MSU won the homecoming game against Western New Mexico with a score of 56-7 at Memorial Stadium, Oct. 28. (Cecil Witherspoon)
Midwestern State football defeated Western New Mexico 56-7 on a cold rainy night, clinching a homecoming win.
Midwestern State won the toss and defended the north goal, deferring to receive to start the second half. Ritse Vaes, criminal justice junior, started the game with a 65-yard touchback.
The first possession for the WNMU Mustangs lasted six plays before they were forced to punt the ball, turning it over to the MSU Mustangs.
Within the first possession of the MSU Mustangs, Devin Cross, physical education sophomore, fumbled the ball on the MSU 29-yard line. The Western New Mexico Mustangs recovered the fumble on the MSU-32-yard line.
With the ball back, the WNMU Mustangs produced another three plays before the MSU Mustangs forced them to punt the ball once again.
After a 17-yard pass from James Cooper, sports management freshman, to Justin White, kinesiology sophomore. After the completed pass, Jalen March, education sophomore, was a dominant player during this possession for the Midwestern State Mustangs. Rushing 49 yards, he got the MSU Mustangs to the 5-yard line, where Vaes successfully kicked a field goal, putting Midwestern State up 3-0 in the 1st quarter.
On the kickoff, Western New Mexico returned the kick for 13 yards before the Midwestern State Mustangs forced a fumble. The fumble was recovered on the WNMU-13-yard line by the Midwestern State Mustangs.
Ritse Vaes ended the possession for the Midwestern State Mustangs with a 65-yard field goal, making the score 6-0.
The second quarter started with an incomplete pass from the Western New Mexico Mustangs that turned the ball over to the Midwestern State Mustangs.
There were four different possessions before the fans saw a change in the score.
Once again, Vaes faced an 18-yard field goal attempt. He successfully secured a 9-0 lead for the Midwestern State Mustangs.
The first half of the game ended with the Midwestern State Mustangs up 9-0, with Vaes being the sole owner of all the points.
After a half-time of homecoming festivities, the Midwestern State Mustangs received the kickoff to begin the second half.
On the first possession of the second half, March rushed for 74 yards, putting the Midwestern State Mustangs on the 1-yard line. Cooper then ran for 1-yard, scoring the Mustang’s first touchdown. The extra point by Vaes was good, making the score 16-0 in favor of Midwestern State.
Western New Mexico’s next possession was unproductive, and once again, they punted the ball to the Midwestern State Mustangs.
The next possessions for both teams produced no more scoring chances. When Midwestern State Mustangs got the ball back after being punted by Western New Mexico, the Mustangs made it to the 65-yard line, where Vaes once again successfully attempted a 31-yard field goal.
On the next play for Western New Mexico, Midwestern State caused a fumble that Western New Mexico recovered. On the very next play, Midwestern State got a safety, making the score 21-0 in favor of Midwestern State.
After Jalon Banks, undecided freshman, rushed for 10 yards, Cooper completed a pass to Ja’Juan Mason, sports and leisure senior, for a Midwestern State touchdown. The extra point, kicked by Vaes, was good. The score was now 28-0.
Before the third quarter ended, Midwestern State scored once again, on a touchdown scored by Zachary Keen, finance junior, and a field goal kicked by Vaes. The score to end the third quarter was 42-0 Midwestern State.
K’Vonte Jackson, sports administration senior, rushed for 53 yards after Western New Mexico punted to end their drive that started the fourth quarter. In the next play, Jackson received the ball and ran it in for a 6-yard touchdown. Vaes’s kick was good, and the score is now 49-0 with 13:34 left to play.
Western New Mexico finally gets on the board after a 73-yard pass to Deuce Zimmerman, business management freshman, and a successful field goal attempt. The score is now 49-7.
The following scoring chance came when there were 4 minutes left in the game. After a successful drive by the Midwestern State Mustangs that ended in a touchdown and an extra point, the score was now 56-7.
The game ended 56-7. Vaes was 4-4 on field goal attempts, setting and breaking a program record thrice. He is now the program leader in total kicking points. In this game, he had a total of 18 kicking points.
The Midwestern State Mustangs will play Angelo State in San Angelo, Texas, on Saturday, Nov. 4 at 6 p.m.
