November 10, 1997
For Immediate Release
Contact: Judy Willson, SID
505.562.4309 or 356-4755

Saturday, November 15
Eastern New Mexico at Midwestern State University 1:00 pm (MT)
Memorial Stadium, Wichita Falls, Texas

The Greyhounds (5-5, 3-5 LSC, 2-4 LSC-South)...are coming off of an emotional overtime loss to West Texas A&M, 35-34 in overtime. Midwestern State is also coming into Saturday's game off of a one-point loss to Tarleton State, 29-28. The Indians are 2-8 overall, 2-6 in the LSC, and 0-6 in the South Division.

The Series...is tied at 1-1. The teams have not played one another since ENMU won in 1955, 13-6. Midwestern State was formerly Hardin College until 1950.

1949 MSU, 45-0
1955 ENM, 13-6

Against West Texas A&M...the Greyhounds lost the Battle of the Wagon Wheel for the first time under head coach Bud Elliott by the same score that the Buffs won the wheel with in 1993, 35-34. ENMU still holds a 6-5 lead in the Wagon Wheel game, while the overall series is tied at 6.

Senior quarterback Cam Sanders (Arlington, Texas) threw three touchdown passes against WTAMU, the first TD passes for the Hounds all season. Sanders was 5 of 7 for 125 yards, 3 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. He was also the leading rusher with 93 yards on 19 carries. His five passes went to three running backs - Isaiah Jackson (2, 1TD), Charlie Ragle (1TD), and Siegan Keys (2, 1TD).

The Hounds were unable to return any punts or kickoffs, but came up with four interceptions on defense and a fumble return for a 35-yard touchdown. Sophomore linebacker Michael Walton (Earth, Texas) had 28 total tackles, the fumble return for a touchdown, a 14 -yard interception and a tackle for loss of 2 yards. Walton continues to lead the Lone Star Conference in tackles with 142.

Grounded Hounds...junior strong safety Tony Cavalier (Pampa, Texas) will miss the Midwestern State game with a knee injury. Free safety Jason Swindle (Sr., Albuquerque - knee) is hoping to be cleared by doctors on Tuesday to play in his final collegiate game.

About Midwestern State...the Indians blew a 28-23 lead against Tarleton State on Saturday with 4:00 left in the game, to lose 29-28. MSU got 107 yards rushing out of running back Boobie Thornton on 11 carries and 1 touchdown. Thornton will be the starting tailback this week, since starter Germont Jackson broke his leg in the Tarleton State game after scoring two touchdowns on 15 carries for 73 yards.

Flanker Bryan Gilmore is the team's all-purpose yardage and scoring leader. Gilmore averages 82.7 all-purpose yards per game and has score 26 points.

Junior linebacker Michael Ortman leads the defense with 76 tackles, including 8 for losses of 24 yards. He also has 5 pass deflections and 1 of the Indians' three interceptions.

Three member of the MSU football staff are ENMU alumni - head coach Hank McClung (1986), defensive coordinator Jim Garfield (1987) and defensive line coach Lou Mora (1990). All three were coaches on the ENMU staff at various times over the past 10 years.

Coaches Awards for WTAMU Game...
Leader of the Pack (offense) - Cam Sanders, QB, Sr., Arlington, Texas
Mean Green (defense) - Michael Walton, LB, So., Earth, Texas
Hungry Hound (special teams) - Jermaine Shepard, LB, Fr., Houston, Texas
Hustler - Carson Joachim, SE, So., Richmond, Texas; Brian Weimer, SE, Fr., Clovis; A.C. Cuellar, DE, Sr., Weslaco, Texas
Big Hit - Kobie Lewis, DB, Jr., Union City, Calif.
Pride (scout team) - Spencer Braxton, LB, So., Forest, Va.; Jermaine Shepard, LB, Fr., Houston, Texas; Cain Cardiel, LB, So., Levelland, Texas

Hounds on the Airwaves...107.5 KSMX-FM will carry all the Greyhound football games at home and on the road. Don Elder will call the play-by-play as the "Voice of the Greyhounds" for the 1997 season. He will be joined on home broadcasts by color man Travis Barger. Elder will also host the weekly Bud Elliott Show on Thursday evenings at 6:30 pm from Juanito's Restaurant in Portales. KSMX is a member of Bergman Broadcasting, Inc.

Hounds on the Tube...the weekly television sports show, Sports Look, will air every week on Thursdays at 9:30 pm on KENW-TV, Channel 3. Dallan Sanders will host the program that takes a look at all the college and high school sports action in the eastern portion of New Mexico.

Kappa Sigma Fraternity fundraiser...the ENMU chapter of the Kappa Sigma fraternity will be running the game ball half way to Wichita Falls, Texas, leaving Portales on Thursday evening. They will be met between Matador and Paducah, Texas by the MSU chapter, who will take the ball the rest of the way to Wichita Falls. The money being raised is to help Phillip Hutcherson Foundation. Hutcherson, an ENMU student, will be having surgery in the near future to remove a brain tumor that causes epileptic seizures.