WICHITA FALLS, Texas — Midwestern State welcomes No. 8-ranked Western Colorado to Memorial Stadium for its home opener on Saturday night at 7 p.m. The Mustangs are seeking their first win of the season after suffering a 33-19 loss to Missouri Southern in their Week 1 matchup.

Midwestern State is 9-9 at home over the last three seasons, including a 3-3 record last year after defeating Western New Mexico in the season finale. 52-24.

The Mustangs and Mountaineers met for the first time last season, and Western Colorado outscored MSU in the second half 17-9 en route to a 38-33 victory at Mountaineer Bowl in Gunnison, Colorado.

Junior quarterback Sean Jastrab had the fifth-best passing game in program history, completing 30 of 51 passes for 395 yards, as Midwestern State rolled up 440 yards of total offense. Jastrab had the most passing yards by an MSU quarterback since Layton Rabb threw for a program record 467 yards against Angelo State in a 57-36 victory back in 2018.

Last week, Jakolby Longino completed 31-of-38 passes for 359 yards, but the Mustangs fumbled twice and did not create any turnovers in a 33-19 loss at Missouri Southern. 
The highlight of the game was the very first play from scrimmage as Longino hit Demonte Greene with a 75-yard touchdown pass on a season-opening flea flicker. Greene finished the game with 143 yards on six catches, and Cedonyae Lott caught three passes for 58 yards. 

Missouri Southern rushed for 285 yards on 41 carries, led by Nathan Glades, who finished with 93 yards on 15 carries. 

The Lions only had two yards more than Midwestern State in total offense. Missouri Southern relied on its running game to gain 449 yards, while the Mustangs were spearheaded by an aerial attack on their way to 447 yards of total offense.

Western Colorado is facing an opponent from the Lone Star Conference for the second consecutive week after pulling away from West Texas A&M for a 45-28 victory last week in Gunnison. 

The Mountaineers held the Buffaloes to 130 yards of total offense in the second half and forced two fumbles in the fourth quarter.

Western Colorado held the football for nearly 40 minutes and rushed for 251 yards in the victory.  Quarterback Drew Nash rushed for 95 yards on 14 carries, and running back Gabe Schubarth rushed for 79 yards on six carries with a 50-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter. 

Nash completed 18-of-28 passes for 190 yards with three touchdowns and rushed for two scores as the Mountaineers won their seventh straight game against an LSC opponent.
 
Western Colorado was 11-2 last season but was beaten by Bemidji State in the second round of the NCAA Division II Football Playoffs, 20-19.

The Mountaineers are 17-4 in their last 21 road games, including a 5-0 record as the visiting team last season.

Midwestern State is idle next week before hosting Eastern New Mexico in the LSC Opener on Family Weekend. Kickoff at Memorial Stadium on Sept. 20 is scheduled for 6 p.m.