CANYON, Texas -- West Texas A&M took advantage of special teams miscues on the way to a 23-0 win over Midwestern State in the Lone Star Conference opener for both teams Saturday night at Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium.

The shutout was the first for the Mustangs since falling 27-0 at Northwest Missouri State in the second round of the 2006 NCAA Division II playoffs. It was also the first time an MSU team endured a regular season blanking since suffering a 5-0 loss to West Texas A&M on September 14, 1996.

West Texas A&M, which struggled to 90 yards of offense in the first half, took advantage of a big miscue to take control of the game.

Isaiah Smallwood finished off a seven-play drive with a 1-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter after an 8-yard shanked punt by MSU's Diego Gonzalez gave WT a golden opportunity at the Mustangs' 20-yard line.

The West Texas A&M proved up to the task all night as the Buffs limited the Mustangs to 103 yards of total offense. MSU had managed fewer yards just three other times since bringing back the football program prior to the 1988 season including a 17-yard effort against Texas A&M-Kingsville in 1997, a 66-yard performance against Sul Ross State in 1988, and a 101-yard game against WT in 1996.

The defense produced a field position advantage which resulted in a 40-yard field goal by Preston Gregg later in the second quarter after the WT defense forced the Mustangs to punt from their own 4-yard line.

West Texas A&M extended its advantage to 13-0 after Gregg connected on a 33-yard field goal with 9:26 left in the third quarter. The three-play, 8-yard drive was set up by a muffed punt by the Mustangs, recovered by the Buffs at the MSU 22-yard line.

WT finished off its longest drive of the night on a four-play, 80-yard drive in the third quarter highlighted by a 73-yard run by Tray'vian McCoy Gay and an 18-yard touchdown connection from Kyle Brown to Ryan Cosper to push the lead to 20-0 with 3:14 to go.

Jalen March was held to 18 yards on nine carries, while Devin Cross had 13 yards on 11 carries. The duo came in as the top two rushers in the LSC.

Senior linebacker Quinterrius Hargrave made nine tackles to lead the MSU's defensive effort as the Mustangs held WT to 280 total yards and 13 first downs.

Junior Jaylen Shaw recorded his first interception as a Mustang, while finishing with five tackles.

Midwestern State (1-2, 0-1) takes on Eastern New Mexico Saturday night at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

West Texas A&M improved to 2-1 and 1-0.
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