Midwestern State vs. Texas A&M-Commerce
Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015 | 2:30 p.m.
Memorial Stadium | Commerce, Texas
Records: Midwestern State (9-1); Texas A&M-Commerce (8-2)
Television: American Sports Network
Video: NCAA.com   
Audio: Mustangs Digital Network (Free)  
Live Stats: LionAthletics.com  
 
SETTING THE STAGE
For the second consecutive week, Midwestern State will see an opponent for the second time this season. The Mustangs take on Texas A&M-Commerce in the Lone Star Conference Playoff Championship game Saturday afternoon at A&M-Commerce Memorial Stadium. The Lions claimed the first meeting this season 27-14 Oct. 24th in Commerce to claim a second straight LSC title earning the No. 1 seed and right to host throughout the LSC postseason. The teams are also ranked third and fourth, respectively, in the regional rankings.
 
ABOUT THE LSC PLAYOFFS
- This is the second and final edition of the LSC Playoffs with the addition of Texas-Permian Basin and Western New Mexico to the league beginning next season.
- The LSC Playoffs were created as a way to add a pair of quality games to the regular season schedule in a postseason atmosphere.
- This year's top bracket features LSC champ Texas A&M-Commerce as the top seed against No. 4-seeded Angelo State, while second-seeded Midwestern State takes on No. 3-seed Eastern New Mexico. The winners move on to the LSC Playoff championship while the losers square off in a season finale.
- Last season, Midwestern State dropped a 41-36 decision at Angelo State as the No. 3 seed before falling 44-41 at home to fourth-seeded Tarleton State.

TV TIME
- The Lone Star Conference Postseason Championship game will air on 52 outlets across the country on the American Sports Network.
- The game airs locally on My TV Channel 35 or Time Warner Cable Channel 7
- For a complete list of clearances, click here.
 
ABOUT THE SERIES
- Midwestern States meets Texas A&M-Commerce for the 21st time on the gridiron Saturday afternoon at A&M-Commerce Memorial Stadium.
- The Lions own a 12-8 edge in the series which dates back to the 1947 season, but MSU has won eight of the last 10 meetings dating back to the 2001 season.
- Texas A&M-Commerce is 8-2 against the Mustangs on its home field.
- Midwestern's two wins in Commerce came in 2003 (26-7) and 2013 (30-24) -- both under Bill Maskill.
- MSU and A&M-Commerce meet for the third time in the last three seasons in Commerce after playing twice in the venue from 2001-12.
- The Mustangs are 7-2 against A&M-Commerce during the Bill Maskill era (since 2002).
- The Lions' 27-14 win on Oct. 24 was the first in three tries against MSU under Colby Carthel.
 
SCOUTING THE LIONS
- Texas A&M-Commerce claimed the Lone Star Conference championship sweeping through league play with a 6-0 record.
- The Lions survived Angelo State 36-35 making a defensive stand inside the 5-yard line with less than two minutes to play.
- A&M-Commerce leads the nation in turnover ratio at 2.00 as the Lions boast a +20 margin with 29 takeaways and nine giveaways.
- The Lions boast the LSC's third-best total offense attack ranking 14th nationally chewing up 482.7 yards per game.
- Texas A&M-Commerce passes for 277.7 yards per game and rushes for 205.0.
- The Lions rank third in the LSC in total defense allowing 408.5 yards per game.
- Junior running back Richard Cooper is the LSC's second leading rusher with 1,186 yards, while senior Theo Wofford is fourth with 877.
- Senior quarterback Harrison Stewart completes 55.9 percent of his passes (171-306) for 2,644 yards with an LSC-best 25 touchdowns.
- A&M-C's receiving trio of Darby Smith (39 rec., 826 yds.), Lance Evans (41 rec., 809 yds.) and Derrick Macon (36 rec., 464 yds.) have combined for 23 touchdowns.
- Colby Carthel is 24-10 (.706) in his third season as head coach at Texas A&M-Commerce.
 
