Mustangs Up to #14 in Latest AFCA Poll - KAUZ-TV: Newschannel 6 Now | Wichita Falls, TX

Midwestern State moved ahead one more spot to No. 14 in the latest American Football Coaches' Association Division II Poll released Monday afternoon.
 
The Mustangs (2-1) cruised to a 45-28 win to claim their seventh victory in the last eight years against Texas A&M-Kingsville Saturday night Javelina Stadium.
 
MSU is one of 14 teams in the newly formed Super Region Four which now includes the Lone Star Conference, Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC), Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) and Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) to receive mention in the poll.
 
Colorado State-Pueblo leads the way at No. 3 followed by No. 4 Grand Valley State (Mich.), No. 13 Ashland (Ohio), No. 16 Saginaw Valley State (Mich.), No. 18 Wayne State (Mich.) and No. 23 West Texas A&M.
 
Hillsdale (Mich.), Colorado Mines, Michigan Tech, Tarleton State (Texas), Missouri S&T, New Mexico Highlands and Abilene Christian (Texas) are receiving votes.
 
The Mustangs take on Incarnate Word in their home opener Saturday night at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
 
Midwestern State has received mention in 75 of the last 76 AFCA polls dating back to the 2006 season.

Jackson, Saladino Take Weekly Honors

Midwestern State running back Keidrick Jackson and kicker/punter Greg Saladino were honored Monday as Lone Star Conference Players of the Week for their out performances against Texas A&M-Kingsville last Saturday.

Jackson, a 5-9, 210 pound junior from Arlington/Bowie, was honored as the LSC Offensive Player of the Week.  He ran for 156 yards on 18 carries and scored four touchdowns in leading the Mustangs to a 45-28 win at Texas A&M-Kingsville.  Jackson's four touchdowns and 24 points against the Javelinas are the most for an NCAA Division II player this season.

His 73-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter stymied a TAMUK comeback attempt and helped the Mustangs to the best team rushing game in the conference this season with 421 yards.

Jackson, who leads the LSC with 82.7 yards a game, posted the eighth 100-plus rushing game of his career.  He now stands eighth on the MSU career rushing list with 1,721 yards, and is third on the MSU career scoring list with 196 points.

Saladino, the 5-10, 170 pound junior from Kingwood, used his double threat abilities to snare the LSC Special Teams Player of the Week.

Saladino nailed a 27-yard field goal and connected on all six point-after-touchdown attempts in the win over the Hoggies.  Saladino has connected on all 12 of his PATs this season and is 5-of-5 in field goals as well.

Additionally, Saladino punted five times for a 39.4 average with a long punt of 46 yards and two punts inside the 20.  Four of the five punts were fair caught.

Saladino leads LSC kickers in scoring with 9.0 points a game and is second in the league in punting with a 41.1 yard average.

Joining the duo was Angelo State linebacker Rush Seaver who was honored as the LSC Defensive Player of the Week as he led the Rams to a 28-23 upset of then 19th ranked Abilene Christian.

Mustangs 4th After Opening Round at The Territory Classic

The Midwestern State Mustangs are in fourth place after the first round of The Territory Classic hosted by Cameron at The Territory Golf and Country Club.
 
The Mustangs posted a 12-over-par 300 as a team to stand eight strokes off the lead held by Texas A&M-Commerce at 4-over 292 in the 12-team tournament.  Abilene Christian and Incarnate Word are tied for second at 9-over 297 following first round play.
 
MSU got an opening round 2-over 74 from redshirt freshman Santiago Gomez to lead the way.  Gomez is in an eight-way tie for eighth at the halfway point, just four strokes off the lead held by Incarnate Word's Alejandro Flores at 2-under 70.
 
One stroke behind Gomez is sophomore Derek Oland and senior Raine Copeland.  The pair toured the par 72, 7077-yard Territory course in 3-over 75.
 
Senior Antonio Herran rounded out the scoring with a 4-over 76, while junior Jeremy LeGuen triple-bogied the 18th hole to card a 6-over 78.
 
Playing as an individual, freshman Ian Gallagher turned in a 9-over 81.
 
"We played a solid round today," said MSU Coach Jeff Ray.  "We just didn't have the one or two great rounds you need to have a great score.  But we are playing well."
 
"We hit a lot of fairways today and putted well.  This is a super golf course and it can reward you for a good shot and penalize you for a poor one."
 
"We are in the hunt and have a chance to finish high on Tuesday," said the MSU coach.
 
Final round action is Tuesday at The Territory.