WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS – The No. 16 Texas A&M-Kingsville football team made a valiant effort on Saturday night at Lone Star Conference rival Midwestern State, but they could not overcome a 23-0 hole and lost 44-38 at Memorial Stadium in front of 8,120 fans. (box score)

The Mustangs (3-0, 2-0) did something to the Javelinas (2-2, 0-3) that has not happened in nearly two years, rush for over 200 yards and gain over 500 yards of total offense. The last time the Hogs gave up those yardage totals was against Tarleton State in the 2009 NCAA Division II Playoffs.

The Mustangs jumped out to a 23-0 lead in the first 21:34 of the game. The Javelinas finally started to get back in the game when Justin Young (Monroe, LA/Richwood HS) blocked an extra point and Kerry Wheatfall, Jr. (Navasota/Navasota HS) returned it for two points. From that point on it was an exciting game as the Hoggies fought to make a come back and the Mustangs tried to hold them off.

The Javelinas pulled to within one score on three different occasions in the second half and each time Midwestern State had the answer. MSU put together a pair of long touchdown drives in the fourth quarter and the Javs eventually ran out of time.

The Mustangs relied upon the running duo of Keidrick Jackson and Lester Bush. Jackson carried the ball 18 times for 160 yards and scored three times and also had four catches for 68 yards and a touchdown. Bush carried the ball 20 times for 92 yards and two scores.

Jackson scored all three of the Mustang second half touchdowns. The first came on a 77-yard run with 13:51 remaining in the third quarter to make the score 30-16. It came on the first play from scrimmage after Rockeem Collins (Gonzales/Gonzales HS) returned an interception 49 yards for a touchdown for the Hogs. The next two touchdowns came on 2-yard runs in the fourth quarter that put the Mustangs up by two scores with the final one coming with 2:13 remaining on the clock.

The Javelina offense gained a total of 44 yards through the first quarter and a half of action, but then started to move the ball well. After falling behind 23-2, the offense moved the ball 70 yards in 12 plays only to be stopped on fourth down at the MSU 14-yard line. Fortunately, Demontrelle Smith (Reddick, FL/The Citadel) picked off a Brandon Kelsey pass with 2:20 left in the first half.

Nate Poppell (Spring/Spring HS) completed four straight passes on the drive and eventually connected with Christian Taylor (Houston/Westfield HS) on a 5-yard touchdown pass with 59 ticks left in the first half.
On the second play of the second half, Collins picked off his first career pass and returned it for a touchdown. Unfortunately, the Mustangs were able to score on the very next play.

The Javelinas continued their comeback effort late in the third quarter when Angelo Looney (Fullerton, CA/Troy HS) forced a fumble by Jackson that was recovered by Montez Singleton (Decatur, IL/St. Theresa HS). The Hogs went 49 yards in six plays and made it a 30-22 ball game after Poppell found Derek Tesch (Blanco/Blanco HS) in the back of the end zone from five yards out with 59 seconds left in the third quarter. Matt Stoll (College Station/A&M-Consolidated HS) missed the extra point to keep it an 8-point game.

On the ensuing possession, the Javelina defense forced a punt and Poppell and the troops went back into action. A key penalty by the Mustangs kept the drive alive early and then Randall Toney (Hendersonville, TN/Station Camp HS) took over. First, he picked up 27 yards on a run. Then Poppell connected with Robert Armstrong (Cuero/Cuero HS) for 16 yards. Toney capped off the drive with an against the grain 30-yard touchdown run. The 2-point conversion failed and the Javs trailed 30-28 with 13:13 remaining in the game.

The Mustangs drove 62 yards in 11 plays and converted a fourth-and-3 at the Javelina 30-yard line that kept the drive alive. Jackson scored with 9:11 to play.

The Javelinas came right back and drove all the way to the MSU 11-yard line where they were stalled. Stoll made up for his missed extra point by converting on a 28-yard field goal, the first attempt of his career making the score 37-31 with 6:19 remaining.

Once again, MSU had the answer driving 73 yards in eight plays.

The Javs added another touchdown on a 14-yard touchdown pass from Daniel Ramirez (Sinton/Sinton HS) to Armstrong with 11 seconds left. It set up an on-side kick attempt that was recovered by the Mustangs who were able to take a knee to end the game.

Poppell went 21-of-39 for 219 yards, two touchdowns and an interception while Ramirez went 8-for-10 for 70 yards and a touchdown on his one drive. Armstrong led the team with seven catches for 47 yards and a touchdown. Taylor added six catches, a team-high 72 yards receiving and a touchdown. Damian Couthren (Bastrop/Bastrop HS) added five catches for 57 yards and Sherman Batiste (Houston/Marshall HS) had four catches for 58 yards.

Toney had a career day rushing for the Javelinas with 111 yards on 10 carries and a touchdown. Jonathan Woodson (Missouri City/Marshall HS) added 23 yards on eight carries, five catches for 19 yards and 103 kick return yards.

Hoggie linebackers Jeremy Aguilar (Los Angeles, CA/Roosevelt HS) and Young each had big games for the defense. Aguilar finished with 15 tackles, two tackles for loss and a half sack. Young added 12 tackles, a blocked kick and a half tackle for loss. Smith added eight solo tackles, nine total tackles and an interception. A number of other defenders had career highs in tackles.

The Mustangs finished the game with 292 yards rushing on 50 carries. Kelsey rushed for 33 yards and was 15-of-23 for 220 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions passing. David Little had four catches for 60 yards. Jackson finished the game with 228 all-purpose yards.

The Mustang defense was led by Romie Blaylock and Mack Lafaele. Blaylock had 12 tackles and a tackle for loss. Lafaele had five tackles, three tackles for loss and two sacks. Kevin Birdow had four tackles and five quarterback hurries.

The Javelinas are in the midst of their first two-game losing streak since the 2007 season. They are back in action on October 1 against Texas A&M-Commerce. Kick off is set for 7 p.m. at Javelina Stadium.
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