WICHITA FALLS, Texas – Midwestern State takes on UT Permian Basin in its home and Lone Star Conference opener for Family Day Saturday night at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Midwestern State has claimed each of the three meetings between the teams since UT Permian Basin started a football program in 2016. The Mustangs have put up an average of 61.7 points per game against UTPB with an average victory margin of 45 points.
 

Date	Score	Location
10/26/16	Midwestern State 76, UT Permian Basin 21	Wichita Falls, Texas
10/28/17	Midwestern State 66, UT Permian Basin 8	Midland, Texas
9/15/18	Midwestern State 43, UT Permian Basin 21	Odessa, Texas

  
IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
Midwestern State remained at No. 16 in this week's American Football Coaches' Association Division II Poll. The Mustangs have carried an AFCA national ranking for each of the last 51 reporting periods dating back to the 2015 season. MSU Texas has carried a national ranking at some point in each of the last 13 seasons going back to 2006. The Mustangs are also ranked 16th in the D2Football.com Poll.
 
LAST WEEK
Midwestern State senior Quinton Childs rushed for a career-high 135 yards and three touchdowns to lead the 16th-ranked Mustangs to a 28-27 win over Lindenwood Saturday at Hunter Stadium in St. Charles, Mo. But MSU Texas found a way to preserve the victory by blocking three field goals including a stuff by sophomore defensive tackle A'quan Randolph on a would-be, game-tying point-after attempt with 7:15 to play. The Mustangs didn't secure the win until linebackers Zack McMahen and Rigoberto Carrillo sandwiched Lindenwood quarterback Cade Brister to force fumble with the Lions heading into the red zone with under a minute to play. Junior defensive back Lance Hardman pounced on the ball to clinch the win.
 
LAST TIME AGAINST UT PERMIAN BASIN (9/15/18)
Vincent Johnson rushed for a career-high 195 yards and two touchdowns including an 82-yard scoring burst to lead No. 7 Midwestern State to a 43-21 win over UT Permian Basin at Ratliff Stadium. Layton Rabb passed for 291 yards and three touchdowns connected with Juwan Johnson for eight receptions for 132 yards as the Mustangs rolled up 564 yards of total offense. Anthony Tennison accounted for three receiving TDs of 7, 41 and 14 yards. Marquis Simmons ran for 101 yards on 24 carries to pace the Falcons, while Taylor Null completed 22-of-35 passes for 300 yards and two touchdowns.
 
GOING FOR 3 AND OH
Midwestern State aims to start a sixth consecutive season with at least three victories. The Mustangs began 11 of the last 13 seasons with at least three consecutive wins. 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.
 
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 152-57 (.727). His 152 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 139-49 (.739) in his 18th year at MSU. His 139 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 18 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	153-57	.729
Tarleton State	135-78	.634
West Texas A&M	131-94	.582
Texas A&M-Kingsville	107-100	.517
Texas A&M-Commerce	108-104	.509
Angelo State	97-111	.466
Eastern New Mexico*	87-105	.453
*ENMU vacated 15 wins from 2008-12
Through games of Sept. 14, 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).
 
COACHING MOVES
- 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 sixth in the Lone Star Conference and 72nd in NCAA Division II in total offense averaging 380.5 yards per game... The Mustangs rank 49th nationally and fifth in the league in passing offense at 252 yards per game… MSU Texas ranks ninth in the LSC and 106th nationally rushing for 128.5 yards per game…  The Mustangs are eighth in the LSC scoring 30.5 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…
 
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 3,774 yards and 32 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	Juwan Johnson	1,298	2018-19
9	Xavier Land	1,268	2015-19
10	Andre Kelsick	1,259	2001-05
--	Tyrique Edwards	1,208	2015-19

 
HOT CHILDS IN THE CITY… RUNNING WILD
Senior running back Quinton Childs led the Midwestern State attack rushing for a career-high 135 yards and three touchdowns in a 28-27 win last weekend at Lindenwood. The El Paso native ran for touchdowns of 3 and 46 yards in the first quarter before going 19 yards for the go-ahead score in the third quarter. It was his first career 100-yard rushing performance. Childs made the jump from wide receiver to running back this season. His top receiving day was a three-catch, 58-yard effort last season at Texas A&M-Kingsville.
 
REVAMPED OFFENSIVE LINE
Midwestern State put up 425 yards of total offensive in the opener against Northwestern State behind an offensive line unit which included three newly minted starters. Redshirt freshmen Zach Zamora (LG) and Caleb Gill (RG) took over the guard positions, while sophomore Corbin Scarber made his collegiate debut at left tackle. Junior Nick Gonzalez has taken over the center position after seeing time all over the line in his previous two campaigns, while junior Caleb Brown returns for his third season as a starter at right tackle.
 
WINNING THE RED ZONE
Midwestern State has scored on each of its six excursions into the red zone this season with four touchdowns. Meanwhile, the Mustangs' defense limited the opposition to three scores in nine trips inside the 20-yard line this season – all touchdowns – which ranks third in NCAA Division II and leads the LSC.
 
DEFENSIVE NOTES
Midwestern State ranks seventh in the Lone Star Conference and 93^rd in NCAA Division II in total defense allowing 388.5 yards per game, but the Mustangs rate fourth in the league and 32nd nationally conceding 17 points per game… The Mustangs ranks sixth in the LSC and 58th in NCAA Division II allowing 123 rushing yards per game… MSU Texas is seventh in the LSC and 129th nationally allowing 265.5 passing yards per game…
 
GETTING OFF THE FIELD
Midwestern State leads the Lone Star Conference and ranks 16th in NCAA Division II in third down conversion percentage defense limiting the opposition to a 24.2-percent success rate (8-for-33). The Mustangs held Northwestern State to 3-of-17 in the opener, then limited Lindenwood to 5-of-16 on third down. The Mustangs have forced three-and-outs on 10 of 26 defensive possessions this season.
 
THE SACK MAN COMETH
Sophomore Melik Owens all of NCAA Division II with four sacks over the first two 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. Owens also tops the LSC and ranks sixth in NCAA D2 making 2.8 tackles for loss per game.
 
RIGO RACKS UP STOPS
Senior linebacker Rigoberto Carrillo led Midwestern State in tackles in each of the first two weeks of the season. He leads the Lone Star Conference and ranks 19th nationally averaging 11.5 tackles per game, while also leading the league with 5.5 solo stops a contest. Carrillo made a career-high 14 stops at Lindenwood after going for nine tackles in the season opener at Northwestern State.
 
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.
 
LONE STAR CONFERENCE SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
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.
 
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.
 
UP NEXT
Midwestern State hits the road to take on Angelo State next Saturday at LeGrand Stadium at 1st Community Credit Union Field. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.