#7 Midwestern State vs. Angelo State
MSU Texas (3-0, 1-0 LSC), ASU (2-1, 1-0 LSC)
Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018 | 7 p.m.
Memorial Stadium | Wichita Falls, Texas
Live Stats: MSUMustangs.com |
Radio: ESPN 95.5 FM |
Video/Audio: Mustangs Digital Network
24 STRONG
- Midwestern State cornerback Robert Grays passed away one year ago on Sept. 19, 2016 days after suffering a neck injury in the fourth quarter of a win against Texas A&M-Kingsville.
- The MSU Texas community joined the team Wednesday afternoon on the practice field for 24 seconds of silence followed by team's traditional 24 push-ups and the release of 24 balloons in remembrance of Grays.
- Each of Midwestern State Athletic teams committed to performing 24 acts of kindness to carry on Robert Grays' memory in annual 24 Strong week.
- Junior cornerback Jaydon Cunigan was presented as the first recipient of the Robert T. Grays Memorial Scholarship during spring drills.
- Midwestern State officially retired Robert Grays' jersey (24) in a halftime ceremony on Nov. 4, 2017 against Tarleton State.
- Robert Grays competed in 13 games at cornerback and return specialist during the 2016 and 2017 seasons. He made 34 tackles, defended five passes and recovered a fumble at cornerback. He also averaged 22.7 yards on 15 kick returns with a long of 73 yards. He also averaged 8.6 yards on seven punt returns.
- Grays was a general business major and a 2016 graduate of Hightower High School in Houston.
HOOF MARKS
- Midwestern State takes on Angelo State in a matchup of two of the four remaining unbeatens in the race for the Lone Star Conference championship Saturday night at Memorial Stadium.
- MSU Texas can start its fourth consecutive season with at least four straight wins with victory over Angelo State. That Mustangs have gone to 4-0 in nine of Bill Maskill's 16 seasons at the helm.
- Speaking of Maskill, Midwestern State's game against UT Permian Basin was his 200th as head ball coach. Maskill sports a 145-55 overall record (.725) including a 132-47 mark (.737) at MSU Texas. He was 13-8 in two seasons at Southeast Missouri State (1988-89).
- Midwestern State meets Angelo State for the 22nd time on the gridiron Saturday at Memorial Stadium. The Mustangs own a 15-6 edge in the series which dates back to the 1946 season. MSU Texas has won the last three and seven of the last nine. The Mustangs are 6-1 against Angelo State in games played at Memorial Stadium during the Bill Maskill era (since 2002) and 13-4 overall.
- Angelo State hits the road for the third time in four games this season. The Rams claimed a 24-17 win at Western Oregon on Sept. 1st, then lost to NCAA Division I Abilene Christian 41-24 on Sept. 8.
- The Mustangs remained at No. 7 for the second consecutive week in the latest American Football Coaches' Association Top 25. Midwestern received a first-place vote in the Sept. 10th edition of the AFCA Top 25 for the third time in program history. The other two occasions came in the final two weeks of the 2011 season. MSU Texas has carried a national ranking for the last 40 reporting periods and has been ranked in at least one poll in each season dating back to 2006.
- The Mustangs are sixth in the D2Football.com Top 25.
- Midwestern State was won 22 more games than any other LSC member since the start of the 2000 season. That's an average of 7.9 wins per season for an overall mark of 146-55 (.726). The Mustangs are trailed by West Texas A&M (124-91, .577), Tarleton State (123-77, .615) and Texas A&M-Kingsville (103-94, .523). Angelo State is 91-106 (.462) since the start of the 2000 season.
- Bill Maskill enters his 17th season at the helm of Midwestern State football. As the program's all-time wins leader, his 132 victories account for 55.2 percent of MSU's total wins as a four-year program. He earned Lone Star Conference Coach of the Year honors in 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015 and 2017. Maskill boasts a total career record of 145-55 (.725) through 18 seasons which includes a two-year run at Southeast Missouri State (1988-89). Maskill boasts a 132-47 overall mark (.737) at MSU Texas.
- The Mustangs have five graduate student-athletes on the roster including senior defensive end Alec DiValerio (Exercise Physiology), senior defensive end D.J. Doggett (Sport Administration), senior linebacker Jacob Sherrill (Respiratory Care), senior center A.J. Roland (General Business) and senior quarterback Layton Rabb (Accounting).
THIS SEASON
- Midwestern State goes for its 10th consecutive Lone Star Conference win Saturday against Angelo State. The Mustangs are 21-3 against league opponents since the start of the 2015 season.
- Midwestern State claimed a win in its fifth straight season opener last week with a 55-12 victory over Humboldt State. It was their 14th consecutive home opening win as the Mustangs improved to 15-2 in lid lifters during the Bill Maskill era (since 2002).
