Sports Release
September 4, 1999

HATCH RUSHES FOR 130 YARDS AS ENMU DEFEATS WNMU, 33-13
SILVER CITY, NM — Senior fullback Bruce Hatch (Bloomfield, NM/Bloomfield H.S.) ran for 130 yards on 15 carries and junior running back Antoine Lacy (Richmond, CA/Contra Costa J.C.) gained 100 yards on just two carries, as Eastern New Mexico University opened the 1999 football season with a 33-13 road victory over Western New Mexico University, Sept. 4 at the Silver City High School field.

WNMU, which defeated Fort Lewis College, 27-20, in the Mustangs’ season opener Aug. 28, fell to 0-2. ENMU was pinned inside its own 20-yard line on its first two possessions.

On the third possession, ENMU drove 60 yards in just three plays to score the game’s first touchdown. Hatch opened the drive with a 50-yard run up the middle, then scampered 8 yards, moving the ball to the WNMU 2-yard line. Senior running back Siegan Keys (Oakland, CA/ Chabot College) scored on the next play.

Erick Hernandez (So, PK/P, Amarillo, TX/Palo Duro H.S.) added the extra point for a 7-0 ENMU lead with 3:44 left in the first quarter. The Hounds increased their lead to 14-0 on a 33-yard pass from quarterback Bobby Rodriguez (Sr., Santa Teresa, NM/Las Cruces H.S.) to wide receiver Brian Weimer (Jr., Clovis, NM/Clovis H.S.) with 11:03 remaining in the second quarter.

Less than three minutes later, Eastern scored again, when Lacy dashed 85 yards for his first touchdown as a Greyhound. A bad snap on the conversion led to a failed 2-point PAT attempt, but the Hounds still led, 20-6.

A long kickoff return by Western’s Carl Richardson set up the Mustangs’ only score of the opening half. Quarterback Courtney Boyce scored from the 1-yard line at the 4:35 mark of the second period. The extra point kick was blocked by Nelson Smith (Jr., DT, Albuquerque, NM/U. of Miami (Fla.), and ENMU led, 14-6, at the break.

Western threatened to rally in the second half. The Mustangs scored midway through the third quarter on a 3-yard pass from Boyce to running back Eric Guyton to cut the ENMU lead to seven points, 20-13.

Later in the third quarter, the Mustangs used a 57-yard pass to Guyton to reach the ENMU 10-yard line. The ENMU defense prevented WNMU from gaining any yardage on the next three plays. Western came away without scoring when a 27-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left.

ENMU was in command the rest of the way. The Greyhounds followed the missed field goal by driving 80 yards for a touchdown.

Hatch again provided two key plays — a 10-yard run on third-and-nine at the Western 28-yard line and a 17-yard catch to the 1-yard line. Keys scored his second touchdown of the game on a 1-yard run.

The Greyhounds eliminated any WNMU hopes of a comeback just 26 seconds later, when freshman defensive back Justin Hibbler (Lubbock, TX/Estacado H.S.) intercepted a pass near the Western sideline and returned it 34 yards for a touchdown.

ENMU missed the extra point following a personal foul penalty, but the Hounds led by the final margin of 33-13. Eastern gained 285 rushing yards on 39 carries, an average of 7.3 yards per carry.

Rodriguez was 5 of 10 passing for 70 yards, and ENMU finished the game with 77 yards on 7 completions. The Hounds gained 362 total yards. Western New Mexico managed just 43 rushing yards on 36 carries.

The Mustangs added 162 passing yards, as Boyce completed 14 of 33 pass attempts. Guyton led WNMU on offense, with 9 carries for 44 yards rushing and 5 receptions for 64 yards. ENMU hosts New Mexico Highlands on Sat., Sept. 11. Game time at Greyhound Stadium is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. (MST).

The Greyhounds have won the last two meetings with NMHU in the final minute of play. Last year, Rodriguez threw a 31-yard touchdown pass with 0:20 left for a 31-30 victory. In 1987, the Hounds won 34-31 on an 80-yard kickoff return by Charlie Ragle on the game’s final play.