LAST TIME OUT VS. TEXAS A&M-COMMERCE
- Midwestern State committed six turnovers in a 27-14 loss at Texas A&M-Commerce on Oct. 24 at A&M-Commerce Memorial Stadium.
- The Lions sprinted out to a 21-0 halftime lead before MSU rallied to pull within seven at 21-14 with 4:59 to play in the second quarter.
- The MSU defense limited A&M-Commerce to 116 yards in the second half after the Lions struck for 254 in the opening half.
- A&M-Commerce senior running back Richard Cooper rushed for 100 yards on 21 carries to lead the Lions.
 
ABOUT BILL MASKILL
- Bill Maskill is in his 16th season as a head coach and 14th campaign at Midwestern State.
- Maskill has led the Mustangs to winning ledgers in each of his years at the helm of the program including the school's first Lone Star Conference championship in 2009 and first undefeated regular season in 2011.
- Under Maskill's guidance, MSU has advanced to the NCAA Division II postseason in the 2004, 2006, 2009, 2011 and 2012 seasons while amassing a 110-42 record (.724).  He was named LSC Coach of the Year in 2009, 2011 and 2012, and was the AFCA Regional Coach of the Year in 2011.
- In all, Maskill has coached 16 All-Americans (to some 54 mentions), 59 all-region selections and 67 All-Lone Star Conference first teamers in his 14 seasons in Wichita Falls.
- Maskill is starting his 47th year as a football coach. His coaching experience includes stops as a Division I assistant at Vanderbilt (twice), Southern Methodist, Wake Forest, Oregon, Tulane, Louisville, Arizona State, Bowling Green and Iowa.
- Maskill has a 123-50 overall record (.711) and led Southeast Missouri State to a 1988 MIAA co-championship.
 
A QUICK LOOK BACK
- Midwestern State claimed its first LSC Playoff win taking a 26-21 decision over Eastern New Mexico Saturday at Memorial Stadium. The Mustangs lost both games in the tournament last season falling to Angelo State and Tarleton State.
- MSU faced a deficit at halftime for the fifth time this season before scoring 13 points in the fourth quarter to take the win.
- The Mustangs limited Eastern New Mexico to 108 yards of total offense in the second half.
- MSU forced on four consecutive possessions in the first half after the Greyhounds scored on their opening two drives.
- Senior linebacker Daniel Laudermilk made a career-high 20 tackles including 2.5 for loss.
- Sophomore running back Don Jerry scored twice in the fourth quarter to secure the win.
 
MSU BACK AT 10TH IN AFCA TOP 25
- Midwestern State matched its highest ranking of the season moving up one spot to No. 10 in the AFCA Top 25.
- The Mustangs also reached No. 10 in the Oct. 19th poll at 7-0. The ranking was the highest since the Mustangs were ranked No. 8 on Nov. 12, 2012.
- The Mustangs have received mention in at least one poll in each season dating back to 2006 and have received a national ranking for at least one reporting period in each of the last seven seasons (since 2009).
- The Mustangs received a vote on at least one ballot in 105 of 107 reporting periods dating from the 2006 season to the end of the 2014 campaign including 47 straight periods from 2011-14.
- Super Region Four boasts eight ranked teams including seven of the top 14 including No. 2 Ferris State (Mich.), No. 3 Ashland (Ohio), No. 4 Colorado State-Pueblo, No. 10 MSU, No. 11 Texas A&M-Commerce, No. 13 Indianapolis, No. 14 Grand Valley State, and No. 21 Colorado Mesa.
- Three of MSU's opponents are receiving mention including Colorado Mesa (No. 21/Sept. 12), Humboldt State (No. 12/Oct. 17) and Texas A&M-Commerce (No. 11/Oct. 24). Angelo State (Oct. 3) was ranked No. 6 and West Texas A&M (Oct. 10) was receiving votes prior to its game with the Mustangs.
- The Mustangs spent four weeks in the Top 25 in 2014 topping out at No. 16 on Sept. 29.
 
