WICHITA FALLS, Texas -- The result may not have been a masterpiece, nor was it official Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium.
 
But the Mustangs' 28-14 win in a scrimmage might be just the start the team needed.
 
Junior running back Michael Ajayi scored twice and the defense made just enough big plays to send the Mustangs into next Saturday's season opener with a bit more confidence.
 
"In the first half, they made more critical mistakes and penalties, then in the third quarter they outplayed us," MSU coach Bill Maskill said. "Our team needs to understand that we have to develop the mentality to play when we're ahead. We gave up a big play that turned into a touchdown and gave them momentum. We gave them live heading into the fourth quarter."
 
Midwestern State took advantage of SOSU miscues to take control in the first half.
 
Junior running back Trenton Kennedy cashed on a shanked punt to score on a 12-yard run to open scoring at the 3:06 mark of the first quarter. The Mustangs needed to drive just 31 yards for the first score was also aided by a personal foul penalty by the Savage Storm.
 
Southeastern contributed an unsportsmanlike penalty to extend MSU's next drive after forcing a loss on a third-and-18 pass. Four plays later, Triston Williams connected with freshman tight end Awtry Blagg to push the MSU advantage to 14-0. 
 
The Midwestern State defense, which combined for 11 tackles for loss, produced the next scoring chance for the Mustangs when redshirt-freshman Larry Donnell picked off a Riley Russell pass and returned it 44 yards to the Savage Storm 8-yard line.
 
A couple of plays later, Ajayi pushed the ball in from 8 yards out for his first TD of the game to give the Mustangs a 21-0 lead at halftime.
 
Southeastern Oklahoma climbed back into the game by dominating the third quarter. Junior signal caller Daulton Hatley provided the fireworks connected with Pablo Perini for an 11-yard scoring strike in the opening minute of the second half, then hit Braxton Kincade on a 22-yard post route to pull the Storm back to within 21-14 with 8 minutes to play in the third.
 
The Mustangs put the game away with a 17-play, 82-yard drive in the fourth quarter culminating with Ajayi scored touchdown run of the game from four yards out with 4:04 to go.
 
Kennedy paced MSU rushing attack with 52 yards on nine carries, while Ajayi pitched 48 yards on 10 totes and Jackson had 39 yards on seven attempts.
 
Senior Derrick Ponder threw for a team-high 106 yards on 9-of-15 passing, while redshirt-freshman Ja'Marzeyea Arvie caught four passes for 43 yards to lead the receiving corps.
 
Senior cornerback Khalil Finley accounted for five tackles to lead the defense.
 
Midwestern State opens regular season play Saturday afternoon against Texas A&M-Kingsville at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.