STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Midwestern State closes its rivalry with Tarleton State Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m.
 
TV TIME
Midwestern State and Tarleton State airs live on MyNetworkTV Channel 35 in Wichita Falls as part of an agreement between the Lone Star Conference and Nexstar Media Group to broadcast four regular season games. The series started last week with the Western New Mexico at Texas A&M-Commerce and will also feature West Texas A&M at Texas A&M-Kingsville on Nov. 9 and Texas A&M-Commerce at Angelo State on Nov. 16.
 
SERIES HISTORY (vs. Tarleton State)
Tarleton State owns a 19-12 edge in the overall series which dates back to the 1946 season. The Mustangs had a series-long three-game winning streak snapped in a 35-34 overtime loss to the Texans last season in Wichita Falls. Overall, the Midwestern has won six of the last 10 meetings including the last two games played in Stephenville. Seven of the last eight meetings were decided by no more than five points. The Mustangs are 6-10 against Tarleton State since Bill Maskill became head coach prior to the 2002 season. Here are the results of the last 10 games of the series:
  

Date	Score	Location
10/27/18	Tarleton State 35, Midwester State 34 (OT)	Wichita Falls
11/4/17	Midwestern State 45, Tarleton State 42	Wichita Falls
11/5/16	Midwestern State 21, Tarleton State 16	Stephenville
9/26/15	Midwestern State 63, Tarleton State 46	Wichita Falls
11/15/14	Tarleton State 44, Midwestern State 41	Wichita Falls
9/27/14	Midwestern State 27, Tarleton State 23	Stephenville
9/14/13	Tarleton State 27, Midwestern State 24	Arlington
9/8/12	Tarleton State 20, Midwestern State 17	Stephenville
10/8/11	Midwestern State 44, Tarleton State 13	Wichita Falls
10/30/10	Midwestern State 31, Tarleton State 26	Wichita Falls

  
IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
Midwestern State dropped out of the American Football Coaches' Association Division II Poll for the first time since 2014 following the Angelo State loss. It snapped a streak of 52 consecutive reporting periods that MSU received a national ranking. Following a 27-24 loss to Eastern New Mexico last week, the Mustangs failed to receive a vote in the poll for the first time in 57 reporting periods. MSU Texas has carried a national ranking at some point in each of the last 13 seasons going back to 2006.
   
AGAINST NATIONALLY RANKED
Midwestern State has fared well against opponents ranked in the American Football Coaches' Association Top 25 in recent years posting a 14-5 mark in regular season matchup since the start of the 2011 season. Overall, the Mustangs are 22-28 against nationally ranked opposition including a 9-17 mark against teams ranked in the Top 10. MSU is 7-17 against nationally ranked foes on the road.
  

Date	Score	Location
10/12/19	#20 Texas A&M-Commerce 54, Midwestern State 28	Commerce, Texas
10/27/18	#8 Tarleton State 35, #10 Midwestern State 34 (OT)	Wichita Falls
10/6/18	#9 Texas A&M-Commerce 20, #4 Midwestern State 19	Denton, Texas
9/8/18	#10 Midwestern State 38, #2 West Florida 17	Wichita Falls
11/25/17	#1 Minnesota State 63, #5 Midwestern State 21	Makato, Minn.
11/18/17	#5 Midwestern State 24, #18 Sioux Falls 20	Wichita Falls
11/11/17	#4 Midwestern State 56, #20 Eastern New Mexico 43	Portales, N.M.
10/7/17	#10 Midwestern State 47, #2 Texas A&M-Commerce 42	Wichita Falls
11/19/16	#15 Ferris State 65, #22 Midwestern State 34	Big Rapids, Mich.
10/8/16	#7 Midwestern State 26, #4 Texas A&M-Commerce 25	Commerce, Texas
11/25/15	#4 Colorado State-Pueblo 26, #9 Midwestern State 17	Wichita Falls
11/14/15	#10 Midwestern State 37, #11 Texas A&M-Commerce 33	Commerce, Texas
10/24/15	#11 Texas A&M-Commerce 27, #10 Midwestern State 14	Commerce, Texas
10/17/15	#11 Midwestern State 35, #10 Humboldt State 10	Wichita Falls
10/3/15	#20 Midwestern State 29, #6 Angelo State 20	San Angelo, Texas
10/25/14	Midwestern State 40, #22 Texas A&M-Commerce 37 (OT)	Wichita Falls
11/16/13	#25 West Texas A&M 19, #24 Midwestern State 12	Wichita Falls
10/19/13	#24 Midwestern State 45, #8 West Alabama 21	Wichita Falls
11/17/12	#18 Indianapolis 31, #8 Midwestern State 14	Indianapolis, Ind.
11/3/12	#10 Midwestern State 52, #12 West Texas A&M 48	Canyon, Texas
10/4/12	#13 Midwestern State 42, #18 West Alabama 27	Livingston, Ala.
11/26/11	#10 Northwest Missouri State 38, #2 Midwestern State 31 (OT)	Wichita Falls
11/5/11	#5 Midwestern State 35, #20 West Texas A&M 21	Wichita Falls
10/22/11	#12 Midwestern State 70, #9 Abilene Christian 28	Wichita Falls
9/24/11	Midwestern State 44, #16 Texas A&M-Kingsville 38	Wichita Falls
* Italics denote playoff games

