WICHITA FALLS, Texas – Midwestern State plays host to Eastern New Mexico Saturday night in Lone Star Conference tilt at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Midwestern State owns a 19-6 edge in the series that dates back to the 1949 season. The Mustangs have won the last two meetings against Eastern New Mexico – both in Portales and five of the last six. The Greyhounds stole the last meeting in Wichita Falls winning 31-23 scoring on the final play of the game to deny MSU Texas a share of the Lone Star Conference title. The Mustangs have won 16 of 18 games against ENMU since the start of the Bill Maskill era in 2002. The last five meetings between Midwestern State and Eastern New Mexico:
 

Date	Score	Location
9/29/18	Midwestern State 31, Eastern New Mexico 23	Portales
11/11/17	Midwestern State 56, Eastern New Mexico 43	Portales
11/12/16	Eastern New Mexico 30, Midwestern State 28	Wichita Falls
11/7/15	Midwestern State 26, Eastern New Mexico 21	Wichita Falls
9/19/15	Midwestern State 28, Eastern New Mexico 24	Arlington

 
IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
Midwestern State dropped out of the American Football Coaches' Association Division II Poll for the first time since 2014 following last week's loss at Angelo State. It snaps a streak of 52 consecutive reporting periods that MSU received a national ranking. The Mustangs, however, carry on a string of 57 consecutive reporting periods of receiving votes. MSU Texas has carried a national ranking at some point in each of the last 13 seasons going back to 2006. The Mustangs fell to No. 24 in this week's D2Football.com Poll.
 
LAST WEEK
Midwestern State averted a shutout in the closing moments of a 28-6 loss at Angelo State when reserve quarterback Triston Williams hit Kylan Harrison for a 9-yard touchdown with 1:56 to play.  The Angelo State defense limited MSU Texas to 214 total yards of offense which were the fewest since the Mustangs managed 183 total yards against Colorado State-Pueblo in the second round of the 2015 NCAA Division II Playoffs. The Rams restricted Midwestern State to -3 rushing yards which were the second fewest yards in program history and least since the Mustangs were pushed back 26 yards against Texas A&M-Kingsville in 1997. The Midwestern State defense produced three turnovers including interceptions by Matthew Long and Darius Houston and a fumble recovery by Zed Asowata forced by Zach Trevino. The Mustangs sacked ASU quarterback Payne Sullins five times.
 
LAST TIME AGAINST EASTERN NEW MEXICO (9/22/18)
Juwan Johnson (8 rec., 166 yards, 1 TD) and Xavier Land (4 rec., 108 yards) went over 100 receiving yards while Layton Rabb passed for 310 yards and two touchdowns to lead No. 5 Midwestern State to a 31-23 win over Eastern New Mexico on Sept. 22, 2018 at Greyhound Stadium. Eastern New Mexico ate up 40 minutes of possession time producing 308 rushing yards paced by Johnny Smith (84), Paul Terry (64) and quarterback Wyatt Strand (58).
 
FAST START
Midwestern State got off to a 3-0 start for the sixth consecutive year and for the 12th time in the last 14. During that time, MSU Texas started with 10 wins once, nine wins once, seven wins once, six wins once, five wins four times, four wins twice and three wins once. With a win against Angelo State, the Mustangs would start their fifth straight season with at least four wins. MSU Texas was 7-0 in 2015, 6-0 in 2016, 10-0 in 2017 and 5-0 in 2018.
 
LEGEND OF BILL MASKILL
Bill Maskill posted winning ledgers in each of his first 19 seasons as a collegiate head football coach. He entered the 2019 season as the eighth winningest active coach in NCAA Division II and now has an overall record of 153-58 (.725). His 153 wins ranks as the fifth most amongst active Division II coaches and is 23rd on the winningest all-time coaches' list amongst coaches with a minimum of 50 wins plus 10 years as a head coach at a D2 institution. Maskill has led the Mustangs to 17 consecutive winning campaigns while leading the program to eight NCAA Division II playoff qualifications and a bowl appearance while posting a 140-50 (.737) in his 18th year at MSU. His 140 wins at Midwestern State are not only tops in program coaching history, but represent 57 percent of the program's all-time win total.
 
