RiverHawks Blitzed

WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS --  Midwestern State dominated Northeastern State from the opening kickoff scoring 21 first quarter points en route to a 52-3 win over the RiverHawks in a Lone Star Conference crossover game  Saturday night in a driving rain storm at  Memorial Stadium.

The Mustangs scored on 4 of-6 possessions in the first half scoring on drives of 69, 26, 11, and 80 yards for a 28-3 lead at the intermission as the outcome was never in doubt.

The loss leaves Northeastern State 0-3 for the year and 0-2 in LSC play. Midwestern, ranked 30th in the nation entering the contest, is now 3-0 overall and 2-0 in LSC play. Midwestern now holds an 8-2 series lead over Northeastern State.

Mustangs' quarterback Zack Eskridge riddle the RiverHawks defense for 224 yards, connecting  on 13-of-17, with one interception and four touchdowns  before leaving the game in the fourth quarter. Midwestern finished with 268 yards in the air, 18-of-24.

The Mustangs rushed 31 times for 180 yards with Neal Carr leading the way with 87 yards on 9 carries. Marcus Mathis added 60 yards on three carries.

Midwestern pounded out 448 yards in total offense.

 Northeastern's offense was stagnate as the RiverHawks managed only 208 yards in total offense, 176 on the ground and 32 through the air.

Prince McKinney led the RiverHawks' rushing attack with 74 yards on 14 carries with La'Ron Elmer running for 68 yards on 17 carries.

Midwestern State scored on its opening drive of the game with Marcus Mathis scoring from the 4-yard line over the right side with 11:10 in the quarter. Jose Martinez converted his first of four first half point-afte- attempts.

The big play in the four-play drive covered in 1:59 was a 54-yard run by Mathis from the Mustangs' 36 to the RiverHawks' 10-yard line.

Northeastern's offense which was stymied throughout the first 30 minutes fell behind 14-0 when the Mustangs needed just four plays to score. Sasan Faradineh took an 11-yard pass from  Eskridge.

The next Midwestern touchdown was set up when Joe Kok's punt was blocked by Pat Gardner and recovered by the Mustangs at the RiverHawks' 10.

It took the Mustangs just three plays to score for a 21-0 lead with 2:32 remaining in the first quarter. Eskridge found tight end Sasan Faradineh all alone in the end zone for a 1-yard TD strike

The RiverHawks' defense stopped Midwestern offense on its first possession of the second quarter, but the offense was once again stopped by the Mustangs' defense.

Kok punted 49 yards to the Midwestern 20 where the Mustangs scored in three plays covering 80 yards in 1:36 for a 28-0 advantage with 9:31 remaining in the first half.

Eskridge hit Mathis on a 76-yard scoring strike on a bubble screen pass to the right side catching the RiverHawks' in a blitz.

Northeastern got on the scoreboard with eight seconds left in the half when Jared Homer booted a 28-yard field goal. Homer's field goal capped a 13-play drive that covered 38 yards following a 26-yard punt by the Mustangs.

Midwestern took advantage of another Northeastern miscue in the third period when Josh Lewis mishandled a punt and it was recovered at midfield.

 It took the Mustangs just one play to score as Eskridge connected on his fourth touchdown pass of the night. This time it was a 50-yard strike to David Little with 6:01 left in the period for a 35-3 advantage.

Midwestern added to its total when Neil Carr ran 58-yards to the end zone with 1:34 left. It took just three plays covering 65 yards. Martinez added the PAT for a 42-3 lead.

Lee Scott gave the Mustangs a 45-3 lead when he kicked a 47-yard field goal to cap a 10-play drive.

Carr scored his second TD of the night when he scored from the nine to make it 52-3 with 3:44 remaining in the fourth quarter. Carr's run finished an 8-play 49-yard drive that ran 4:33 off the clock as Martinez added the PAT.

Northeastern hits the road again Saturday when travel to No. 11 Texas A&M-Kingsville for an LSC crossover battle Kingsvile defeated University of Central Oklahoma 45-17.