SAN ANGELO, Texas – Midwestern State hits the road to take on Angelo State Saturday night at LeGrand Stadium at 1st Community Credit Union Field. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Midwestern State owns a 16-6 edge in the series that dates back to the 1946 season. The Mustangs have won the last four matchups and eight of the last 10 going back to the 2010 season. MSU Texas is 7-3 all time against the Rams in San Angelo. Midwestern State has claimed victory in 14 of the 18 games against Angelo State during the Bill Maskill era (since start of the 2002 season) with two of the Rams' four wins coming in 2014. The last five meetings between Midwestern State and Angelo State:
  

Date	Score	Location
9/22/18	Midwestern State 56, Angelo State 36	Wichita Falls
10/14/17	Midwestern State 41, Angelo State 27	San Angelo
10/15/16	Midwetern State 28, Angelo State 21	Wichita Falls
10/3/15	Midwestern State 29, Angelo State 20	San Angelo
11/8/14	Angelo State 41, Midwestern State 36	San Angelo

 
IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
Midwestern State moved up one spot to No. 15 in this week's American Football Coaches' Association Division II Poll. The Mustangs have carried an AFCA national ranking for each of the last 52 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 also moved up one spot to 15th in this week's D2Football.com Poll.
 
LAST WEEK
Midwestern State senior Quinton Childs ran for a career-high for a second consecutive week piling up 174 yards on 28 carries in a 14-8 win over UT Permian Basin last Saturday at Memorial Stadium. MSU Texas junior quarterback Zach Purcell hit Juwan Johnson for a 3-yard TD strike to cap a 10-play, 72-yard drive in the first quarter, then sophomore Lazarus Fisher raced 9 yards for a touchdown at the end of an 11-play, 77-yard drive in the third quarter to cap the scoring for Midwestern. The Mustangs' defense held UT Permian Basin to 271 yards of total offense keeping the Falcons out of the end zone. Senior safety Marcus Wilkerson had nine tackles to lead the defense, while Melik Owens and Dwayne Tate accounted for two tackles for loss and Jaydon Cunigan snagged a four-quarter interception to seal the victory.
 
LAST TIME AGAINST ANGELO STATE (9/22/18)
Layton Rabb passed for a school record 467 yards and five touchdowns to lead No. 7 Midwestern State to a 57-36 win over Angelo State on Sept. 22, 2018 at Memorial Stadium. The game featured 1,215 yards of combined offense with the Mustangs going for 654 yards to 561 for Angelo State. Kylan Harrison (5 rec., 116 yards, 2 TD) and Juwan Johnson (6 rec., 106 yards, 1 TD) went over the 100-yard receiving threshold, while Vincent Johnson ran for 159 yards and three scores. Angelo State's Tyrese Nathan ran for 139 yards, while Lawson Ayo had 11 catches for 118 yards to pace the Rams.
 
GOING FOR 4 AND OH
Midwestern State is 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 153-57 (.729). His 153 wins ranks as the fifth most among 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 140-49 (.741) 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 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	154-57	.730
Tarleton State	136-78	.636
West Texas A&M	131-95	.580
Texas A&M-Kingsville	107-101	.514
Texas A&M-Commerce	109-104	.512
Angelo State	98-111	.469
Eastern New Mexico*	87-106	.451
*ENMU vacated 15 wins from 2008-12
Through games of Sept. 21, 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 seventh in the Lone Star Conference and 79th in NCAA Division II in total offense averaging 368.7 yards per game... The Mustangs rank 70th nationally and seventh in the league in passing offense at 220 yards per game… MSU Texas ranks fifth in the LSC and 74th nationally rushing for 148.7 yards per game…  The Mustangs are ninth in the LSC scoring 25 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 were limited to 336 yards at Lindenwood and to 337 yards against UT Permian Basin…
 
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 3,840 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	Juwan Johnson	1,320	2018-19
9	Xavier Land	1,312	2015-19
10	Andre Kelsick	1,259	2001-05
--	Tyrique Edwards	1,208	2015-19

  
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 is coming off of a career-best 174-yard effort against UTPB after going for 135 yards and three touchdowns at Lindenwood. Childs ranks second in the Lone Star Conference and 17th in NCAA Division II running for 107 yards per game. 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. Another redshirt-freshman – Errin Davis – took over at left guard in the Lindenwood game after Zamora suffered an injury.
 
WINNING THE RED ZONE
Midwestern State has scored on eight of its 10 excursions into the red zone this season with six touchdowns. Meanwhile, the Mustangs' defense limited the opposition to five scores in 12 trips inside the 20-yard line this season – including three touchdowns – which ranks sixth in NCAA Division II and leads the LSC allowing points on 41.7 percent of red zone opportunities.
 
DEFENSIVE NOTES
Midwestern State ranks sixth in the Lone Star Conference and 70th in NCAA Division II in total defense allowing 349.3 yards per game, but the Mustangs rate second in the league and 20th nationally conceding 14 points per game… The Mustangs rank fifth in the LSC and 61st in NCAA Division II allowing 134 rushing yards per game… MSU Texas is fourth in the LSC and 81st nationally allowing 215.3 passing yards per game…
 
GETTING OFF THE FIELD
Midwestern State leads the Lone Star Conference and ranks 12th in NCAA Division II in third down conversion percentage defense limiting the opposition to a 23.1-percent success rate (13-for-53). 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 15 of 41 defensive possessions this season.
 
THE SACK MAN COMETH
Sophomore Melik Owens ranks fifth in NCAA Division II and tops the Lone Star Conference with four sacks over the first three 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 fourth in NCAA D2 making 2.5 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 eight touchbacks on 14 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. Spears ranks third in the Lone Star Conference with a 39.3 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 fourth in NCAA Division II.
 
UP NEXT
Midwestern State takes on Eastern New Mexico next Saturday at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.