The Tarleton State University Texans football season kicked off at 4 p.m. Saturday night, and by 6:55 p.m. they were 1-0, not without a little adversity in the way of the #13 Midwestern State University Mustangs.

The Mustangs took a 7-0 lead within the first 10 minutes of play after a grueling 89 yard drive. The field goal in the early 2^nd quarter extended the lead to 10-0, but that’s when the game turned over. The Texans scored 27 unanswered points throughout the next quarter and a half, which would be enough to hold on and upset the Mustangs in the end.

The scoring for the Texans all came off long drives, the first being a 14 play, 59 yarder ending in Aaron Doyle pounding it in from 2 yards out. With the score 10-7 coming out of the half, Tarleton continued its momentum throughout the 3^rd quarter starting with a 12 play, 75 yard drive ending in an 8 yard pass from Jake Fenske  to Bubba Tandy.

Later in the quarter, the Texans completed a 6 minute drive with another Jake Fenske pass, this time from 18 yards out to Le’Nard Meyers. The 3^rd quarter closed with the score 21-10 in favor of Tarleton.

They weren’t done there, or at least Jerome Regal wasn’t, breaking out a 42 yard run in the early 4^th to extend the lead to 27-10, following a missed extra point. Midwestern State tried to rally with a 44 yard pass and a long drive in the middle of the quarter, cutting the lead to 27-24 for the Texans, but it would prove futile. The Texans were able to hold on and win their opener.

Some notable Texan Stats included Zach Henshaw who rushed for over 100 yards, complemented by Jerome Regal’s 89 yards. Passing was split by Jake Fenske’s 107 yards and Aaron Doyle’s 75 yards. Receivers were led by Clifton Rhodes, who had 8 catches for 50 yards. Marc Martinez led all tacklers with a total of 10, and the one recorded sack was by Jared Thames. The Texans will attempt to reach 2-0 on the road next week at Anglo State University.