IN OTHER POLLS
- Midwestern State moved up one spots to No. 11 in the D2Football.com Poll after claiming a 26-21 win over Eastern New Mexico.
- Midwestern State is up three spots to No. 4 in the Hero Sports/Bennett Rankings, while A&M-Commerce is third. The site predicts the A&M-C would defeat the Mustangs on a neutral field.
- The Mustangs are ranked fourth in the latest Massey Ratings behind West Georgia, Northwest Missouri, Colorado State-Pueblo and Texas A&M-Commerce.
 
MSU IN THE REGIONAL RANKINGS
- Midwestern State is ranked fourth in the latest edition of the NCAA II Super Region Four Rankings.
- The top seven teams advance to the NCAA postseason with the top seed receiving an opening round bye.
- The playoff field will be unveiled on Sunday, Nov. 15 via a video stream on NCAA.com.
- If the playoffs started today, the field would include Ferris State, Ashland, Texas A&M-Commerce, MSU, Colorado State-Pueblo, Indianapolis and Grand Valley State (Mich.).
 
OFFENSIVE TEAM NOTES
- Midwestern State scored 13 points in the fourth quarter to earn its second consecutive come-from-behind win taking a 26-21 decision over Eastern New Mexico on Nov. 7.
- Sophomore quarterback Hagen Hutchinson delivered his second career 100-yard rushing day going for 123 yards on eight carries while throwing for 150 yards on 18-of-40 passing.
- Junior wide receiver Statron Jones made six catches for 68 yards.
- Sophomore Don Jerry scored his second and third rushing TDs of the season in the fourth quarter.
HUTCHINSON PASSES MSU PAST TAMUK
- Midwestern State erupted for 35 points in the second half to overcome a 10-point halftime deficit in a 49-41 win over Texas A&M-Kingsville on Oct. 31.
- Sophomore quarterback Hagen Hutchinson threw for a career-high 295 yards and three touchdowns completing 19-of-27 passes.
- Hagen completed TD passes to Michael Gerst (23), Tyrique Edwards (53) and Levy Wilson (31) while Dante Taylor (3), Orlando Haymon (8) and Reggie Gipson (11) all scoring rushing touchdowns.
- The Mustangs failed to rush for 200 yards for the second straight game (152) after running for at least 200 in the previous four games.
- MSU's 295 passing yards were the second most this season and the most since throwing for 357 yards against Tarleton State.
- Redshirt-freshman Tyrique Edwards caught three passes for a season-high 97 yards with a touchdown.
MUSTANGS TURN IT OVER AT COMMERCE
- Midwestern State committed a season-high six turnovers in a 27-14 loss at Texas A&M-Commerce which were the most since giving up six in a 44-17 win at Texas A&M-Kingsville on Oct. 21, 2006.
- The Mustangs turned the ball over on their final four possessions of the game after pulling to within 21-14 with 4:59 to go in the third quarter.
- MSU was held to a season-low 315 yards and were limited to fewer than 200 rushing yards for the first time since a beating Colorado Mesa in overtime on Sept. 12.
- Senior tight end Derek Lockhart accounted for both of MSU's touchdowns catching a 13-yard pass at the 7:28 mark of the third quarter then fell on a fumble in the end zone just 2 1/2 minutes later.
- Junior wideout Statron Jones paced MSU with 71 yards on seven receptions.
COWARD, MUSTANGS FLAP JACKS
- Midwestern State rolled up 500 yards of total offense for the second time in 2015 finishing with 528 in a 35-10 win over Humboldt State.
- The Mustangs rushed for more than 200 yards for the fourth consecutive week finishing with 236 on 41 carries.
- Junior quarterback Quade Coward claimed LSC Offensive Player of the Week honors accounting for a career-high 358 yards of total offense passing for 292 yards and four touchdowns while leading the team in rushing for the second time this season with 66 yards on five carries.
- Senior wideout Arsenio Phillips caught five passes for a career-best 106 yards with two touchdowns (25, 26).
- Junior wideout Statron Jones accounted for 83 yards catching two passes for 43 yards to go along with a 40-yard touchdown run on a jet sweep in the third quarter.
JOHNSON, MSU RUNS BY WT
- Midwestern State piled up more than 200 rushing yards for the third consecutive game chewing up 271 yards on the way to 453 yards of total offense in a 24-17 win over West Texas A&M.
- The 271 rushing yards were the second most this season by the Mustangs.
