Wichita Falls – The Javelinas struggled early and often against #23 Midwestern State, falling to the Mustangs 73-6 at Memorial Stadium.
The loss dropped the Javelinas to 1-7 overall and 0-3 in Lone Star Conference South Division play while Midwestern State improved to 6-2 and 2-2 in conference action.
The Mustangs converted five Javelina turnovers into 35 of their 73 points.
Midwestern State accumulated 601 yards of total offense, 426 of those on the ground.
Javelina redshirt freshman Daniel Ramirez (Sinton), the third quarterback to start for the Javelinas this season, completed 13 of 25 passes for 141 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
A&M-Kingsville receivers George Reyes and Ryan Lincoln each had five catches for 58 yards.
Midwestern State quarterback Daniel Polk ran nine times for 113 yards and two scores and completed 11 of 20 passes for 141 yards and two scores.
After Midwestern State ran out to a 45-6 halftime lead, Polk ran 57 yards for a touchdown on the fifth play from scrimmage to start the second half to make it 52-6.
B.J. Mathis scored on a seven-yard run on the second play of the fourth quarter to increase the lead to 59-6.
Kick returner J.R. Hausey then fumbled the kickoff at the Javelina 30-yard line.
Six plays later Steven Harper scored from two yards out to make it 66-6.
B.J. Mathis scored from 14 yards out with just over four minutes left in the game to make it 73-6.
Midwestern State got on the board on their first drive of the game as Jose Martinez kicked a 22-yard field goal just six minutes into the game to give the Mustangs a 3-0 lead.
Ramirez converted a pair of third down throw to move the ball near midfield on the Javelinas’ next possession, but a bad handoff exchange between Ramirez and Raymorris Miller resulted in a fumble recovery for the Mustangs at the Javelina 36-yard line.
Three plays later Marcus Mathis went up the middle untouched and scored from 28 yards out to increase the Midwestern State lead to 10-0 with just over six minutes left in the first quarter.
On the Mustangs third drive of the game quarterback Daniel Polk scored on a 13-yard run to make it 17-0 with 2:51 left in the quarter.
On the first play from scrimmage after the Midwestern State touchdown, Miller fumbled and Midwestern State recovered on the Javelinas’ 27-yard line.
On the first play of the second quarter Polk threw a four-yard pass to Cody Thompson to increase the lead to 24-0.
The Javelinas stopped the Mustangs on their next drive and took over at their own 45-yard line, but couldn’t pick up a first down and had to punt.
The Hog defense came up with another stop, but Javelina punt returner Clavens Charles lost a fumble on the Javelina seven-yard line.
On the first play after the touchdown Steven Harper scored to make it 31-0 with 6:39 left in the half.
After the Mustangs stopped the Javelinas without a first down on their next possession, Midwestern State drove with 67 yards on six plays with Adrion Butler scoring on a 12-yard run with 2:54 left in the half to increase the least to 38-0.
The Javelina offense then put together their best drive of the night culminating with Ramirez connecting on a 15-yard touchdown pass to George Reyes with 48 seconds left in the first half.
It was Reyes second touchdown reception in as many weeks.
Ramirez was 3-for-3 on the drive for 48 yards, which included a 27-yard pass completion to Ryan Lincoln.
Midwestern State blocked the extra point, but was called for a personal foul. The Javelinas tried an onside kick from their own 45-yard line, but Chad Olson returned it 41 yards to the Hog 15-yard line with 38 seconds left in the half.
On the first play from scrimmage Polk connected with DelJuan Lee for a touchdown to make it 45-6.
Midwestern State had 316 yards of total offense in the first half, the same number of yards East Central had the week before in the first half, but the Mustangs scored 31 more points than the Tigers did the week before.
The Javelinas had 134 yards of total offense in the first half, 129 of those coming on the arm of Ramirez as he completed 12 of 21 passes without an interception.
Midwestern State out-gained the Javelinas 217 to 5 on the ground in the first half.