- Midwestern State took on the No. 2 team in the American Football Coaches' Association Top 25 for the fourth time in program history and came away with a 38-17 win over West Florida on Sept. 8th. The Mustangs also claimed a 47-42 win over second-ranked Texas A&M-Commerce last season. The Mustangs previously fell to No. 2 Northwest Missouri (27-0) in the 2006 NCAA playoffs and to No. 2 Abilene Christian (47-17) in 2008. The lost to No. 1 Minnesota State (63-21) in the second round of the 2018 NCAA II Playoffs in its only try against a top-ranked team.
- MSU Texas improved to 14-2 against ranked opposition during the regular season since the start of the 2011 campaign. The Mustangs defeated then-No. 2 West Florida 38-17 earlier this season. It was the highest ranked opponent MSU ever took down. Other top wins came against No. 9 Abilene Christian (70-28) in 2011, No. 8 West Alabama (45-21) in 2013, No. 6 Angelo State (29-20) in 2015 and No. 4 Texas A&M-Commerce (26-25) in 2016. The two losses came at the hands of No. 25 West Texas A&M (19-12) in 2013, No. 11 Texas A&M-Commerce (27-14) in 2015 and No. 2 Texas A&M-Commerce (47-42) in 2017.
- The Mustangs improved to 8-1 against ranked opponents at Memorial Stadium since the start of the 2011 season which includes victories over No. 16 Texas A&M-Kingsville (44-38), No. 9 Abilene Christian (70-28) and No. 20 West Texas A&M (35-21) in 2011; No. 8 West Alabama (45-21) in 2013; No. 22 Texas A&M-Commerce (40-37/OT) in 2014); No. 10 Humboldt State (35-10); No. 2 Texas A&M-Commerce (47-42) in 2017 and No. 2 West Florida (38-17) this season. The lone regular season home loss came against No. 25 West Texas A&M (19-12) in 2013.
- Midwestern State boasts a 24-game winning streak against Division II non-conference opponents dating back to Bill Maskill's first year at the helm of the program in 2002. The Mustangs are 24-3 overall in non-conference tilts in the Maskill era with two of the three losses coming to FCS Sam Houston State – 26-23 in 2002 and 30-9 in 2003.MSU Texas' lone Division II non-conference regular season loss came at Nebraska-Omaha (45-23) in 2002.
- Overall, Midwestern State has won 18 of its last 19 regular season home games dating back to the start of the 2015 season. The lone setback during the stretch came to Eastern New Mexico in the 2016 regular season finale. MSU Texas boasts a staunch 73-15 home record (.830) during the Bill Maskill era (since 2002). The Mustangs clinched their third unbeaten home season going 7-0 last season and have one or fewer losses at home in 14 out of 16 seasons under Maskill.
- For the third consecutive season, the Mustangs were picked to finish second in the Lone Star Conference behind Texas A&M-Commerce. Midwestern claimed its fourth LSC title last season rolling through the league with an unbeaten 8-0 mark. The title came on the heels of three consecutive runner-up showings in the LSC which includes a LSC Playoff title in 2015. MSU Texas boasted three LSC titles in four seasons taking the crown in 2009, 2011 and 2012.
- Midwestern State completed its 18th consecutive winning ledger with a 10-1 mark in 2017. In the State of Texas, the streak is matched only by defending NCAA Division III national champion Mary Hardin Baylor, which also clinched its 18th straight winning season in 2017.
OFFENSIVELY SPEAKING
- Midwestern State boasts the Lone Star Conference's top offensive attack ranking fourth in NCAA Division II rolling up 547.3 yards per game. The Mustangs rank ninth nationally while leading the LSC in scoring offense putting up 45.3 points per game.
- MSU Texas also rates fourth nationally and best in the LSC throwing for 338.7 yards per game with a team pass efficiency of 179.68 – ninth in NCAA Division II and first in the LSC.
- Two-time Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Week Layton Rabb threw for 334 yards and three touchdowns – all in the second half – in a 38-17 win over No. 2 West Florida on Sept. 8th. He completed 17 of his last 19 passes going 27-for-43 for the game.
- Rabb leads the Lone Star Conference in completion percentage (66 percent // 17th in NCAA D2), pass efficiency (184.8 // 5th in NCAA D2), passing touchdowns (11 TD // third in NCAA D2), passing yards (898 // 8th in NCAA D2), passing yards per game (299.3 // ninth in NCAA D2) and total offense per game (306.0 yards // 12th in NCAA D2).
- Rabb's 334-yard performance against West Florida was his fifth 300-yard effort in 14 starts.
- Rabb became the fifth quarterback in MSU program history to throw for 4,000 career yards with his 291-yard, 3-touchdown performance at UT Permian Basin (9/15). Now with 4,192 passing yards, he ranks fourth on MSU's all-time passing list behind Zack Eskridge (6,953 yards // 2008-10), Phillip Boggs 5,592 yards // 1999-03) and Daniel Polk (4,686 yards // 2004-07).
- Senior running back Vincent Johnson tops the LSC and 17th nationally averaging 114.7 rushing yards per game.
