Athletic Report
October 2, 1999

ACU DEFEATS GREYHOUNDS, 31-28
Teams Combine for 808 Yards of Offense
PORTALES, NM — The Abilene Christian Wildcats, sporting a powerful offense, took advantage of four Eastern New Mexico turnovers and defeated the 7th-ranked (NCAA Division II) Greyhounds, 31-28, at Greyhound Stadium on Sat., Oct. 1. ACU evened its overall record at 2-2 and improved to 2-1 in the Lone Star Conference South Division. ENMU fell to 4-1 overall and 2-1 in the LSC South.

Both teams earned significant offensive numbers. The Wildcats gained 188 yards on 54 running plays, and ACU quarterback Steve Brenan was 16 of 33 passing for 255 yards and 1 touchdown. ENMU rushed for 296 yards on 43 carries, and gained 69 yards passing. The teams combined for 808 yards, with ACU earning 443 yards (87 plays) and ENMU achieving 365 yards (52 plays).

ENMU lost three fumbles and also threw one interception, while ACU had just one turnover, a fumble. Eastern’s first fumble occurred with the Greyhounds trailing 10-6. A lateral on an option to the right was misplayed and Casey Whittle picked up the lose ball and dashed 41 yards for a touchdown. With the extra point, ACU led 17-6.

Another key play occurred in the third quarter, with Eastern leading 21-20 and threatening to score. The Greyhounds had taken over at midfield following a 20-yard punt, and gained 47 yards on their first four plays. The ENMU drive included a 24-yard pass from quarterback Bobby Rodriguez (Sr., Santa Teresa, NM/Las Cruces H.S.) to wide receiver Brian Weimer (Clovis, NM/Clovis H.S.) that brought the ball to the 3-yard line.

On the next play, ACU forced a fumble by Siegan Keys (Sr., RB, Oakland, CA/Chabot College) as he was about to score and Brandon Bonds of ACU returned the ball to the ACU 23. The Wildcats then drove 77 yards on 7 plays to take the lead 28-21 on a 5-yard run by George Fisher and a two-point conversion pass to Whittle.

ENMU fumbled at the ACU 34-yard line on its next drive, but the Wildcats provided a fumble of their own four plays later. Nelson Smith (Sr., DT, Albuquerque, NM/Univ. of Miami) recovered for ENMU. Following a personal foul against ACU, the Greyhounds took over at the Wildcats’ 18-yard line.

Five plays later, Antoine Lacy (Jr., RB, Richmond, CA/Contra Costa J.C.) scored from 2-yard out. Sophomore placekicker Erick Hernandez (Amarillo, TX/Palo Duro H.S.) added the extra point, and the game was tied, 28-28, with 2:28 left in the third quarter. ACU scored the winning points at the end of a 13-play, 59-yard drive.

The key play of the drive was a scramble by Brenan after it appeared he would be sacked for a sizable loss on 3rd-and-5 at the ENMU 30-yard line. Instead, he managed to escape and carried the ball to the 20-yard line.

ENMU did not yield another first down on the drive, but placekicker Michael Freeman connected on a 37-yard field goal with 10:17 left in the game. The Wildcats ran 87 offensive plays and had the ball for 37:38, compared to 52 plays and 22:22 of possession time for ENMU.

Eastern’s four touchdown drives combined took just 19 plays. ACU had four scoring drives of 9 or more plays. Keys finished the game with 8 carries for 121 yards for ENMU. Bruce Hatch (Sr., FB, Bloomfield, NM/Bloomfield H.S.) added 114 yards on 15 carries for the Greyhounds. Rodriguez scored two first-half touchdowns on runs of 19 and 4 yards, as ENMU overcame its early 11-point deficit to take a 21-17 lead. The Hounds led 21-20 at the half.

ACU rushed for 104 yards on 54 carries. Fisher led the way with 104 yards on 24 carries. Adrian Rascon carried the ball 20 times for 85 yards, and Casey Whittle caught 4 passes for 71 yards.

Eastern’s Michael Walton (Sr., LB, Earth, TX/Springlake-Earth H.S.) led all defensive players with 19 total tackles (11 solo, 4 for loss, 2 sacks). Derck Lyons led Abilene Christian with 12 total tackles, including 9 unassisted stops.