SILVER CITY, N.M. – Western New Mexico junior Maurice Smith's 6-yard touchdown run in overtime proved to be the final blow for Midwestern State in a 30-27 loss Saturday night at Ben Altamirano Stadium.
But it was the inability to finish off consecutive drives later in the third quarter and early in the fourth quarter that proved most costly for MSU which fell to 3-2 on the season and 2-1 in Lone Star Conference play.
The Mustangs ran for 241 yards led by redshirt-freshman
Devin Cross, who logged his third 100-yard performance of the season by finishing with 110 yards on 17 carries.
But Midwestern couldn't push through an improved Western New Mexico defensive line despite running three plays from inside the 2-yard line at the end of the third quarter, then settled for a 23-yard field goal
Ritse Vaes on another Red Zone excursion to start the fourth quarter.
"We can't drive it like that and not put the ball in the end zone. That takes the wind out of your sails," MSU coach
Bill Maskill said. "We ran it sporadically. We didn't run it when we needed to."
The field goal tied the game at 24-24 and the MSU rose to the occasion slowing down WNMU quarterback Devin Larson in the fourth quarter forcing Western to punt the ball three times before
Tre Jordan's interception on WNMU's final possession during regulation.
The multifaceted Larson piled up the bulk of 399 total yards of offense in the opening three quarter. The Iowa State transfer from Gilbert, Arizona completed 22-of-39 passes for 359 yards including four completions of least 30 yards.
"There were a lot of big plays," Maskill said. "We gave up some pass plays that were deep that allowed them to nickel and dime to put it in."
Larson connected for two touchdowns to Allen Ortiz (12, 15) and another 54-yard TD hookup to Jeremy Cooper.
Midwestern State took a 27-24 lead in the first overtime on a 40-yard field goal by Vaes before WNMU needed just four plays to move the ball into the end zone.
The win was Western New Mexico's first against MSU since taking a 36-22 victory in 1996. It snapped a six-game win streak in the all-time series for Midwestern State.
MSU senior
Dillon Sterling-Cole completed 15-of-32 passes for 115 yards with a touchdown, while junior
Ja'Marzeyea Arvie led the receiving corps with five receptions for 32 yards.
Senior
Trenton Kennedy added 59 rushing yards on nine carries including a pair of touchdown runs (18, 27).
Junior linebacker
Justin Guillory led the defensive effort with seven tackles, while senior
Melik Owens made six stops and a quarterback sack.
Midwestern State takes on rival West Texas A&M Saturday night at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.
-- MSUMustangs.com --
