KINGSVILLE, Texas – The 2023 football regular season is set to come to a head this Saturday as the Texas A&M-Kingsville football team travels to Wichita Falls, Texas for their final regular season game against Midwestern State. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.

The Javelinas (6-3, LSC 4-3) sit in the No.10 spot in Super Region Four heading into the final weekend after a 34-27 victory over Western Oregon last week. Meanwhile, the Mustangs (4-5, LSC 3-4) come into the game coming off a 12-27 loss to Angelo State their last time out, looking to finish their season at .500.

The possibility of a playoff birth is still on the cards for the Hogs to play for this weekend, though they will need a hefty amount of help from other games around the region if they want to sneak into the final spot at No.7.

The Javelina defense will be looking to finish the season in the strong form they have been in all year, ranking third-best defense in the Lone Star Conference, allowing only 298.1 yards per game and 23 touchdowns. Additionally, the "Junkyard Hogs" have the second-best team passing efficiency defense and rushing defense in the LSC at 97.2 and 123.0 YPG respectively.

They will also be itching to continue forcing the storm of turnovers they have been brewing all year, forcing 20 turnovers this season – at least one each game and 31^st-best in Division II. Last time out, the Javelina defense snagged four interceptions against WOU, including two picks by Keon Clary that earned him LSC Defensive Player of the Week honors and a pick-six by Khalen Leonard to put the game out of reach.

Likewise, the Javelina offense will be looking to stay hot after their last performance. Quarterback Wade Freeman III threw for 173 yards and four touchdowns, a career high, on 15 for 24 passing. It was the Javelina offense's first multi-passing touchdown game since Oct. 7 against West Texas A&M.

Running Back Christian Anderson and Wide Receiver Nate Dantley will be hoping to continue helping out their QB, as the two both rank 11^th in the LSC in rushing and receiving respectively. Anderson has racked up 466 rushing yards and six touchdowns while Dantley has hauled in two touchdowns and 383 yards receiving.

The Javelina offense as a whole has found their stride in the past three games, scoring 11 touchdowns and gaining just under 1000 yards in the span.

The Javelinas and the Mustangs meet for the 25th time with the Mustangs having taken the past 12 meetings between the schools.

SCOUTING THE MUSTANGS

MSU is coming off a 12-27 loss to Angelo State in San Angelo.

Head Coach Bill Maskill needs 12 more wins to tie for most wins by a HC in LSC history.

The Mustang defense is second-best in the country and best in the conference in fumbles recovered at 13.

The MSU offensive line has only allowed five sacks this season, second-best in the country.

Overall, the MSU offense is eighth in the conference with 21 touchdowns and averaging 299.3 yards per game.

The Mustangs hold first-place in the LSC in fourth down defense, only giving up 2 conversions on 10 attempts.

The Mustangs defense is fourth place in the LSC in overall defense, giving up only 315.4 yards per game and 19 touchdowns.

LAST MEETING

The Mustangs snuck out a 41-37 victory in the dying minutes of the game.

It was a tightly contested affair with neither team holding more than a one possession lead at any point in the game.

Amos Coleman III returned a kickoff 95-yards for a touchdown for the first Javelina score of the night.

Both offenses put on a show with each putting up over 400 yards of offense, including more than 200 rushing yards for both teams, and nine combined touchdowns.

MSU pulled off a 99-yard drive in only five plays to take the lead with 1:37 remaining in the game, capped off by a one-yard touchdown run.

The Javelina defense forced three fumbles and recovered two.

Dailon Gants led the TAMUK defense with nine total tackles while 16 different Javelinas racked up multiple tackles.