With just three returning starters from last year’s 9-3 team that advanced to the NCAA Division II Playoffs, Midwestern State might have to score a lot of points if it wants to repeat as LSC South co-champions.

   It’s a good thing they have the quarterback to do it.

   Senior Zack Eskridge, a Harlon Hill candidate and the LSC preseason Offensive Player of the Year, returns to lead a high-potent offensive attack. Eskridge already owns several school passing records and need just 616 more yards to become MSU’s all-time leading passer. Last year, Eskridge led the nation with a 180.2 passer efficiency rating and his 236 completions, 3,295 passing yards and 29 touchdowns were all MSU single-season records.

   But MSU head coach Bill Maskill, who enters his ninth season (61-27 at Midwestern) knows he must put a solid supporting cast around Eskridge.

   “He makes our team go,” Maskill said of his quarterback. “I think any time you’ve got a quarterback coming back like Zack, you’ll have a chance to win.”

   Last season, the Mustangs went 9-3, losing all three games by a field goal, including a 24-21 loss to Abilene Christian in the first round of the playoffs. MSU was involved in a four-way tie for first in the LSC South.

   Running back Marcus Mathis returns after rushing for 480 yards and two scores. Neal Carr added seven rushing touchdowns and 300 yards.

   Some of Eskridge’s top targets include Sheldon Galloway, who had 52 catches for 642 yards and five scores. David Little had 556 receiving yards and three scores.

   Hank Gilley is the only returning starter on the offensive line.

   Defensively, senior free safety Austin McDaniel returns, along with strong safety Ryan Craven, who is the team’s leading returning tackler with 74 stops last year.

   Matt Ellerbrock had 58 tackles at the inside linebacker position, along with 3 ½ sacks and 10 tackles for loss.

   The Mustangs will once again have a tough schedule, which includes five road games against Central Oklahoma, ACU, Eastern New Mexico, West Texas A&M and Texas A&M-Kingsville.

   “We think we have the players to have a good team,” Maskill said. “But like always, it will be a tough schedule. That’s what you expect every year in this conference. Every week is going to be a battle. I think this could be the strongest this league has been in my eight years here.”

 

   Seventh-year head coach Venera Flores-Stafford has nine players back, including four starters from a squad that tied for sixth in the LSC play with a 6-7 mark.

   Overall, the Mustangs were 10-25, the lowest season win total since 2001 (9-24). And last year’s record was quite the turnaround from a 25-9 team in 2008.

   But to right the ship once again, Flores-Stafford will count on a pair of All-LSC picks from last season. Junior libero Kiara Jordan was a second­-team selection and led the team with 599 digs. Junior Miranda Byrd led the squad with a total of 410.5 points and had a team-high 355 kills.

   Lauren Bayer, a senior middle blocker who had 160 kills and team-best 135 blocks, returns alongside junior outside hitter Hillary White, who was second on the team with 431 digs.

   Other returners include four sophomores – setter Kimberly Jeffery, outside hitter Shelby Stewart, defensive specialists Taylor Parker and Mallory Goon. Senior Kari Damjanovic should provide some experience as well.

 

   Coming off a fourth-place finish in 2009, the Mustangs have now finished in the top half of the LSC standings (fourth-place or better) in every year of the program’s existence, dating back to 1996. That run also includes two LSC Championships, although none since 1998.

   Head coach Jeff Trimble is hoping that will change in 2010, although MSU was picked to finish third in the preseason poll by the league coaches. Last season, Midwestern finished 13-5-2 overall with a 6-4 LSC record.

   Returning for the Mustangs will be four All-LSC performers from last season, including junior forward Kelsey Hill, who led the team last season with eight goals. Hill had three game-winning goals and ranked sixth in the conference with 51 shots on goal.

   Senior midfielders Brittany Subia and Kendra Clemons are the only two returning starters. Clemons had one goal and four assists, and was a second-team All-Region pick.

   Forward Lindsay Pritchard earned All-LSC honorable mention with seven goals and three assists.

   Goalkeeper Mallory Whitworth had an 8-3-1 record in the net with a .053 goals against average.

   Other contributors for the Mustangs this year will be forwards Megan Barnhart, Brandy O’Neal, midfielders Jordan Smith, Heidi Avila, Maddie Fraser and Alyssa Dillman. 

 

 

   The Mustangs have advanced to four straight NCAA Division II postseason tournaments and claimed at least a share of the LSC/SSC conference championships.

   But to extend both of those streaks to five, head coach Doug Elder, the 2009 LSC Coach of the Year, has some work to do.

   The Mustangs were 13-2-3 last year, including a 4-0-2 mark, which tied for first with West Texas A&M.

   But MSU lost some key ingredients to last year’s team, including six All-LSC performers.

   Elder does return senior goalkeeper Raul Herrera, an All-LSC first-team pick who also earned Daktronics All-American honors, along with being named Herrera set an MSU record with 11 shutouts last year and a 0.30 goal against average.

   Also back for the Mustangs is midfielder Paulo Teixeira, another first-team all-conference selection. Teixeira scored five goals and had three assists last year. Defensemen Ryan Spence was an All-American selection and returns to provide solid leadership in the defense.

   Forward Tex McCullough, a former Michigan transfer, had three goals last year.

   Newcomers Chris Dwyer was a junior college All-American at Western Texas College and defensemen Kelly Gill should make an immediate impact, as will defender Kevin Cabello.

 

   The MSU cross country team is not only looking to three-peat in the LSC this season, but fourth-year head coach Koby Styles has to be thinking his squad is primed to make an even bigger splash on the national scene in 2010.

   The Mustangs are looking to get back the national meet like they did two years ago, finishing 15th at the NCAA Division II nationals in 2008. After missing the tournament last year with just an eighth-place finish in the South Central Regionals, MSU is poised to make another run. Senior Sydnee Cole, the LSC Runner of the Year in 2009, leads the way for the Mustangs. Cole finished 15th in the regional meet last season.

   Also back are Lindsey Pate and Kayla Hendrix, a pair of All-LSC performers two years ago, along with sophomores Heather Owens and Melody Caldwell.

   Southern Arkansas transfer Bailey Dulaney should provide more depth, along with newcomers - junior Brissia Montalvo and freshman Ashley Flores.

   Once again, the Mustangs were picked to win the LSC in the 2010 preseason polls, garnering 23 of 28 first-place votes.