November 18, 1997
For Immediate Release
Contact: Judy Willson, SID
505.562.4309 or 356-4755

(Portales, N.M.) --- The Eastern New Mexico University football team finished the 1997 season with a disappointing 24-7 loss to Midwestern State University. The Greyhounds ended the season with a 5-6 overall record, 3-6 in the LSC and 2-5 in the LSC-South.

Eight Greyhounds receive All-LSC honors...Sophomore linebacker Michael Walton (Earth, Texas) was named to the All-Lone Star Conference-South Division first team. Walton was the leading tackler in the LSC with 155 out of 17 schools.

Named to the South Division second team were sophomore fullback Bruce Hatch (Bloomfield), freshman offensive guard Nathan Mastin (Odessa, Texas) and senior place kicker Brian Cocking (Los Alamos). Hatch was the leading rusher in the South Division with a 78.4 yard average. Mastin started the last half of the season at offensive guard. Cocking was the leading scorer for the Hounds for the second season in a row, connecting on 19 of 20 PATs and 7 of 14 field goals for 40 points.

Four defensive players received honorable mention on the South Division team - senior defensive end A.C. Cuellar (Weslaco, Texas), sophomore defensive tackle John Williams (Earth, Texas), senior free safety Jason Swindle (Albuquerque) and junior strong safety Tony Cavalier (Pampa, Texas). Cuellar has received numerous academic honors throughout the season. Williams was tied with Cuellar for the lead in sacks on the ENMU defense with 3 and also blocked a kick. Swindle and Cavalier were among the leaders in the LSC in interceptions with 3 each.

Hounds set ENMU records...as a team, ENMU set a season record for fewest yards penalized in a season with 402. That number also led the Lone Star Conference throughout the season. The old record was 419 by the 1963 Greyhounds. Individually, senior return specialist Charlie Ragle (Playas) set the career punt return yardage record with 688 yards. He broke the old record of 609 set by Mario Smalls from 1988-90.

Coaches Awards for MSU Game...

Leader of the Pack (offense) - Josh Colson, FB, Fr., Cloudcroft

Mean Green (defense) - Michael Walton, LB, So., Earth, Texas

Hungry Hound (special teams) - None

Hustler - Danny Cummings, CB, Jr., Raton; Isaiah Jackson, HB, Sr., San Antonio, Texas; Nathan Mastin, OG, Fr., Odessa, Texas; Carson Joachim, SE, So., Richmond, Texas

Big Hit - Michael Walton, LB, So., Earth, Texas

Pride (scout team) - Brad Barr, OL, Fr., Lovington