Athletic Report
October 23, 1999

GREYHOUNDS RALLY FROM 10-0 DEFICIT TO DEFEAT TAMU-COMMERCE, 21-10
PORTALES, NM — The Eastern New Mexico University Greyhounds fell behind 10-0 in the first half, but rallied for a 21-10 victory over Texas A&M-Commerce in a Lone Star Conference South Division game at Greyhound Stadium, on Sat., Oct. 23. ENMU improved to 6-2 overall and 4-2 in the LSC South with the victory. TAMU-Commerce fell to 3-5 overall and 3-3 in the LSC South.

With the win, ENMU remained tied with Tarleton State for second place in the LSC South. Tarleton State also improved to 4-2 in the LSC on Saturday, as the Texans defeated Abilene Christian, 14-9. Angelo State, a 21-19 winner at Midwestern State on Saturday, stayed one game ahead of ENMU and TSU at 5-1 in the LSC.

Eastern and TAMU-Commerce combined for 10 turnovers in the game and committed a total of 14 fumbles, including 8 recovered by the opposing team. There were also several unusual moments, with two leading to the game’s most important plays.

The first came with 1:00 left in the first half, after TAMU-Commerce kicked a 25-yard field goal for a 10-0 lead. Randy Westin, the placekicker who converted the field goal, booted consecutive kickoffs out-of-bounds. ENMU made Westin re-kick both times.

On his third attempt, Westin kicked a squibbler that bounced earlier than expected and hit an ENMU player. Jessie Brooks of TAMU-C recovered the ball at his own 37-yard line, as the Lions earned an unexpected onside kick.

Three plays later, Eastern’s James Stewart (Jr., DE, Anton, TX/N.M. Military Inst.) forced quarterback Will Shaw to fumble, and Jermaine Washington (Sr., DT, Albuquerque, NM/Eastern Arizona College) recovered for ENMU at the TAMU-C 26-yard line.

The Greyhounds scored on the next play, as quarterback Bobby Rodriguez (Sr., Santa Teresa, NM/Las Cruces H.S.) hit freshman wide receiver Cale Sanders with a 26-yard pass. The play gave Eastern momentum at halftime and cut the Greyhounds’ deficit to 3 points.

Eastern took a 14-10 lead with 1:03 left in the third quarter, when Josh Lynn scored his first touchdown of the season on an 11-yard pass from Rodriguez. The Greyhounds drove 68 yards in 5 plays for the score.

TAMU-C threatened to regain the lead midway through the third quarter. The Lions started at their own 27-yard line, and eventually faced 2nd-and-2 at the ENMU 20-yard line. The Hounds gave up just one yard on the next two plays.

On 4th-and-1, an offensive lineman moved early, and the Lions were pushed back 5 yards. Shaw’s screen pass to Adrian Barnes lost 1 yard as Michael Walton (Sr., LB, Earth, TX/Springlake-Earth H.S.) recorded the tackle.

The second strange play came on Eastern’s ensuing possession with 5:10 remaining. The Greyhounds had driven from their own 25-yard line to the TAMU-C 44 on runs of 7 and 24 yards by Siegan Keys (Sr., RB, Oakland, CA/Chabot College). Then on first-and-ten, Antoine Lacy (Jr., RB, Richmond, CA/Contra Costa J.C.) gained 9 yards on a reverse, but fumbled.

Mike Baysinger recovered for TAMU-C at the 35-yard line, only to fumble after gaining one yard. Tight end Jarrod Fisher (So, Sudan, TX/Texas Tech) recovered for ENMU at the 36-yard line. The double fumble gave Eastern a first-and-10, and ultimately led to a touchdown by Keys on a 5-yard run 10 plays later. The touchdown came with 2:00 remaining.

Eastern’s drive was officially 36 yards in length, but the Hounds actually kept the ball for a combined 4:08, while gaining 76 yards on 13 plays. Rodriguez finished the game with 177 passing yards, but completed just 6 of 15 passes. Shaw threw for 179 yards, while completing only 10 of 25 passes. Lynn caught 3 passes for 101 yards for ENMU, and Mike Courville hauled in 4 passes for 103 yards for TAMU-C.

Barnes led all rushers with 128 yards on 32 carries for the Lions. It was his second consecutive 100-yard game. Lacy topped ENMU with 65 yards on 7 carries, while Keys gained 62 yards on 12 carries.

Overall, Eastern rushed for 245 yards on 46 carries, as four runners gained over 50 yards. TAMU-C gained 181 yards on 48 carries.

Walton led all players with 20 tackles (15 unassisted). He made 5 tackles for losses, recorded 1 QB sack, forced 1 fumble and recovered a fumble. Free safety Waylon Mayfield (So., Andrews, TX/Andrews H.S.) earned 9 tackles, intercepted a pass, and had two pass break-ups.

Both teams had 5 turnovers. The Lions lost 4 of 8 fumbles and threw one interception. ENMU lost 4 of 6 fumbles and also threw an interception.

Eastern New Mexico plays at Texas A&M-Kingsville next Saturday (Oct. 30). Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. (Mountain).