WICHITA FALLS, Texas -- Midwestern State erupted for 24 points in the fourth quarter to turn a close game into a 52-24 blowout win over Western New Mexico in Saturday's season finale at Memorial Stadium.
The Mustangs snapped a four-game slide to end the season with a 4-7 overall record while going 3-6 in Lone Star Conference play.
MSU used the big play to take its first lead of the game midway through the third quarter when
Andrew Knebel hit
Adam Johnson on a slip screen for a 75-yard touchdown to give the Mustangs a 21-17 edge.
Western New Mexico answered with a 10-yard scoring strike from Connor Ackerley to Kaden Milner to regain a 24-21 advantage, but it was then that MSU turned to it opportunistic defense.
Jaylin Broadus returned an interception for a 45-yard TD before senior linebacker
Quincy Darnell snagged a tipped passed to return an interception for 71 yards to setup 26-yard field goal to give the Mustangs a 31-24 advantage with 10:54 to play.
The Mustangs won the field position battle on the two possessions, converting a pair of 20-yard drives into rushing touchdowns by
Christian Olige (2 yards) and
Emmanuel Abdallah (4 yards) before
Dylan Hofferichter put the final touches on the victory by racing 22 yards on a fumble return with 3:54 to play.
Midwestern State ends the season with six defensive touchdowns which is just one behind NCAA Division II leading Emory & Henry out of Atlanta, Georgia.
Junior
Jalen March led the MSU ground game with 119 yards on 18 carries including a 4-yard touchdown run in the opening quarter. It was his second 100-yard rushing performance of the season.
Sophomore
Andrew Knebel completing 11-of-21 passes for 161 yards including scoring strikes of 16 yards to
Demonte Greene in the second quarter and the 75-yard score to Johnson in the third.
Senior
Larry Donnell led the defense with six solo stops, while
Quincy Montgomery logged a season-high 2 1/2 quarterback sacks. Senior
Jordan Crawford added to the pressure with 1 1/2 sacks and a pass breakup.
Ackerley completed 25-of-45 passes for 254 yards and three touchdowns to lead the WNMU attack, while Osvaldo Raigosa led defensive efforts with a game-high 11 tackles.
Western New Mexico closed the season at 2-9, going winless in nine conference games.
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-- MSUMustangs.com --