THE SHINING STAR
Midwestern State boasts 17 more wins than any other Lone Star Conference member since the start of the 2000 season. The Mustangs have averaged nearly eight wins a season since the start of the millennium which includes four 10-win campaigns. MSU Texas managed at least eight wins in 11 seasons since the start of the 2000 season which leads all league members. The Mustangs are trailed by West Texas A&M (8), Texas A&M-Kingsville (7), Tarleton State (7), Texas A&M-Commerce (5), Angelo State (3) and Eastern New Mexico (2).
  

Team	Record	Pct.
Midwestern State	154-58	.726
Tarleton State	137-78	.637
West Texas A&M	132-95	.581
Texas A&M-Kingsville	107-102	.512
Texas A&M-Commerce	109-105	.509
Angelo State	99-111	.471
Eastern New Mexico*	88-106	.454
*ENMU vacated 15 wins from 2008-12
Through games of Sept. 28, 2019.

   
GOING FOR 20
Midwestern State is in search of its 20th consecutive winning season in 2019. The Mustangs are one of just two Texas four-year football playing institutions actively sporting 19 straight winning seasons. And they are the only scholarship-granting program in the State of Texas with a current string of 19 consecutive winning seasons. Other current consecutive winning season streaks in the LSC: Texas A&M-Commerce (6), Tarleton State (1) and West Texas A&M (1).
 
MUSTANGS COACHING STAFF
- Alex Herron earned a promotion to Offensive Coordinator after serving the last six seasons as offensive line coach and running game coordinator. He retains his duties as offensive line coach.
- Ashton Aikens takes over as wide receiver coach after serving in the same capacity the past two years at Western Michigan. The former Northwestern wide receiver also served graduate assistantships at Trinity International and Northwestern before landing an assistant coaches role at Southern Illinois (2014-16).
- Skyler Mornhinweg begins his full-time coaching career mentoring quarterbacks at Midwestern State. He does so for the same coach -- Bill Maskill -- who gave his father his first full-time job. His father -- Marty Mornhinweg -- spent the last 25 years as an NFL coach including as head coach of the Detroit Lions (2001-02), while serving as an offensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers (1997-00), Philadelphia Eagles (2006-12), New York Jets (2013-14) and Baltimore Ravens (2016-18). Skyler Mornhinweg served as a graduate assistant for running backs at Ohio State last season following his collegiate playing career as a quarterback at the University of Florida and Columbia.
- Nick Sanchez takes over defensive back coaching duties at MSU Texas after serving the same role last season at Western Michigan. The former four-year standout cornerback at Stanford also gained valuable experience as associate head coach and defensive coordinator at Ave Maria (Fla.) (2012-15) and advanced to assistant defensive coordinator duties at UAlbany (2016-17).
 
CAPTAINS
Senior lineman Austan Davis and junior quarterback Zach Purcell are the offensive captains this season, while senior cornerbacks DaMarcus Wilson and Jaydon Cunigan are the defensive leaders.
 
OFFENSIVE TEAM NOTES
Midwestern State ranks ninth in the Lone Star Conference and 107th in NCAA Division II in total offense averaging 329.0 yards per game... The Mustangs rank 75th nationally and seventh in the league in passing offense at 220.3 yards per game… MSU Texas ranks seventh in the LSC and 127th nationally rushing for 108.8 yards per game…  The Mustangs are ninth in the LSC scoring 20.3 points per game… The Mustangs produced their 16th consecutive regular season game with at least 400 yards of total offense with 425 yards in an opening week win at Northwestern State, but haven't broken the 400-yard barrier in the last three weeks with 336 yards at Lindenwood, 337 yards against UT Permian Basin and 214 yards at Angelo State…
 
SMASHING DEBUT
Junior quarterback Zach Purcell completed 26-of-40 passes for 323 yards and three touchdowns in last week's 33-7 win at Northwestern State. The 323 yards were the most by a Midwestern State signal caller making his first start since Cedric Jackson threw for 414 yards and three touchdowns against Southwestern Oklahoma State in 2001. Jackson, however, was playing in his 10th game that season. Purcell's three touchdowns were the most since Ryan Roberts connected for three scores in his starting debut against West Texas A&M in 2005. In comparison, MSU Texas' five Harlon Hill Trophy nominees:
  

