Athletic Report
September 14, 1998

FOOTBALL
Sophomore quarterback Bobby Rodriguez (Santa Teresa, N.M./Las Cruces H.S.) threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Aaron Montano (Jr., Albuquerque, N.M./Benedictine College) with 20 seconds remaining, as Eastern New Mexico edged New Mexico Highlands, 31-30, Sat., Sept. 12. The pass, which came on 4th-and-25, gave the Greyhounds their second consecutive last-minute victory over the Cowboys. Last year, Charlie Ragle returned a kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown on the game’s final play, as ENMU won, 34-31.

The Greyhounds are now 2-0 on the season. ENMU has won five consecutive non-conference games.

New Mexico Highlands built a 14-0 first quarter lead in Saturday’s game in Las Vegas, N.M. Thaddeus Variance scored on a 1-yard run at the 8:15 mark, and Edmund Ekeoha added a 20-yard TD run later in the period.

ENMU fought back in the second quarter. Tailback Dennis Beard (So., Albuquerque, N.M./N.M. Military Institute) completed an 8-play, 80-yard drive with a 1-yard plunge to start the rally. Brian Wiemer (So., Clovis, N.M./Clovis H.S.) tied the game on a 70-yard pass from Rodriguez.

Placekicker Jeff Wareing (Fr., Alamogordo, N.M./Alamogordo H.S.) kicked a 40-yard field goal with 31 seconds remaining in the half. ENMU led 17-14 at the intermission.

The lead changed hands four times during the second half, including three times in the final nine minutes.

Highlands took a 21-17 lead in the third quarter. ENMU answered when Scott Schroeder (So., Fairacres, N.M./Las Cruces H.S.) hauled in a 9-yard TD pass with 8:46 left in the game.

The lead was short-lived, as Variance scored on a 79-yard run 26 seconds later, giving the Cowboys a 28-24 advantage. NMHU added a safety when a high snap forced ENMU to rush a punt in the end zone. The ball bounced near the goal line then rolled backward over the end line.

Still trailing 30-24 in the closing minutes, the Greyhounds received a big play from free safety Brian Hulett (Sr., Earth, TX/Cisco J.C.), who blocked an NMHU punt. Eastern New Mexico took over at the NMHU 16-yard line.

A holding penalty on ENMU’s first play moved the ball back to the 31-yard line. Three additional plays failed to produce a touchdown.

On fourth down, Rodriguez was forced out of the pocket, rolled to his right, then threw a perfect pass to Montano deep in the end zone. Wareing added the winning PAT moments later.

Rodriguez led all players with 315 total yards. He completed 15 of 30 passes for 249 yards (3 TDs). He also ran 10 times for 66 yards. Wiemer caught 6 passes for 138 yards, and Bruce Hatch (Jr., Bloomfield, N.M./Bloomfield H.S.) added 62 yards on 21 carries.

Variance topped NMHU’s offense with 153 rushing yards on 20 carries. ENMU outgained the Cowboys 428 yards to 333 yards.

Defensively, ENMU linebacker Michael Walton (Jr., Earth, TX/Texas Tech) was credited with 4 tackles and 8 assists. Tony Cavalier (Sr., SS, Pampa, TX/Pittsburg State) contributed 8 tackles and 3 assists. He also partially blocked a field goal attempt.

RODRIGUEZ NAMED PLAYER OF THE WEEK
FOR SECOND WEEK IN A ROW
ENMU sophomore quarterback Bobby Rodriguez (6’2”, 180 lbs., Santa Teresa, N.M./Las Cruces H.S.) has been named Lone Star Conference South Division Offensive Player-of-the-Week for the second consecutive game. This week’s honor was for his efforts in ENMU’s 31-30 win at New Mexico Highlands on Sat., Sept. 12.

Rodriguez completed 15 of 30 passes for 249 yards and 3 TDs against the Cowboys, and did not throw an interception. His 31-yard touchdown pass to Aaron Montano on 4th-and-25 with 20 seconds remaining gave the Greyhounds the win. Rodriguez also gained 66 rushing yards on 10 carries. He earned 315 yards of total offense.

After two games, Rodriguez has completed 21 of 41 passes for 334 yards, 4 touchdowns, and no interceptions. He is second on the team in rushing, with 110 yards on 16 carries.

GREYHOUNDS WIN 1998
NEW MEXICO SMALL COLLEGE TITLE
The win over New Mexico Highlands gave Eastern New Mexico the unofficial 1998 New Mexico small college football title. ENMU defeated Western New Mexico, 62-3, in the season opener, so the Greyhounds will finish the year 2-0 against their NCAA Division II in-state rivals. ENMU has defeated both New Mexico Highlands and Western New Mexico three of the last four years and five times during the past eight seasons.

UP NEXT FOR THE GREYHOUNDS
Eastern New Mexico, 2-0, travels to Weatherford, Okla. on Sat., Sept. 12 to take on Southwestern Oklahoma State University in a Lone Star Conference game at 6:00 p.m. (MST). This year, all LSC crossover games count in the divisional standings. SWOSU competes in the North Division and ENMU is in the South Division.

The Greyhounds return home for Homecoming (Sept. 26) against Southeastern Oklahoma State at 2:00 p.m. (MST). The game is also SELLOUT ’98, as ENMU seeks its first ever football sellout.