WICHITA FALLS, Texas – Midwestern State renews its Highway 287 Rivalry by taking on West Texas A&M in the season finale Saturday afternoon at Buffalo Stadium. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m.
 
GOING FOR 20
Midwestern State needs a win over West Texas A&M in the season finale to clinch its 20th consecutive winning season. The Mustangs are one of just two Texas four-year football playing institutions actively sporting at least 19 straight winning seasons. The only other – Mary Hardin-Baylor clinched its 20th straight campaign earlier this fall – which means the Mustangs are the only scholarship-granting program in the State of Texas with a current string of at least 19 winning campaigns. Other current consecutive winning season streaks in the LSC: Texas A&M-Commerce (6), Tarleton State (1) and West Texas A&M (1).
 
SERIES HISTORY (vs. West Texas A&M)
West Texas A&M owns a slim 17-15 edge in the overall series which dates back to 1947. Midwestern State, however, has won the last two, three of the last four and six of the last 10. The programs have split the 16 meetings played in Canyon, but the Mustangs have not won in the Panhandle since Marqui Christian returned an errant punt snap 14 yards for a touchdown with 55 seconds left to lift MSU to a 52-48 Lone Star Conference title clinching win in 2012. The Buffs claimed victories in 2014 and 2016 in the final two matchups at Kimbrough Stadium. Here are the results of the last 10 meetings:
  

Date	Score	Location
11/10/18	Midwestern State 24, West Texas A&M 23	Wichita Falls
10/21/17	Midwestern State 45, West Texas A&M 3	Wichita Falls
10/22/16	West Texas A&M 35, Midwestern State 27	Canyon
10/10/15	Midwestern State 24, West Texas A&M 17	Wichita Falls
10/11/14	West Texas A&M 34, Midwestern State 13	Canyon
11/16/13	West Texas A&M 19, Midwestern State 12	Wichita Falls
11/3/12	Midwestern State 52, West Texas A&M 48	Canyon
11/5/11	Midwestern State 35, West Texas A&M 21	Wichita Falls
10/23/10	West Texas A&M 42, Midwestern State 29	Canyon
10/3/09	Midwestern State 31, West Texas A&M 19	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.
 
LAST WEEK
Midwestern State ended the first half with a Triston Williams-to-Kylan Harrison 51-yard scoring strike, then opened the second-half ledger with a 74-yard Williams-to-Michael Berry catch and run to take control for a 28-13 win over Western New Mexico Saturday at Memorial Stadium. Western New Mexico rolled up 415 yards of offense, but the MSU Texas defense limited WNMU to field goals in two of three red zone advancements to provide the winning difference. Sophomore Lazarus Fisher paced Midwestern's ground attack with 83 yards on 18 carries with a touchdown, while senior Quinton Childs ran for 62 yards and another score.
 
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 155-62 (.714). His 155 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 142-54 (.724) in his 18th year at MSU. His 142 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 13 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	156-62	.716
Tarleton State	143-78	.647
West Texas A&M	136-97	.584
Texas A&M-Commerce	114-106	.518
Texas A&M-Kingsville	108-107	.502
Angelo State	103-113	.477
Eastern New Mexico*	91-109	.455
*ENMU vacated 15 wins from 2008-12
Through games of Nov. 9, 2019.

  
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 seventh in the Lone Star Conference and 89th in NCAA Division II in total offense averaging 359.5 yards per game... The Mustangs rank 56th nationally and sixth in the league in passing offense at 230.9 yards per game… MSU Texas ranks seventh in the LSC and 109th nationally rushing for 128.6 yards per game…  The Mustangs are seventh in the LSC and 89th nationally scoring 26.0 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 3,087 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	1,457	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 fifth in the LSC with 4.9 receptions per game and fifth 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 734 rushing yards, while making 14 catches for 146 yards out of the backfield. Childs is seventh in the Lone Star Conference and 77th in NCAA Division II averaging 73.4 rushing yards per game.
 
LAZARUS SCORES TOUCHDOWNS
Sophomore Lazarus Fisher accounted for touchdowns in each of Midwestern State's four games played in October. The Clinton, Okla. Native leads the team in scoring with eight touchdowns and 48 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 three times this season: 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 24 of its 35 excursions into the red zone this season with 20 touchdowns. Meanwhile, the Mustangs' defense limited the opposition to 29 scores in 43 trips inside the 20-yard line this season – including 21 touchdowns – which ranks 20th in NCAA Division II and second in the LSC allowing points at 67.4 percent of red zone opportunities.
 
DEFENSIVE NOTES
Midwestern State ranks seventh in the Lone Star Conference and 127th in NCAA Division II in total defense allowing 425.2 yards per game. The Mustangs also rate fifth in the league and 104th nationally conceding 30.2 points per game. The Mustangs rank eighth in the LSC and 151st in NCAA Division II allowing 225.4 rushing yards per game. MSU Texas is second in the LSC and 63rd nationally allowing 199.8 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), then made four tackles and was in on a stop for loss at Tarleton State (11/2). Owens notched his seventh sack of the campaign last week against Western New Mexico.
 
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. He boomed a career-long punt of 66 yards at Tarleton State which was downed inside the 20-yard line. Spears enjoyed a solid game versus Western New Mexico placing four of his seven punts inside the 20-yard line. Spears ranks fifth in the Lone Star Conference and 61st in NCAA Division II with a 39.0 yard punting average.
 
REYES REMAINS PERFECT
Redshirt freshman Payton Reyes successfully converted each of his 23 point-after attempts since taking over primary place kicking duties against Eastern New Mexico. He also converted his first two field goal opportunities making a 35-yarder against Eastern New Mexico and a 32-yarder at Western Oregon before missing three at Tarleton State.
 
UP NEXT
Midwestern State's game against West Texas A&M closes the 2019 season.