#10 Midwestern State vs. #2 West Florida
MSU Texas 1-0, UWF 1-0
Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018 | 7 p.m.
Memorial Stadium | Wichita Falls, Texas
Live Stats: MSUMustangs.com |
Radio: ESPN 95.5 FM |
Audio/Video: Mustangs Digital Network
HOOF MARKS
- 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 and West Florida meet for the first time on the gridiron Saturday night at Memorial Stadium. The teams were slated to play in Pensacola last season, but the game was cancelled due to the approach of Hurricane Irma.
- West Florida claimed a 19-9 win in its season opener against No. 22 Carson-Newman (Tenn.) last week on its home field at Blue Wahoos Stadium in Pensacola. The Argonauts finished as national finalist in 2017 after going 7-3 in the regular season. UWF reeled off playoff wins over Wingate (N.C) (31-0), West Georgia (17-14), West Alabama (28-21) and Indiana (Pa.) (27-17) – all on the road -- before falling to Texas A&M-Commerce (37-27) in the title game.
- Midwestern State takes on the No. 2 team in the American Football Coaches' Association Top 25 for the fourth time in program history. The Mustangs 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 is 13-2 against ranked opposition during the regular season since the start of the 2011 campaign. The Mustangs defeated then-No. 2 Texas A&M-Commerce 47-42 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 and No. 11 Texas A&M-Commerce (27-14) in 2015.
- The Mustangs are 7-1 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) and No. 2 Texas A&M-Commerce (47-42) in 2017. The lone regular season home loss came against No. 25 West Texas A&M (19-12) in 2013.
- Midwestern State boasts a 23-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 23-3 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 17 of its last 18 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 72-15 home record (.828) 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.
- The Mustangs moved up to No. 10 in the latest American Football Coaches' Association Top 25 this week. MSU Texas has carried a national ranking for the last 38 reporting periods and has been ranked in at least one poll in each season dating back to 2006.
- The Mustangs are seventh in the D2Football.com Top 25.
- 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.
- Midwestern State was won 21 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 144-55 (.724). The Mustangs are trailed by West Texas A&M (123-90, .577), Tarleton State (122-77, .613) and Texas A&M-Kingsville (102-93, .523).
- Bill Maskill enters his 17th season at the helm of Midwestern State football. As the program's all-time wins leader, his 130 victories account for 54.9 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 143-55 (.722) through 18 seasons which includes a two-year run at Southeast Missouri State (1988-89). Maskill boasts a 130-47 overall mark (.734) 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).
OFFENSIVELY SPEAKING
- Midwestern State rolled up 593 yards of total offense in last week's 55-12 win over Humboldt State. The Mustangs are fourth overall in total offense in NCAA Division II following the opening week and are fourth in passing yards (379) and third in team passing efficiency (243.55) and scoring offense.
- Senior quarterback Layton Rabb earned Lone Star Conference Player of the Week honors after connecting on 15-of-17 passes for 273 yards and five touchdowns. He led the Mustangs to touchdowns in each of his six drives before exiting prior to halftime with a 42-3 lead.
- Rabb's 320.2 pass efficiency rating is the best in program history for a single game as he passed for five touchdowns for the third time in his collegiate career.
- Rabb leads NCAA Division II in passing efficiency (320.2), completion percentage (88.2) and yards per passing attempt (16.06). His five touchdown passes ranks fourth.
- MSU Texas returns 23 letter winners and seven starters off of the 11th-best attack in NCAA Division II.
- The Mustangs ranked 11th in NCAA Division II piling up 483.3 yards per game including 175.3 rushing yards per game (3rd in LSC/59th in D2) and 308 passing yards a contest (3rd in LSC/11th in D2).
- Rabb, the Lone Star Conference's Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, was a second-team All-LSC performer in 2017 completing 228-of-357 passes (63.9 percent / 2nd LSC / 19th D2) for 3,109 yards (2nd LSC / 14th D2). The Harlon Hill candidate accounted for 31 touchdowns to just five interceptions for a pass efficiency rating of 162.9 (1st in LSC / 8th in D2).
- Rabb threw for at least 300 yards four times in 2017 including a school record 434 yards against Tarleton State.
- Senior running back Vincent Johnson raced 75 yards for a touchdown on MSU Texas' first play from scrimmage this season against Humboldt State. It was the second time the Mustangs scored on the first play of the season as Marcus Mathis scored on a 70-yard TD run in 2010 at New Mexico Highlands.
- Johnson finished with his sixth career 100-yard performance needing seven carries to rush for 102 yards and a touchdown. He moved to sixth on the school's all-time rushing list passing former Harlon Hill candidate Brandon Kelsey (2,156 yards/2009-12) and now has 2,157.
- Freshman Donaven Lloyd ran for 71 yards on eight carries in his collegiate debut against Humboldt State including a long run of 73 yards.
- Sophomore quarterback Zach Purcell completed 10-of-15 passes for 106 yards with two touchdowns and an interception in his collegiate debut playing the entire second half against Humboldt State.
- Rabb and Purcell combined for 379 passing yards which stand as the ninth most in program history. The duo completed passes to 12 difference receivers as six different players had TD receptions.
- Sophomore Juwan Johnson led the team making six catches for 90 yards and a touchdown.
- Sophomore Bryce Martinez accounted for TD receptions of 14 and 47 yards to finish the day with two catches for 61 yards.
- Redshirt-freshman Anthony Tennison made two catches for 72 yards including a 58-yard TD in his first ever game at wide receiver. Tennison converted from quarterback three practices into spring drills.
- Junior Xavier Land finished with four catches for 46 yards including a 14-yard TD, while junior Sam Frederick and redshirt-freshman Kylan Harrison also accounted for touchdown receptions.
GETTING DEFENSIVE
- Midwestern State boasts the Lone Star Conference's top defense through the first week of play after yielding 294 yards to Humboldt State. The Mustangs are second in the league in passing yards allowed (188.0) and fifth in rushing defense (106.0).
- MSU Texas accounted for seven tackles for loss (27 yards) and four sacks against Humboldt State.
- Junior defensive back Marcus Wilkerson led the Mustangs with six tackles against Humboldt State followed by seniors Steven Rogers and Sir'Vell Ford as well as freshman A'quan Randolph with five stops each.
- Recording tackles for MSU Texas were: Zach Edwards (1.5 TFL, 0.5 sacks), Randolph (1.0 sack), Jaylon Abdul-Karim (1.0 sack), Paul Manus (1.0), Alec DiValerio (0.5 sacks), Melik Owens (0.5 sacks) and Wensley Jacinthe (0.5 sacks).
- MSU Texas' four team sacks ranks second in the Lone Star Conference and 13th in NCAA Division II.
- The Mustangs recorded two takeaways against Humboldt State with fumble recoveries by Josh Wydermyer and Zack McMahen.
ON SPECIAL TEAMS
- Junior Jaron Imbriani successfully converted each of his six point-after attempts against Humboldt State while averaging 52.5 yards on six kickoffs with three touchbacks.
- Sophomore Jacob Rowland averaged 59.3 yards on his three kickoff efforts with a touchback while connecting on one of his two point-after attempts.
- Freshman Dylan Spears launched his lone punt 46 yards for a touchback.
- Sophomore Bryce Martinez returned one kick for 10 yards, while fellow sophomore Juwan Johnson leaned forward for a 2-yard punt return. Those were the only returns for the Mustangs against Humboldt State.
