WICHITA FALLS, Texas -- Midwestern State exploded for 33 points in the third quarter to roll to a 56-7 win over Western New Mexico in Lone Star Conference Saturday night at Memorial Stadium.

The MSU defense proved stout, once again, limiting Western New Mexico to 134 yards of total offense as the Mustangs carried a shutout into the fourth quarter.

MSU has won consecutive games for the first time this to season to level its record at 4-4 overall and 2-2 in Lone Star Conference play.

Junior Ritse Vaes matched his own school record by connecting on four field goals including three in the first half from distances of 45, 29, and 18 yards out, then added a fourth from 31 yards away in the third quarter. The Hirschi High School graduate also converted six point-after attempts to set a new program single game record with 18 kicking points.

The Mustangs finally found pay dirt on their opening drive of the third quarter after Jalen March broke fora 46-yard run to the WNMU 1-yard line. A play later, MSU used the tush push to propel James Cooper, Jr. into the end zone to take a 16-0 lead.

Midwestern State took advantage of two WNMU fumbles to ignite a 23-point scoring run over the final 3:52 of the third quarter.

After Vaes' fourth field goal of the game, the Mustangs forced a safety then found the end zone in rapid succession.

Cooper, Jr. hit JaJuan Mason in stride for a 35-yard touchdown with 1:56 to go in the third, then Devin Cross scored on a 7-yard run with 1:38 left before Zack Keen rushed for another TD on a 2-yard keeper with 28 seconds left in the quarter to give MSU a commanding 49-0 lead.

The Mustangs tacked on scoring runs by K'Vonte Jackson (6) and Chris Abron (4) in the fourth quarter, while Western New Mexico averted the shutout with a 73-yard strike from Hunter Davis to Deuce Zimmerman.

March paced the Mustangs' 348-yard ground attack with 147 yards on 21 carries, while Jackson added 75 yards on four totes and Cross pitched in 52 yards on 12 carries.

Defensively, 10 different Mustangs record tackles for loss, while reigning LSC player of the week Michael Gary added two more sacks.

Midwestern State hits the road to take on Angelo State on Saturday night at LeGrand Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.
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