Athletic Report
November 18, 1999

GREYHOUNDS POUND MIDWESTERN, 38-13
ENMU Ties for LSC South Division Title
WICHITA FALLS, TX — The Eastern New Mexico University Greyhounds finished the 1999 season with a strong road performance, routing the Midwestern State University Indians, 38-13, in a Lone Star Conference South Division game, Nov. 13.

The Hounds improved to 8-3 overall, and earned a share of the LSC South Division title at 6-3. Midwestern State fell to 4-7 overall, 3-6 in the LSC South. ENMU, which entered the contest one game behind division leader Angelo State, achieved its co-championship when Angelo State lost at Texas A&M-Kingsville, 42-38. TAMU-Kingsville rallied from a 31-14 deficit.

In order to finish in a tie for the South Division title, the Greyhounds needed to stop Midwestern’s two-game winning streak. The Greyhounds were successful in their efforts, gaining 243 rushing yards against the MSU defense, which entered the game ranked 1st in the LSC in rushing defense, allowing just 95 yards per game.

After allowing an early touchdown by the Indians, ENMU also controlled the MSU attack. MSU struck first on the third play of the game. Wide receiver Bryan Gilmore hauled in a 73-yard pass from quarterback Phillip Boggs and Tomas Sanchez added the extra point for a 7-0 lead. ENMU answered later in the opening quarter when Taryll Boxton (Fr., RB, Albuquerque, NM/Del Norte H.S.) scored on a 2-yard run.

The touchdown came 7 plays and 40 yards after a 22-yard punt return by Terrance Smith (Sr., RB, Ft. Walton Beach, FL/Univ. of Tennessee-Martin). Eastern moved in front for good with 8:01 left in the second period. The Greyhounds drove 35 yard in 7 plays following a fumble recovery by senior linebacker Floyd White (Pampa, TX/Pampa H.S.). Antoine Lacy (Jr., RB, Richmond, CA/Contra Costa J.C.) concluded the drive with a 2-yard run. Two big plays later in the second period secured the win for the Greyhounds.

The first came on a 4th-and-6 at the MSU 26-yard line. Quarterback Bobby Rodriguez (Sr., Santa Teresa, NM/Las Cruces H.S.) rolled out to his right. Under great pressure from several linemen, he hurled the ball toward the far sideline for a desperation screen pass. Lacy came back five yards to make the catch, then dashed down the sideline to the end zone. Wide receiver Cale Sanders (Fr., Roswell, NM/Goddard H.S.) made a key block on the play as Lacy passed him at the 5-yard line.

ENMU led 21-7 with 3:18 left in the half. The second big play was supplied by cornerback Tonmar Johnson (Jr., Vallejo, CA/ Henderson State). MSU was at the ENMU 11-yard line, threatening to pull within 21-14 when Johnson intercepted a pass 5 yards deep into the end zone and returned it all the way for a touchdown.

The potential 14-point swing came with just 17 seconds on the clock, giving ENMU a 28-7 halftime lead. Midwestern State scored with 9:57 left in the third quarter on a 19-yard run by Dominic Rhodes.

The Greyhounds, who blocked a 39-yard field goal in the second quarter, blocked the extra point attempt, leaving the Hounds in front, 28-13. ENMU increased its lead to 35-13 on a 2-yard run by senior fullback Bruce Hatch (Bloomfield, NM/Bloomfield H.S.) with 7:10 left in the third quarter.

Erick Hernandez (So., P/PK, Amarillo, TX/Palo Duro H.S.) added a 44-yard field goal — his longest of the season — with 10:02 left in the game to achieve the final score. Hernandez played one of his best games of the year. In addition to kicking the field goal and converting 5 of 5 extra points, he also was strong on kickoffs and averaged 47.7 yards on 3 punts. He kicked a personal career record 66-yard punt in the first quarter.

Hatch led the ENMU offense with his fourth 100-yard game of the season. He gained 126 yards on 18 carries. Rodriguez finished the game 4 of 8 passing for 81 yards, and added 59 rushing yards on 10 carries. Lacy rushed for 42 yards on 12 carries and caught 2 passes for 48 yards.

He finished the season as Eastern’s top scorer, with 54 points. Overall, the Greyhounds rushed for 272 yards on 56 carries, and achieved 353 total yards. The ENMU defense limited MSU to 120 rushing yards on 35 carries.

The Indians passed for 177 yards, with 6 completions on 18 attempts. Boggs threw all of MSU’s passes and was intercepted twice — both by Johnson. Rhodes gained nearly all of Midwestern’s rushing yardage. He carried the ball a game-high 24 times for 110 yards. Gilmore, one of the top receivers in the LSC, caught 4 passes for 129 yards.

ENMU Head Coach Harold “Bud” Elliott finished the season with a 33-25-2 (.567) record in six seasons with the Greyhounds. His career record improved to 173-155-9 (.522).