Athletic Report
November 17, 1998

THREE ENMU PLAYERS NAMED TO ALL-LSC SOUTH DIVISION FIRST TEAM
Head Coach Harold “Bud” Elliott Named Coach-of-the-Year Linebacker Michael Walton Chosen Defensive Lineman-of-the-Year)
The Eastern New Mexico University football team, which finished the 1998 season with an 8-3 overall record and a 6-3 mark (3rd place tie) in the Lone Star Conference South Division, has placed three players on the All-LSC South Division First Team. ENMU had three players selected to the Second Team and placed seven players on the Honorable Mention list.

ENMU garnered two of the LSC’s special honors. Head Coach Harold “Bud” Elliott was chosen South Division Coach-of-the-Year, and junior linebacker Michael Walton (Earth, TX/Texas Tech/Springlake-Earth H.S.) was named South Division Defensive Lineman-of-the-Year.

Walton was also named to the First Team. Other First Team selections from Eastern were senior defensive end Eric Williams (Odessa, TX/Permian H.S.) and senior defensive back Tony Cavalier (Pampa, TX/Pittsburg State).

The Second Team included an offensive lineman, a defensive lineman and a defensive back from Eastern New Mexico. The offensive selection was sophomore guard Nate Mastin (Odessa, TX/Permian H.S.). ENMU’s defensive players named to the Second Team were junior defensive tackle Nelson Smith (Albuquerque, NM/Univ. of Miami) and senior cornerback Ken Drake (Joliet, IL/Joliet J.C.).

Eastern’s seven Honorable Mention picks included four offensive players. They were sophomore quarterback Bobby Rodriguez (St. Teresa, NM/Las Cruces H.S.), sophomore wide receiver Brian Weimer (Clovis, NM/Clovis H.S.), sophomore tailback Dennis Beard (Albuquerque, NM/N.M. Military Inst.), and senior offensive tackle Jabe Riley (Brownfield, TX/Cisco J.C.). Three defensive players from ENMU received Honorable Mention. They were junior defensive end Doug Hall (Albuquerque, NM/ N.M. Military Inst.), junior defensive tackle John Williams (Earth, TX/Springlake-Earth H.S.), and senior defensive back Chris Mathis (Cuero, TX/Cisco J.C.).

Walton led the Lone Star Conference with 117 tackles. He had 60 unassisted tackles and 57 assists. He recorded an impressive 24 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, costing opponents 155 yards in losses. He tied for the team lead with 7.5 sacks (72 yards lost). Walton also led the LSC in tackles in 1997, when he recorded 155 tackles, earned First Team All-LSC honors and was named Third Team All-America by Football Gazette.

Eric Williams recorded 33 total tackles (17 solo, 16 assists) in 1998, including 11 tackles for losses and 7 sacks for 51 yards. Williams also forced 2 fumbles, recovered a fumble for a touchdown against Tarleton State, and blocked a kick.

Cavalier finished third on the team with 81 total tackles. He recorded 55 unassisted tackles and 26 assists. He intercepted 4 passes and returned them 129 yards, including an 80-yarder for a touchdown against Southwestern Oklahoma. He also returned 27 punts for 294 yards (10.9 yards per return). He returned one punt a school-record 71 yards for a touchdown in the season finale against Midwestern State.

Mastin was a solid performer in the offensive line, who played guard on most occasions, but also filled in at center. He helped the ENMU offense gain 3,364 total yards (305.8 yards per game), including 2,335 rushing yards (212.3 yards per game). The Greyhounds scored 303 points (27.5 avg.).

Smith had 33 total tackles on 18 solos and 15 assists. He earned 6 tackles for losses, forced 1 fumble, blocked a kick and had 1 quarterback sack. Smith and the ENMU defense limited opponents to 2,803 total yards (254.8 yards per game). Opponents gained just 1,102 yards on the ground, an average of just 100.2 yards per game.

Drake led the Greyhounds with 9 passes broken up. He also registered 20 unassisted tackles and 3 assists, for 23 tackles. Drake intercepted 2 passes and forced 1 fumble. He helped ENMU place second in the LSC in passing defense (83.9 efficiency rating, as opponents were held to a 37.8% completion rate.

Rodriguez completed 73 of 172 passes for 988 yards and 9 touchdowns. He was twice named LSC South Division Player-of-the-Week. He also ran for 371 yards and 2 TDs. Weimer caught 25 passes for 370 yards and 2 TDs to lead the Greyhounds in pass receptions. He caught ENMU’s longest pass of the season, a 70-yarder for a TD against New Mexico Highlands. Beard ran for 868 yards on 145 carries, an average of 6.0 yards per rush. He led Eastern with 12 touchdowns for 72 points, and finished 6th in the LSC in scoring. He recorded four 100-yard games. Riley, Eastern’s only senior in the offensive line, helped create openings for Beard. Overall, the Greyhounds gained 4.5 yards per carry and finished the season with 35 offensive touchdowns (26 rushing, 9 passing).

Hall concluded the year with 30 total tackles. He tied for third on the team with 11 tackles for losses, and was fourth in sacks with 6. John Williams totaled 33 tackles, including 7 tackles for losses and 3 quarterback sacks. He also forced 3 fumbles and broke up 1 pass. Mathis intercepted 3 passes (one each in consecutive games) and broke up 8 throws. He recorded 22 total tackles).

LSC South Division Coach-of-the-Year: Harold “Bud” Elliott, Eastern New Mexico (5th year at ENMU)

LSC South Division Defensive Lineman-of-the-Year: MIchael Walton, Eastern New Mexico (MLB)