  
LAST WEEK
Western Oregon snapped Midwestern State's 21-game winning streak against non-conference NCAA Division II opponents with a 37-22 win Saturday at McArthur Field in Monmouth, Oregon. The streak dated back to MSU's 45-23 loss at Nebraska-Omaha on Sept. 14, 2002. The Wolves rolled up 541 yards of offense churning out 240 rushing yards and 301 yards through the air. Sophomore running back Lazarus Fisher paced the Mustangs with 92 rushing yards including a 26-yard burst for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Sophomore quarterback Triston Williams threw for 202 yards on 13-of-35 passing with one touchdown, while senior wide receiver Xavier Land made four catches for 104 yards.
 
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.
 
LOSING STREAKS FOREIGN
Midwestern State ended its first three-game slide since 2005 with a convincing 70-35 rout of Texas A&M-Kingsville on Oct. 19 at Memorial Stadium. It was MSU's first three-game slide since the Mustangs lost at Angelo State (30-29), to West Texas A&M (47-44) and at Tarleton State (37-7) in consecutive weeks in 2005. The 2005 team bounced back to win its last four games starting with a 41-14 trouncing of No. 6 Texas A&M-Kingsville on Oct. 15, 2005. MSU has not lost four straight games since the 1999 campaign – Harding (38-35 on 9/18), Central Oklahoma (42-14 on 9/25), Texas A&M-Commerce (10-7 on 10/2) and Abilene Christian (26-16 on 10/9). Ironically, Midwestern snapped that skid with a 10-7 win over – you guessed it – Texas A&M-Kingsville.
 
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 154-61 (.716). His 154 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 141-53 (.727) in his 18th year at MSU. His 141 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 14 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	155-61	.718
Tarleton State	141-78	.644
West Texas A&M	135-96	.584
Texas A&M-Commerce	112-106	.514
Texas A&M-Kingsville	107-106	.502
Angelo State	102-112	.477
Eastern New Mexico*	90-108	.455
*ENMU vacated 15 wins from 2008-12
Through games of Oct. 26, 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. Both are out with injuries. Senior cornerbacks DaMarcus Wilson and Jaydon Cunigan are the defensive leaders.
 
OFFENSIVE TEAM NOTES
Midwestern State ranks sixth in the Lone Star Conference and 75th in NCAA Division II in total offense averaging 371.8 yards per game... The Mustangs rank 48th nationally and sixth in the league in passing offense at 240.5 yards per game… MSU Texas ranks seventh in the LSC and 106th nationally rushing for 131.3 yards per game…  The Mustangs are sixth in the LSC and 72nd nationally scoring 28.1 points per game… The Mustangs rolled up a season-high 606 yards in a 70-35 win over Texas A&M-Kingsville on Oct. 19 which were the most yards since piling up 654 yards in a 57-36 victory over Angelo State (9/22/18)…
 
RECEIVING DUO LEAVING MARK
Midwestern State's receiving duo of Xavier Land and Tyrique Edwards gives the Mustangs two active members in the program's top 10. The duo has combined for 3,070 yards and 27 touchdowns. 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	Xavier Land	1,794	2015-19
4	Kendrick Gibson	1,736	2000-01
5	Andy Tanner	1,716	2006-09
6	Statron Jones	1,703	2013-16
7	DelJuan Lee	1,655	2006-07
8	Demetrius Galban	1,486	1992, 95-96
9	Tyrique Edwards	1,425	2015-19
10	-Juwan Johnson	1,320	2018-19

 
THROW UP THE X
Senior Xavier Land delivered his sixth career 100-yard receiving effort finishing with 101 yards on four catches at Western Oregon (10/26). He has accounted for at least 100 receiving yards in four of his last five games going for 114  yards on 11 catches against Angelo State (9/28), six receptions for 11 yards and a TD against Eastern New Mexico (10/5), four catches for 104 yards and a TD against Texas A&M-Kingsville (10/19) and four receptions for 101 yards at Western Oregon (10/26). The 11 receptions against Angelo State 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 his 11 receptions against Angelo State, 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. Now with 141 career receptions, Land trails only Bryan Gilmore (155 rec./1996-99) and David Little (169 rec./2008-11). Land is currently third on the all-time receiving yards list with 1,794 trailing only Bryan Gilmore (2,722 yards / 1996-99) and David Little (2,222 yards / 2008-11). Land is seventh in the LSC with 4.9 receptions per game and sixth in receiving yards per game (74.6).
 