Quarterback	Comp.-Att.-Int.	Yards	TD	Opponent	Year
Zach Purcell	26-40-0	323	3	Northwestern State	2019
Layton Rabb	7-13-0	87	0	Quincy	2017
Brandon Kelsey	8-12-0	68	0	Northeastern State	2010
Zack Eskridge	10-22-2	143	1	Southeastern Okla.	2008
Daniel Polk	7-19-0	80	0	Texas A&M-Commerce	2004
Phillip Boggs	10-20-0	155	1	West Texas A&M	2001

 
RECEIVING TRIO LEAVING MARK
Midwestern State's receiving corps of Juwan Johnson, Xavier Land and Tyrique Edwards are on the verge of giving the Mustangs three active members in the program's top 10. The trio has combined for 3,962 yards and 33 touchdowns. Johnson earned Don Hansen Football Gazette All-America honors and was the LSC Receiver of the Year in 2018 setting program single-season mark with 1,215 yards and nine touchdowns. He comes into this season as the league's preseason offensive player of the year. Land enjoyed a breakout campaign as a junior in 2018 making 57 catches for 728 yards and five touchdowns. Edwards was the team's leading in 2018 with 48 catches for 680 yards and eight touchdowns.

Rank	Player	Yards	Years
1	Bryan Gilmore	2,722	1996-99
2	David Little	2,222	2008-11
3	Kendrick Gibson	1,736	2000-01
4	Andy Tanner	1,716	2006-09
5	Statron Jones	1,703	2013-16
6	DelJuan Lee	1,655	2006-07
7	Demetrius Galban	1,486	1992, 95-96
8	Xavier Land	1,426	2015-19
9	Juwan Johnson	1,320	2018-19
10	Andre Kelsick	1,259	2001-05
--	Tyrique Edwards	1,216	2015-19

  
THROW UP THE X
Senior Xavier Land delivered his third career 100-yard receiving effort finishing with 11 catches for 114 yards last week at Angelo State. The 11 receptions matched the second most in a single game in program history and were the most since Andy Tanner grabbed 11 passes against West Texas A&M in 2009. With the 11 receptions, Land moved past Andre Kelsick (113 rec./2001-05), Statron Jones (115 rec./2013-16) and Andy Tanner (120 rec./2006-09) into third on MSU's all-time receptions list with 124. He trails David Little (169 rec./2008-11) and Bryan Gilmore (155 rec./1996-99). Land is currently eighth on the all-time receiving yards list with 1,426 needing 61 yards to pass Demetrius Galban (1,486 yards/1992, 95-96).
 
HOT CHILDS IN THE CITY… RUNNING WILD
Senior Quinton Childs has excelled in his transition from wide receiver into his first season at running back. The 5-10, 180-pound senior from El Paso produced consecutive 100-yard performances in wins over Lindenwood and UT Permian Basin. Childs rushed for a career-high 174 yards against UTPB on Sept. 21 after rolling up 135 yards and three touchdowns against Lindenwood on Sept. 14. Childs is seventh in the Lone Star Conference averaging 83 rushing yards per game.
 
O-LINE GAINING EXPERIENCE
Junior Caleb Brown is in the midst of his third season as a starter on the Midwestern State offensive line. The Rowlett High product made his 25th start at right tackle last week at Angelo State. Only junior center Nick Gonzalez made starts on the offensive prior to this season for the Mustangs. Gonzalez has played in 18 games with six starts drawing a single opening assignment during the 2017 and 2018 campaigns. Junior Dallas Reins has three starts at left tackle this season after transferring from Merced College, while sophomore Corbin Scarber opened the season drawing the start against Northwestern State. Three redshirt-freshmen man the guard spots with Caleb Gill starting four times at right guard, while Errin Davis and Zach Zamora have two starts each at left guard.
 
WINNING THE RED ZONE
Midwestern State has scored on nine of its 11 excursions into the red zone this season with seven touchdowns. Meanwhile, the Mustangs' defense limited the opposition to seven scores in 15 trips inside the 20-yard line this season – including five touchdowns – which ranks fourth in NCAA Division II and leads the LSC allowing points on 46.7 percent of red zone opportunities.
 
