Credit Union Field.
- Angelo State has scored at least 40 points in each of Kyle Washington's starts against Midwestern State. The Rams managed 40 points in just one of the previous 15 meetings.
 
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 105-41 record (.719).  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.
 
MSU VS. RANKED OPPONENTS
- MSU is 14-30 all time against ranked opposition since becoming a member of NCAA Division II in 1995.
- Midwestern State has won seven of its last 10 matchup against nationally ranked opposition dating back to the start of the 2011 season.
- The Mustangs are 7-1 against nationally ranked foes over the same period in the regular season with lone loss versus West Texas A&M in 2013.
- MSU is 4-18 all time against teams ranked in the Top 10 of the AFCA Division II Coaches' Poll, but have won two of the last three taking a 70-28 win over No. 19 Abilene Christian on Oct. 22, 2011 and a 45-21 victory over No. 8 West Alabama on Oct. 19, 2013.
- MSU is 3-16 on the road versus nationally ranked foes.
- This is the second time MSU meets a ranked ASU squad.
 
MSU RANKED 20TH AFCA DIVISION II POLL
- Midwestern State moved up three spots to No. 20 in this week's AFCA D2 Top 25.
- 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 season (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.
- MSU is one of 12 teams from Super Region Four to receive mention in the poll joining No. 4 Ferris State (Mich.), No. 6 Angelo State, No. 10 Colorado State-Pueblo, No. 11 Colorado Mines, No. 13 Ashland (Ohio), No. 18 Texas A&M-Commerce and No. 18 Michigan Tech while Grand Valley State (Mich.), West Texas A&M, Colorado Mesa and Indianapolis (Ind.) are also receiving votes.
- Five of MSU's opponents are receiving including Colorado Mesa (RV/Sept. 12), Angelo State (No. 6/Oct. 3), West Texas A&M (RV/Oct. 10), Humboldt State (No. 16/Oct. 17) and Texas A&M-Commerce (No. 18/Oct. 24).
- The Mustangs spent four weeks in the Top 25 in 2014 topping out at No. 16 on Sept. 29.
 
A LOOK BACK AT TARLETON STATE
- Midwestern State improved to 4-0 for the  seventh time in the Bill Maskill era (since 2002) and for the first time since 2011 with a 63-46 win over Tarleton State.
- The Mustangs piled up 676 yards of total offense on 83 plays -- the fifth most in program history.
- MSU and Tarleton combined for 1,179 yards -- also the fifth most in program history.
- The teams combined for 109 points which were the most in MSU history bettering the 107 scored in Midwestern's 73-34 win over Northeastern State on Sept. 16, 2006 in Tahlequah.
- The 63 points were the most scored by MSU since the Mustangs rolled up 71 points against McMurry on Oct. 18, 2014.
- The Mustangs have scored at least 60 points in one game in each of the last five years.
 
MUSTANGS STREAKING
- Midwestern State is riding its 18th winning streak of at least four games after rolling to a 63-46 win over Tarleton State.
- The Mustangs have posted 12 winning streaks of at least four games since the start of the Bill Maskill era in 2002.
- With a win over Rams, the Mustangs will start a season with five consecutive victories for the fifth time during the Maskill era and for the first time since winning 10 straight in 2011.
- Midwestern rolled to 10 straight wins from the start of the 2011 season, had five consecutive wins at the start of the 2006, 2007 and 2010 campaigns and were 4-0 to begin the 2008 and 2009 seasons.
- With a win, MSU would win five straight games for the first time since reeling off seven consecutive victories from Sept. 21-Nov. 2, 2013.
 
OFFENSIVE TEAM NOTES
- 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.
MUSTANGS SHIFTING AWAY FROM RUN
- The Mustangs have rushed for fewer than 200 yards in season opening wins over Truman State, Colorado Mesa and Eastern New Mexico. It was the first time MSU had been held to fewer than 200 rushing yards in three consecutive games since 2010 squad went six games without accomplishing the feat from Oct. 2-Nov. 6.
- MSU snapped the trend by running for 319 yards against Tarleton State on Sept. 26, 2015.
RED ZONE / TENDENCIES
- MSU has scored on 15-of-17 trips to the Red Zone including touchdowns on 11 of those possessions.
- The Mustangs have scored touchdowns in each of their last seven trips to the Red Zone including two against Eastern New Mexico and five versus Tarleton State.
- MSU has scored on each of its last nine trips to the Red Zone dating back to a stop at the 1-yard line at Colorado Mesa on Sept. 12.
- Midwestern's play call tendencies are 56.0 percent run and 44.0 percent passing.
- The passing game has produced 52.8 percent of MSU's offensive production.
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.
MUSTANGS ROLL OVER TRUMAN STATE
- Midwestern State churned out 321 yards of total offense including 196 yards through the air and 125 rushing in a 31-3 win over Truman State.
- Sophomore quarterback Hagen Hutchinson completed 18-of-26 passes for 183 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for another score in his first collegiate start.
 
DEFENSIVE TEAM NOTES
- Midwestern State boasts one of the top defensive units in the Lone Star Conference ranking 48th nationally in scoring defense (21.5 ppg) and 59th in total defense (353.0 ypg).
- MSU ranks second in the LSC in scoring defense (21.5), third in total defense (353.0 ypg) and second in passing yards allowed (187.3 ypg).
- The Mustangs have forced nine turnovers (6 fumble recoveries, 3 interceptions) which have netted 28 points.
- Midwestern held its first three opponents under 200 yards passing.
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 MAVERICKS 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 12th in NCAA Division II with three blocked kicks over the first four 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 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.