- True freshman Vincent Johnson delivered the 11th best rushing game in school history finishing with 190 with two touchdowns.
- Junior Quade Coward threw for 182 yards on 13-of-22 passing while running 52 yards on eight carries.
MUSTANGS TAKE DOWN ANGELO STATE
- Midwestern State accounted for 231 of its 374 yards of total offense in the second half including 148 yards on 28 carries.
- The Mustangs controlled the clock for 20:25 of the second half to seal the victory.
- Junior quarterback Quade Coward carried the ball three times for 51 yards on MSU's eight-play, 93-yard drive in the third quarter resulting in a 24-yard strike from Coward to Statron Jones to tie the game at 13-13.
- Jones led the team with seven catches for 62 yards including the 24-yard TD strike.
- Coward connected on 13-of-27 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown while rushing for a team-high 63 yards in relief of sophomore quarterback Hagen Hutchinson, who exited due to injury in the first quarter.
MIDWESTERN ROASTS TEXAN DEFENSE
- The Mustangs erupted for 676 yards of total offense in a 63-46 win over Tarleton State on Sept. 26. It was the fifth largest output in program history and the most yards ever hung on a Tarleton State defense.
- The Mustangs have scored at least 60 points in a single game in each of the last five seasons.
- Sophomore quarterback Hagen Hutchinson accounted for 320 yards of total offense completing 19-of-30 passes for 251 while rushing for a team-best 69 yards with three touchdowns.
- Hutchinson accounted for each of MSU's first six touchdowns.
- It was the first time an MSU player had accounted for 300 yards of total offense since Brandon Kelsey amassed 348 yards at West Texas A&M on Nov. 3, 2012.
- Senior wideout Ryan Hyman accounted for a season-high 103 yards on eight receptions. It was the first-team an MSU receiver accounted for 100 yards since Statron Jones had 132 yards on six catches against Angelo State on Oct. 4, 2014.
- Five different MSU's rushers accounted for at least 49 yards.
MSU ROLLS OVER GREYHOUNDS
- Midwestern State rolled up a then season-high 400 yards in total offense in a 28-24 win over Eastern New Mexico in the Lone Star Football Festival at AT&T Stadium (9/19).
- Junior quarterback Quade Coward engineered a game-winning 13-play, 90-yard drive in 2:42 and scored the winning touchdown with 21 seconds remaining against Eastern New Mexico.
- True freshman running back Vincent Johnson rushed for a career-best 83 yards including a 9-yard TD run in the second quarter to pace MSU's season-best team total of 193 yards.
- Vincent's 9-yard touchdown burst in the second quarter was MSU's first rushing touchdown scored by a running back this season.
- Coward came on in relief of starter Hagen Hutchinson to complete 12-of-29 passes for 132 yards while rushing for 43 yards on nine carries with a touchdown.
- Senior wide receiver Arsenio Phillips set career highs with seven receptions for 84 yards including a 49-yard TD reception on a halfback pass from Hutchinson in the third quarter.
- Senior wide receiver Terrence Smith also set career bests with six catches for 85 yards against the Greyhounds.
HISTORIC NOTABLES VS. COLORADO MESA
- MSU failed to account for an offensive touchdown for just the fifth time in the Bill Maskill era (since 2002) in a 16-13 overtime win over Colorado Mesa on Sept. 12. MSU didn't score an offensive touchdown previously in a 2008 game against Northeastern State (W. 7-3), in the 2006 playoffs against Northwest Missouri State (L, 27-0) and twice in the 2004 season (Tarleton State (L, 19-3) and Texas A&M-Kingsville (L, 27-3)).
- The Mustangs failed to account for a rushing touchdown against Colorado Mesa (9/12) for the first time since falling 27-24 to Tarleton State in the 2013 season opener at AT&T Stadium.
RED ZONE/TENDANCIES
- MSU has scored on 30-of-35 trips to the Red Zone including touchdowns on 21 of those possessions.
- The Mustangs scored on seven consecutive trips to the Red Zone against Eastern New Mexico and Tarleton State before being limited to a pair of field goals against Angelo State.
- Midwestern's play call tendencies are 55.6 percent run and 44.4 percent passing.
- The passing game has produced 51.1 percent of MSU's offensive production.
 