DEFENSIVE NOTES
Midwestern State ranks fourth in the Lone Star Conference and 69th in NCAA Division II in total defense allowing 351.5 yards per game. The Mustangs also rate third in the league and 34th nationally conceding 17.5 points per game… The Mustangs rank fourth in the LSC and 51st in NCAA Division II allowing 124.3 rushing yards per game… MSU Texas is fifth in the LSC and 102nd nationally allowing 227.3 passing yards per game…
 
GETTING OFF THE FIELD
Midwestern State leads the Lone Star Conference and ranks 23rd in NCAA Division II in third down conversion percentage defense limiting the opposition to a 27.9-percent success rate (19-for-68). The Mustangs held Northwestern State to 3-of-17 in the opener, Lindenwood to 5-of-16 and UT Permian Basin to 4-of-19 on third down. The Mustangs have forced three-and-outs on 19 of 58 defensive possessions this season (32.8 percent).
 
NATIONAL SACK LEADER
Sophomore Melik Owens leads NCAA Division II with six sacks over the first four games of the season. The lanky defensive end from Houston earned LSC Defensive Player of the Week honors after making seven tackles including 2.5 for loss and 1.5 sacks in a season opening win at Northwestern State. Then had an even better effort in MSU's victory at Lindenwood going for nine tackles with three for loss and two more sacks. His sack of Lindenwood's Cade Brister late in the third quarter resulted in a 66-yard fumble return by Zach Edwards to set up a Midwestern State touchdown. He then had four tackles with three stops for loss and a pair of sacks at Angelo State. Owens also tops the LSC and ranks third in NCAA D2 making 2.6 tackles for loss per game.
 
CHIEF THIEF STRIKES AGAIN
Senior cornerback DaMarcus Wilson returned a game-changing interception for 42 yards when he jumped an out-route with 13 left in the first half at Northwestern State. The pick led to a 32-yard touchdown pass from Zach Purcell to Juwan Johnson on the last play of the half to give the Mustangs a 26-7 advantage. It was Wilson's eighth career interception placing him in a tie for third on MSU Texas' all-time list with Marcus Stenix (2002-04), Herman "Winky" Walker (2005-08) and Micah Hill (2008-09). Only Bruce Logan (21 interceptions from 1988-91) and Neiko Conway (15 interceptions from 2010-13) have intercepted more passes for the Maroon & Gold. Wilson ranks sixth in the Lone Star Conference with one pass defense per game.
 
IMBRIANI GETS OFF TO QUICK START
Senior place kicker Jaron Imbriani garnered LSC Special Teams Player of the Week honors for the first time in his career helping the Mustangs to a win over FCS Northwestern State last week in Natchitoches, La. The San Bernardino, Calif. Native connected on field goals of 28 and 25 yards in the second quarter and converted both of his point-after attempts. For the season, Imbriani connected on two of his four field goal attempts and is a perfect 8-for-8 on point-after attempts. He has produced nine touchbacks on 15 kickoff attempts.
 
SPEARS COMING ON
Sophomore punter Dylan Spears enjoyed his best game of the 2019 season by averaging 43.5 yards on six punts placing two inside the 20-yard line with a long of 57 yards against UT Permian Basin. He punted a school single-game record 12 times for an average of 35.2 yards placing two inside the 20-yard at Angelo State. Spears ranks fifth in the Lone Star Conference and 78th in NCAA Division II with a 37.7 yard punting average.
 
REJECTION NOTICE
Midwestern State set a program record by blocking three kicks in a 28-27 win at Lindenwood (9/14). The three blocks top the LSC and are second only to West Alabama (four blocks). Sophomore defensive end Michael McDonald and junior cornerback Khalil Finley blocked field goal attempts from 32 and 25 yards out against the Lions before sophomore defensive lineman A'quan Randolph bolted through the middle to block a point-after attempt midway through the fourth quarter allowing the Mustangs to maintain a 28-27 lead. The Mustangs are tied with Angelo State for the Lone Star Conference lead with four blocked kicks this season which rates eighth in NCAA Division II.
 
UP NEXT
Midwestern State faces rival Texas A&M-Commerce Saturday night at A&M-Commerce Memorial Stadium. The game will be featured as the NCAA Division II Game of the Week on ESPN3. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.