STEPHENVILLE, Texas – No. 19 Midwestern State battled FCS Tarleton State yard-for-yard and point-for-point Saturday night at Memorial Stadium.
 
But the Texans scored 10 fourth-quarter points to hold off MSU 17-14 in from a generous estimated crowd of 16,216.
 
Midwestern State freshman Jalen March accounted for both of the Mustangs' two touchdowns, while finishing with 111 yards of total offense. The Fort Worth Seguin High product rushed 85 yards on 14 carries and had three receptions for 26 yards.
 
March battled for his first TD on an 8-yard pass from Dillon Sterling-Cole right before the first half horn. He fought of two Texan defenders and stretched for the goal line to knot the game at 7-7.
 
The score answered one of two long drives in the first half by the Texans.
 
Tarleton quarterback Steven Duncan hit Gabe Douglas on a post route for a 47-yard gain to MSU's 20-yard line before hitting a wide-open Max Mayfield for a 19-yard TD to put the Texans up 7-0 with 8:34 to play in the second quarter.
 
Midwestern State senior Malik Sonnier forced a fumble which was recovered by senior linebacker Rigoberto Carrillo on the Texans' only other excursion into the Red Zone during the first quarter.
 
The teams played to a 7-7 tie through three quarters before Tarleton capped on a 10-play, 76-yard drive with another Duncan-to-Maxfield connection from 6 yards out with 12:12 to play.
 
The Texans added a 28-yard field goal by Adrian Guzman with 4:37 to play to push the advantage to 17-7.
 
Midwestern State closed to within a field goal after March scored a 5-yard reverse with 2:18 to play. The Mustangs were unable to recover the ensuing onside-kick attempt, but earned a final possession from their own 1-yard line with 48 seconds to play.
 
Tarleton State senior Devin Hafford picked off his second pass of the game to clinch the Homecoming win for the Texans with 3 seconds to go.
 
Sterling-Cole complete 20-of-40 passes for 169 yards with one touchdown, while Kylan Harrison led the receiving corps with 78 yards on five receptions.
 
Senior linebacker Justin Guillory had nine tackles to pace the defense, while Sonnier had eight.

Midwestern State welcomes Western New Mexico for Homecoming Saturday night at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.