WILLIAMS MOVES INTO STARTING QB ROLE
Sophomore Triston Williams earned Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Week after leading the Mustangs to a 70-35 Homecoming win over Texas A&M-Kingsville (10/19). The Andrews native connected on 13-of-21 passes for a career-high 354 yards connecting for a program record tying six touchdowns. Williams' performance netted the second-best passing efficiency rating in NCAA Division II this season at 297.8 which is also the best ever for a an MSU quarterback. It was the third time a Midwestern State quarterback accounted for six touchdown passes in a single game joining Zack Eskridge – six against Eastern New Mexico in 2008 – and Layton Rabb – six against Eastern New Mexico in 2017. Williams has thrown for 935 yards and 11 touchdowns over four games and three starts since Zach Purcell went down an injury at Angelo State. He recorded 300-yard passing performances against Texas A&M-Commerce (306 yards / 3 TD) and Texas A&M-Kingsville (354 yards / 6 TD).
 
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 (9/14) and UT Permian Basin (9/21). Childs rushed for a career-high 174 yards against UTPB (9/21) after rolling up 135 yards and three touchdowns against Lindenwood (9/14). Childs added a third 100-yard effort going for 165 yards on 23 carries against Eastern New Mexico (10/5). He leads the Mustangs with 643 rushing yards, while making 14 catches for 146 yards out of the backfield. Childs is fourth in the Lone Star Conference and 52nd in NCAA Division II averaging 80.4 rushing yards per game.
 
LAZARUS SCORES TOUCHDOWNS
Sophomore Lazarus Fisher accounted for touchdowns in each of Midwestern State's last four games and in five of seven games this season. The Clinton, Okla. Native leads the team in scoring with seven touchdowns and 42 points. Fisher enjoyed his top rushing day at Western Oregon (10/26) going for 92 yards on 10 carries including long runs of 31 yards and had a 26-yard burst for a touchdown. That came on the heels of a 85-yard, 4-carry performance including a 75-yard scoring run against Texas A&M-Kingsville (10/19). Fisher also had five receptions for 72 yards while rushing for 37 more against Texas A&M-Commerce (10/12). He has accounted for at least 100 yards of total offense in his last three games: Texas A&M-Commerce (109 – 37 rush/72 receiving), Texas A&M-Kingsville (114 – 75 rush/29 receiving) and Western Oregon (106 – 92 rush/14 receiving).
 
WINNING THE RED ZONE
Midwestern State has scored on 21 of its 26 excursions into the red zone this season with 17 touchdowns. Meanwhile, the Mustangs' defense limited the opposition to 22 scores in 36 trips inside the 20-yard line this season – including 17 touchdowns – which ranks 10th in NCAA Division II and tops in the LSC allowing points on 61.1 percent of red zone opportunities.
 
DEFENSIVE NOTES
Midwestern State ranks seventh in the Lone Star Conference and 116th in NCAA Division II in total defense allowing 409.9 yards per game. The Mustangs also rate fifth in the league and 87th nationally conceding 27.9 points per game. The Mustangs rank seventh in the LSC and 135th in NCAA Division II allowing 210.0 rushing yards per game. MSU Texas is second in the LSC and 65th nationally allowing 199.9 passing yards per game.
 
OWENS RACKING UP SACKS
Sophomore Melik Owens ranked second in NCAA Division II with six sacks over the first four games of the season before missing the Eastern New Mexico and Texas A&M-Commerce games due to injury. 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 topped the LSC and ranked third in NCAA D2 making 2.6 tackles for loss per game prior to missing games against Eastern New Mexico, Texas A&M-Commerce and Texas A&M-Kingsville. He returned to make two tackles with two quarterback hurries at Western Oregon (10/26).
 
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.
 
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 averaged 43.4 yards per punt placing two inside the 20-yard line while booming a pair of 50 yarders against Texas A&M-Kingsville. Spears punted a school single-game record 12 times for an average of 35.2 yards placing two inside the 20-yard line at Angelo State. Spears ranks fifth in the Lone Star Conference and 60th in NCAA Division II with a 39.0 yard punting average.
 
REYES REMAINS PERFECT
Redshirt freshman Payton Reyes successfully converted each of his 18 point-after attempts since taking over primary place kicking duties against Eastern New Mexico. He also converted both of his field goal opportunities making a 35-yarder against Eastern New Mexico and a 32-yarder at Western Oregon.
 
UP NEXT
Midwestern State welcomes Western New Mexico for Military Appreciation and Senior Day at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 9. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.