DEFENSIVE TEAM NOTES
- Midwestern State boasts the top defensive unit in the Lone Star Conference ranking 42nd nationally in scoring defense (22.2 ppg) and 84th in total defense (385.5 ypg).
- MSU tops the LSC in scoring defense (22.2), total defense (385.5 ypg) and is third in passing yards allowed (209.5 ypg).
- The Mustangs have forced 22 turnovers (13 fumble recoveries, 9 interceptions) which have netted 57 points.
- MSU has scored on four fumble returns this season.
- Midwestern held five of its 10 opponents under 200 yards passing.
MUSTANGS SMOTHER HOUNDS IN SECOND HALF
- Midwestern State limited Eastern New Mexico to 108 yards in the second half while holding the Greyhounds to 358 yards of total offense. ENMU came into the game ranked fifth in NCAA II at 513.7 yards per game.
- The Mustangs forced turnovers on four straight possessions in the first half then forced the Hounds to punt on seven of its last eight drives including five three-and-outs.
- The Hounds managed 35 yards on six possessions outside of their 13-play, 73-yard third quarter scoring drive after the half.
MIDWESTERN SACKS JAVELINAS
- The Mustangs racked up a season-high five sacks against Texas A&M-Kingsville led by junior defensive lineman Kerry Holiday, who notched 2 1/2 sacks.
- MSU yielded more than 400 yards for the first time since giving up 482 at Angelo State on Oct. 3 as the Hoggies amassed 464 yards.
- Texas A&M-Kingsville is just one of three teams to pass for 300-or-more yards against the MSU defense with 349 joining Tarleton State (346) and Angelo State (351).
- Junior linebacker Adam Hill recorded a career-high 13 tackles.
- Juniors Jared Tuilagi Darian Childers as well as senior Alpha Kamara were also in on sacks for the Mustangs.
- Junior Cullen Craft recorded his first interception at MSU making his first start in place of the injured Dominique Williams.
MSU STYMIES LIONS IN SECOND HALF
- Midwestern State limited Texas A&M-Commerce to 101 yards in the second half as four of the six drives after halftime were four plays or less.
- The defense limited the Lions to just 10 points on six MSU turnovers.
- Senior linebacker Daniel Laudermilk and junior defensive lineman Edgar Luna led the way with eight tackles while Harold Wills, Tari Jones and Calvin Stewart all made seven stops.
MUSTANGS MUZZLE JACKS ATTACK
- Midwestern State limited NCAA Division II's top scoring attack to 10 points -- 40 points below Humboldt State's season average.
- The Mustangs conceded a touchdown on the opening possession and proceeded to hold the Lumberjacks to three points the rest of the way including a second-half shutout.
- MSU held Humboldt to 114 yards under its average total offense attack limiting the Jacks to 391 total yards. HSU came in averaging 505 yards per game.
- Senior cornerback Dominique Rouse earned LSC Defensive Player of the Week honors finishing with seven tackles with an interception and three pass breakups.
MSU MAKES BUFFS ONE DIMENSIONAL
- West Texas A&M senior running back Geremy Aldridge-Mitchell rushed for 189 yards which is a season high against the Mustangs but it took him 40 carries to accomplish.
- The Mustangs forced and recovered two fumbles for the third consecutive game and have produced multiple turnovers in five of six games this season.
- MSU kept West Texas A&M out of the end zone until the final 90 seconds of the game.
MUSTANGS FRUSTRATE ANGELO STATE
