KINGSVILLE, Texas (Football) – The Javelinas gave its home crowd at the historic Javelina Stadium something to be proud of in the first half, taking a 7-3 lead on a
Shawn Vasquez touchdown run early in the second quarter. However, the second half continued to be problematic as Texas A&M University-Kingsville (1-8, 0-7 LSC) was held scoreless in the final 30 minutes and fell to Midwestern State University (6-2, 5-2 LSC), 48-7, on Saturday evening.
Entering Kingsville receiving votes in the latest American Football Coaches Association Top 25 Poll, the Mustangs scored the game's final 45 points and continued to roll on its way to concluding the 2014 regular season with a 5-2 Lone Star Conference record. With the loss, the Javelinas head to Eastern New Mexico University as the No. 8 seed in the upcoming LSC Playoffs. The contest is slated for Saturday, Nov. 8 at a time to be determined at a later date.
Prior to the game, 14 student-athletes were honored for their contributions to the football program. Despite missing a field goal in the opening quarter,
Max Lehnig finished with two punts inside the 20. Defensively,
Trevor Moses finished with 14 total tackles,
Braedon Robinson was a beast up front, collecting 1.0 sacks, 1.0 tackle for a loss and one quarterback hurry. Playing in their final home games as a TAMUK student-athlete,
Trevor Pesek and
Henry Greathouse tallied 14 combined tackles.
Vasquez picked up 78 yards on the ground on 14 carries. His touchdown in the second quarter marked the third consecutive game that the junior reaches the end zone.
Trey Mitchell finished 7-of-17 throwing. Midwestern State totaled 26 first downs to Kingsville's 11 and picked up 509 yards of total offense. The Mustangs went 6-for-6 in red zone opportunities and connected on all three fourth-down chances.
The Blue and Gold had a chance to take an early 3-0 lead, but after missing a 40-yard field goal, the Stangs capped off a 14-play, 61-yard drive with a 33-yard kick of their own with 5:00 remaining in the opening frame. The Hogs began a drive on their own 39-yard line, but Vasquez rushed for 39 yards in the ensuing drive to give the Javelinas a 7-3 lead after Texas A&M-Kingsville went 61 yards on 15 plays in 7:16. Entering halftime, MSU added seven points to enter the first half with a 10-7 edge.
The second half was all Midwestern State as the Mustangs held the Hogs to negative net yards in the third quarter and 50 rushing yards in the fourth.
The Javelinas end the 2014 regular season 1-8 overall and 0-7 in LSC play. Against its opponent next week (ENMU), the Hogs are 23-6 all-time, but the Greyhounds defeated TAMUK, 31-0, in the previous matchup this season.