- Johnson earned Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors following a career-best 195-yard effort in a 43-21 win at UT Permian Basin on Sept. 15th. Johnson burst for a career long 82-yard score during MSU Texas' 22-point third quarter explosion to take control of the game. Johnson ran for 102 yards on seven carries in the season opener against Humboldt State and needed 10 carries to run for 47 yards against West Florida.
- Johnson is sixth on MSU's all-time rushing list with 2,399 yards just 143 yards out of moving to the No. 3 spot. He needs 20 yards to pass Ross Harrison (5th // 2,418 yards // 2004-06), 35 yards to pass Marcus Mathis (4th // 2,433 yards // 2007-10) and 143 yards to pass Dominic Rhodes (3rd // 2,541 yards // 1999-00). Johnson matched Daniel Polk (44 TD // 2004-07) for second on the all-time rushing TDs list and trails only Keidrick Jackson (61 TD // 2010-13).
- Senior running back Adrian Seales ran for 96 yards on 18 carries in last week's win over No. 2 West Florida. Seales ranks 13th on the program's all-time rushing list but needs 157 yards to move past Dante Taylor (12th // 1766 yards // 2013-16), Derrick Waggoner (11th // 1781 yards // 1991-92) and Chauncey Harris (10th // 1790 yards // 2010, 12-14) to move into the Top 10.
- Sophomore Juwan Johnson leads the Lone Star Conference in total receiving yards 322 (17th in NCAA D2) and receiving yards per game (107.3 // 19th in NCAA D2). He also leads the league making 7.0 catches per game to rate 17th nationally. Johnson has gone over 100 yards in each of the last two games catching seven passes for 100 yards against No. 2 West Florida then amassed 132 yards on eight catches at UT Permian Basin. He had six receptions for 90 yards and a touchdown in the season opener against Humboldt State.
- Junior wideout Xavier Land made a career-high 10 receptions for 81 yards and a touchdown against West Florida. He is second in the LSC and 37th in NCAA Division II pulling in six catches per game.
- Five of redshirt-freshman receiver Anthony Tennison's seven receptions have gone to for touchdowns including a 3-TD performance at UT Permian Basin. Tennison leads the Lone Star Conference in scoring with five touchdowns and is the seventh leading receiver in the league making seven catches for 172 yards.
- Fourteen different receivers have caught passes for the Mustangs this season and seven have scored touchdowns led by Bryce Martinez, Land and Tennison with two each.
GETTING DEFENSIVE
- Midwestern State ranks sixth in the Lone Star Conference and 76th in NCAA Division II in total defense allowing 363.7 yards per game. The Mustangs permit 247.7 passing yards (124th in NCAA D2 // 8th in LSC) and 116 rushing yards (45th in NCAA D2 // 4th in LSC).
- The Mustangs have been superb in the Red Zone allowing one touchdown in eight opponent excursions inside the 20-yard line. MSU Texas has allowed just two field goals to lead all of NCAA D2 allowing scores at a 38-percent clip.
- Midwestern State made six sacks in a game last week at UT Permian Basin for the first time since the 2010 regular season finale – a 38-9 win over Northeastern State. Sophomore Michael Nash accounted two sacks, while freshman A'quan Randolph, juniors Zach Edwards and Rigoberto Carrillo and senior Paul Manus had one each. The Mustangs are second in the Lone Star Conference and 11th in NCAA D2 at 3.67 sacks per game.
- Senior defensive back Paul Manus earned LSC Defensive Player of the Week after making two interceptions returning one for 59-yard touchdown in MSU's 38-17 win over No. 2 West Florida. He finished the game with seven tackles including a key stop on a fake punt attempt in the fourth quarter.
- Senior safety Sir'Vell Ford is eighth in the Lone Star Conference and 120th in NCAA Division II at 8.0 tackles per game. He had a season-high 15-tackle performance against West Florida.
- Ford's 226 tackles are just 69 behind the program's all-time leader Marqui Christian (295 tackles // 2011-15). Christian is a reserve safety for the Los Angeles Rams.
- Senior defensive Alec DiValerio has accounted for a sack in each of MSU's first two games this season and now at 12.0 career sacks. He needs three to match Stephen Turner (15.0 sacks // 2006-09) for the most by a Mustang during the NCAA Division II era.
ON SPECIAL TEAMS
- Junior Jaron Imbriani is a perfect 16-for-16 on point-after attempts through the first three weeks of the season and knocked down a 31-yard field goal against West Florida. He is averaging 53.8 yards on his 17 kickoffs with 10 touchbacks.
- Sophomore Jacob Rowland averaged 52.2 yards on his five kickoff efforts with a touchback while connecting on one of his two point-after attempts.
- Freshman Dylan Spears averages 34.7 yards per punt placing four inside the 20-yard line. He launched his season long punt of 46 yards for a touchback against Humboldt State.
- Midwestern State leads the Lone Star Conference and ranks 11th nationally allowing no punt return yardage. In fact, the Mustangs have not had a punt returned attempted against them this season.
