Athletic Report
October 16, 1999

GREYHOUNDS IMPROVE TO 5-2 WITH 27-13 WIN OVER TARLETON STATE
STEPHENVILLE, TX — Eastern New Mexico University scored a pair of touchdowns less than two minutes apart in the third quarter to erase a 13-7 deficit and send the Greyhounds to a 27-13 victory over Tarleton State University, Oct. 16 in Stephenville, Texas.

The Lone Star Conference victory improved ENMU to 5-2 on the season and 3-2 in the LSC South. Tarleton State dropped to 3-4 overall, 3-2 in the LSC South.

ENMU and TSU are now part of a four-way tie for second place in the LSC South. They trail South Division leader Angelo State University (4-1) by a single game. ASU defeated Abilene Christian University, 28-6, on Saturday to take over first place.

The Greyhounds trailed 10-7 at halftime and fell further behind when Tarleton State added a 39-yard field goal by J.W. Boren on the opening drive of the second half. Eastern answered on its next possession, driving 65 yards on 10 plays, with junior running back Antoine Lacy (Richmond, CA/Contra Costa J.C.) completing the drive on a 24-yard run with 6:05 left in the third quarter.

The extra point by sophomore Erick Hernandez (PK/P, Amarillo, TX/Palo Duro H.S.) gave the Greyhounds a 14-13 lead. ENMU scored again just 1:43 later, when junior Josh Lynn (TE, Eunice, NM/Eunice H.S.) blocked a Tarleton State punt and junior defensive end James Stewart (Anton, TX/ N.M. Military Institute) recovered the ball in the end zone. Hernandez added the extra point for a 21-13 lead. Stewart, who also scored against TSU last season, recorded 7 unassisted tackles and 1 assist for the ENMU defense.

Last year, he recovered a fumbled punt and returned it 15 yards for a touchdown on the final play of the first half, giving Eastern a 21-7 lead in the Hounds’ 42-7 victory at Greyhound Stadium. After ENMU took a 21-13 lead on Saturday, the Texans drove from their own 34-yard line to the Eastern 20-yard line.

On the next play, running back Jerome Smith, who gained 87 yards on 21 carries, dashed near the end zone, but fumbled inside the 2-yard line, and senior strong safety La Ron Gatlin (DeSoto, TX/DeSoto H.S.) recovered the ball in the end zone for ENMU. Sophomore free safety Waylon Mayfield (Andrews, TX/Andres H.S.) forced the fumble by knocking the ball loose. Quarterback Bobby Rodriguez (Sr., Santa Teresa, NM/Las Cruces H.S.) added an insurance score when he crossed the goal line on a 3-yard run with 5:43 left in the game.

The TD culminated a quick 5-play, 47-yard drive. Fullback Bruce Hatch (Sr., Bloomfield, NM/ Bloomfield H.S.) provided the key play of the drive with a 21-yard run on third-and-one at the TSU 38-yard line. ENMU started the game by taking the opening kickoff and driving 65 yards in 13 plays for a 7-0 lead.

Running back Taryll Boxton (Fr., Albuquerque, NM/Del Norte H.S.) completed the drive by scoring his first collegiate touchdown on a 1-yard run with 8:53 left in the first quarter. TSU countered with a 12-play, 54-yard drive late in the first quarter. Quarterback Steve Kelly scored on a 1-yard run just 11 seconds into the second period. Boren added a 27-yard field goal with 4:36 remaining in the half, as the Texans achieved their 10-7 halftime advantage.

Eastern finished the game with 215 rushing yards on 57 carries. Hatch led all rushers with 89 yards on 13 carries. Lacy added 63 yards on 10 carries for ENMU. Tarleton State gained 167 yards on 40 carries, with Smith’s 87 yards leading the way. Kelly gained 67 yards on 15 carries.

Neither team had an outstanding day passing. Rodriguez was 4 of 9 for 38 yards, as he completed one pass to four different receivers. Kelly was 7 of 28 for 121 yards. Kenneth Kennard caught 3 passes for 53 yards for the Texans.

ENMU returns to Portales, N.M. to take on Texas A&M-Commerce on Sat., Oct. 23. Kickoff at Greyhound Stadium is set for 6:00 p.m. (Mountain). Last year, TAMU-Commerce upset the Greyhounds, 26-14, ending ENMU’s 6-game winning streak to start the season.