- Midwestern State held the Rams to 482 yards of total offense which was more than 100 yards under their season average as ASU led NCAA Division II piling up 586.8 yards per game.
- The Mustangs produced four turnovers including interceptions by linebackers Adam Hill and Calvin Stewart and fumble recoveries by Stewart and Sir'Vell Ford.
- The Mustangs limited the Rams to 292 yards of total offense over the last three quarter after surrendering 190 through the first stanza.
TARLETON'S LATE SPLURGE SPOILS DAY
- The Mustangs limited Tarleton's 19th-ranked offense to 141 total yards over its first nine possessions while building a 49-17 lead with 4:03 to play in the third quarter (9/26).
- The Texans rolled up 414 yards over their final six possessions against the MSU reserves.
- The Mustangs made seven tackles for loss including sacks by Herb Whitehurst, Tyler Massey and Eric Olson.
MUSTANGS STIFLE EASTERN NEW MEXICO
- The Mustangs limited Eastern New Mexico's third-ranked rushing attack to less than half of its season average holding the 'Hounds to 179 rushing yards on 58 attempts (3.1 ypc). ENMU came in averaging 362.5 rushing yards per game.
- Eleven different MSU players recorded at least five tackles against the Greyhounds including career highs by Calvin Steward (9), Emerson Evans (9), Deneldric Hudgens (7) and Darian Childers (6).
- Senior safety Marqui Christian earned Lone Star Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors for the second time this season after finishing with a team-high 13 tackles against ENMU.
MSU MAKES MESA WORK FOR EVERY INCH
- Midwestern State limited Colorado Mesa to 4.0 yards per play as the Mavericks used 91 plays to churn out 362 yards of total offense.
- Senior linebacker Daniel Laudermilk finished with a career-high 18 tackles including 2.5 for loss.
- Senior safety Marqui Christian made nine tackles with a sack and a forced fumble.
- Senior cornerback Dominique Rouse made a key interception in the overtime period allowing MSU to win the game in overtime.
- Junior linebacker Adam Hill made eight tackles and made interception in the first quarter.
- Senior safety Tari Jones accounted for the lone touchdown of the game scooping and scoring on a bad punt snap midway through the second quarter.
MUSTANGS DOMINATE IN SEASON OPENER
- Midwestern State allowed the sixth fewest yards in NCAA Division II (171.0) in a season opening win over Truman State.
- Nine different players were in on seven tackles for loss while seven players recorded a pass breakup.
- Senior safety Marqui Christian recorded his 12th career game with at least 10 tackles finishing with a team-high 11 stops.
- Redshirt-freshman linebacker Drew Bolin made eight tackles in his MSU debut.
- Junior linebacker LaFrontae Conkleton jumped a slant route for his first collegiate interception in his first defensive appearance as a converted running back.
 
SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
- Midwestern State ranks eighth in NCAA Division II with four blocked punts over the first eight weeks of the season.
- Senior Michael Gerst broke free through the middle of the formation for a blocked punt against Angelo State allowing Sir'Vell Ford to scoop and score a touchdown from 12 yards out in the final minute of the third quarter.
- Senior safety Tari Jones accounted for MSU's lone touchdown at Colorado Mesa on Sept. 12 scooping a fumbled punt snap and racing 30 yards for a TD. It was MSU's first fumble returned for a touchdown since Taiyon Jackson returned on 90 yards for a score at Angelo State on Oct. 26, 2013.