WICHITA FALLS, Texas — Midwestern State (8-2, 7-4) used a 21-point scoring run in the third quarter to defeat UT Permian Basin (6-4, 5-3) 49-34 on Saturday at Memorial Stadium. The Mustangs threw for 212 yards, rushed for 195 and converted nine of 13 third downs.
The Mustangs won their fourth straight game overall and closed out their home schedule with a 6-0 record.
MSU responded to an early turnover score by putting together a 14-play, 75-yard drive that ended with
Kaden Brown's 5-yard touchdown pass to
Ace Traylor and
Kohen Maroney's extra point tying the game at 7-7 with 8:19 left in the first quarter. Earlier,
Joe Hollis dropped the Falcons for a 5-yard loss on the opening series, helping force a punt before UTPB later scored on a 30-yard interception return. On the tying drive,
Joseph Dodds moved the chains on third-and-1, Brown completed a fourth-and-9 pass to
Fabian Baez at the UTPB 19, and Baez added another catch to set up first-and-goal. The Mustangs' defense held again when UTPB missed a 47-yard field goal, and the offense moved from its own 30 to the UTPB 21 before the first quarter ended tied 7-7.
The Mustangs answered UTPB's 49-yard field goal with a 13-play, 70-yard drive, capped by
Kaden Brown's 5-yard touchdown run at 4:19 and
Kohen Maroney's extra point for a 14-10 lead. Earlier, MSU opened the second quarter already in UTPB territory, but Brown was intercepted at the UTPB 5 and the return gave the visitors the ball at the MSU 45.
Samu Vave and
Tre'vious Bates combined for a tackle for loss on that series, and
Ja'Corey Kindle added a third-down sack before UTPB settled for the field goal. On the scoring drive, Brown completed first-down throws to
Aanjay Feliciano for 15 and 11 yards,
Kenji Johnson moved the chains on third-and-1, and Brown added first-down runs of 10 and 12 yards before the touchdown. MSU later had pass breakups from
Daylon Owens,
Junior Heimuli and
Kylan Egerson on the final drive, but UTPB converted third-and-15 and fourth-and-3 before adding a 19-yard field goal at 0:00, leaving the Mustangs ahead 14-13 at halftime.
The Mustangs turned the third quarter into a 28-point segment, scoring on offense, defense and a late response drive. Earlier,
Kaden Brown capped a seven-play, 64-yard opening drive with a 41-yard touchdown pass to
Dominic Cox, and
Kohen Maroney's kick put MSU ahead 21-13. The defense then created two short-field or scoring swings: Owens stopped a run for a 7-yard loss before
Trevor Brooks recovered the fumble at the UTPB 17, setting up Brown's 6-yard touchdown run, and
Daniel Scarabino returned a fourth-down fumble 12 yards for a touchdown at 8:24 to make it 35-13 after the kick. UTPB answered after recovering an MSU punt-return fumble and scoring from the 1, but the Mustangs drove 85 yards in seven plays before Brown hit Feliciano for a 47-yard touchdown at 1:27, helping send MSU to the fourth quarter with a 42-20 lead.
MSU absorbed two UTPB touchdown drives early in the fourth quarter, which moved the score to 42-34, then responded with the fourth quarter's decisive scoring possession in a 49-34 win.
Hornel Cloubou sacked Braxton Baker at the UTPB 40 and
Charles McKnight recovered the fumble with 5:54 left, giving the Mustangs a short field.
Kaden Brown converted third downs with runs of 16 and 14 yards on the ensuing eight-play, 40-yard drive, and
Kenji Johnson finished it with a 1-yard touchdown before
Kohen Maroney's extra point made it 49-34 with 1:42 remaining. MSU held the ball for 10:28 in the fourth quarter, went 3-for-4 on third down, and closed the game after
Ethan Dishman intercepted Baker at the UTPB 30 with 1:04 to play.
Kaden Brown completed 19 of 27 passes for 212 yards and three touchdowns and added 94 rushing yards and two scores on 13 carries. Cox caught seven passes for 73 yards and a touchdown. Feliciano added three receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown. Scarabino recorded a fumble recovery and returned it 12 yards for a touchdown.
Braxton Baker completed 32 of 50 passes for 318 yards and two touchdowns. Tre Brown caught 13 passes for 129 yards and one touchdown. Nicholas Elko recorded four tackles and returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown. McKyle So'oto finished with 10 tackles and half a sack.
Up next, the Mustangs travel to Portales, New Mexico, to face Eastern New Mexico on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 3 p.m.
-- MSUMustangs.com --
