Sports Release
September 11, 1999

GREYHOUNDS HOST N.M. HIGHLANDS
PORTALES, NM — The Eastern New Mexico football team plays its home opener tonight against New Mexico Highlands. Kickoff at Greyhound Stadium is set for 6:00 p.m. (MST).

ENMU enters the game with a 1-0 record after earning a 33-13 road victory over Western New Mexico on Sept. 4. NMHU is currently 0-1 following a 73-7 loss at New Mexico State on Sept. 2.

LAST YEAR’S GAME: ENMU 31, NMHU 30
Eastern New Mexico quarterback Bobby Rodriguez threw a 31-yard TD pass to Aaron Montano with 20 seconds left, as ENMU grabbed a 31-30 win in Las Vegas, NM The Greyhounds started the season 2-0, while NMHU dropped to 1-1.

Eastern trailed 14-0 in the first quarter and 30-24 in the third quarter before rallying for the one-point win. Rodriguez was 15 of 30 for 249 yards during the game. He also rushed for 66 yards on 10 carries, and was chosen Lone Star Conference Offensive Player-of-the-Week for the second consecutive game.

NMHU built its early lead on a 1-yard run by Thaddeus Variance and a 20-yard run by Edmunt Ekeoho. ENMU scored early in the second period on a 1-yard run by Dennis Beard, cutting the deficit to 14-7.

Brian Weimer then caught a 70- yard touchdown pass from Rodriguez with 7:02 left in the half, as ENMU tied the score. The Greyhounds moved in front 17-14 at the 0:31 mark, when Jeff Wareing hit a 40-yard field goal.

Highlands regained the lead in the third quarter on a 9-yard run by quarterback Chad Roanhaus with 10:19 remaining in the period. The Cowboys continued to hold a 21-17 advantage at the start of the fourth quarter. ENMU took a 24-21 lead with 8:46 left on a 9-yard pass from Rodriguez to Scott Schroeder.

NMHU answered just 26 seconds later on a 79-yard touchdown run by Variance. The Cowboys also recorded a safety on a bad punt snap to claim a 30-24 edge with 7:07 on the clock.

Weimer had an outstanding game for ENMU, finishing with 138 yards on 6 receptions. Variance provided a stellar performance for NMHU, gaining 153 yards on 20 carries.

THE LAST 2 MEETINGS: DOWN TO THE WIRE
Last year’s exciting finish between ENMU and NMHU was Eastern’s second consecutive last-minute win over Highlands. In 1997, Charlie Ragle returned a kickoff 80 yards on the game’s final play for a 34-31 ENMU victory. The kickoff return was later shown nationwide on ESPN.

THE ALL-TIME ENMU-NMHU SERIES
Eastern New Mexico holds a 26-9 edge in its all-time series with New Mexico Highlands. The Greyhounds have won 6 of 9 meetings in the 1990s and 10 of 13 games since 1986. New Mexico Highlands won the first ever game between the Greyhounds and the Cowboys, 13-7, in 1941.

The teams met every year from 1946 until 1953, and have played all but three seasons since 1970. The teams did not play in 1973, 1984, or 1985.

ENMU VS. NMHU RESULTS

1941	Nov. 8	@ Highlands 13, Eastern 7
1946	Oct. 19	@ Eastern 13, Highlands 7
1947	Oct. 10	Eastern 27, @ Highlands 6
1948	Oct. 9	@ Eastern 13, Highlands 7
1949	Oct. 8	@ Highlands 14, Eastern 6
1950	Oct. 7	@ Eastern 28, Highlands 6
1951	Oct. 6	Eastern 33, @ Highlands 13
1952	Nov. 1	@ Eastern 34, Highlands 7
1953	Oct. 31	Eastern 47, @ Highlands 14
1970	Nov. 21	Highlands 23, @ Eastern 18
1971	Nov. 20	Eastern 20, @ Highlands 18
1972	Nov. 11	Eastern 14, Highlands 12
1974	Nov. 9	@ Highlands 10, Eastern 0
1975	Nov. 8	@ Eastern 33, Highlands 7
1976	Sept. 25	Eastern 21, @ Highlands 0
1977	Sept. 10	@ Eastern 22, Highlands 3
1978	Sept. 9	Eastern 7, @ Highlands 6
1979	Sept. 8	@ Eastern 50, Highlands 0
1980	Sept. 13	@ Highlands 18, Eastern 16
1981	Sept. 12	@ Eastern 13, Highlands 7
1982	Sept. 11	@ Highlands 17, Eastern 10
1983	Sept. 10	@ Eastern 27, Highlands 0
1986	Sept. 13	Eastern 30, @ Highlands 23
1987	Sept. 12	@ Eastern 37, Highlands 34
1988	Sept. 10	Eastern 30, @ Highlands 7
1989	Sept. 9	@ Eastern 33, Highlands 9
1990	Sept. 22	Eastern 61, @ Highlands 21
1991	Sept. 28	@ Eastern 36, Highlands 6
1992	Sept. 5	@ Highlands 21, Eastern 9
1993	Sept. 4	Highlands 15, @ Eastern 10
1994	Sept. 3	Eastern 27, @ Highlands 26
1995	Sept. 16	@ Eastern 22, Highlands 9
1996	Sept. 7	@ Highlands 29, Eastern 6
1997	Sept. 13	@ Eastern 34, Highlands 31
1998	Sept. 12	Eastern 31, @ Highlands 30

THE HEAD COACHES
Eastern NM Head Coach Harold “Bud” Elliott is 29-25-2 (.536) in five years at Eastern. He has a career record of 166-155-9 (.517) during 31 years.

Joe Rifilato is in his first season as a college head coach. A win today would be Elliott’s 30th at ENMU. Elliott led Eastern to an 8-3 record in 1998.

GREYHOUNDS NEAR TOP OF LSC STATS
ENMU ranks first or second in several categories on the Lone Star Conference statistical release. Here are this week’s top rankings for ENMU:

TEAM LEADERS
Rushing Offense (1st) 285.0 yds./game
Turnover Margin (1st tie) +2.00/game
Rushing Defense (2nd) 43.0 yds./game
Total Offense (2nd) 362.0 yds./game

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Sacks (1st tie) Nelson Smith 2.0 sacks/gm
For Loss (1st) Nelson Smith 6.0 tfl/gm Ints (1st tie)
Justin Hibbler 1.0 int./gm
Rushing (2nd) Bruce Hatch 130.0 yds./gm

HATCH, LACY RUSH FOR 100 YARDS
In last week’s season opener, the Greyhounds had two running backs reach the 100-yard rushing mark. Senior fullback Bruce Hatch (Bloomfield, NM/Bloomfield H.S.) led the way with 130 yards on 15 carries. Junior running back Antoine Lacy (Richmond, CA/Contra Costa J.C.) added 100 yards on 2 carries, including an 85-yard TD run.

The efforts of Hatch and Lacy helped ENMU rush for an LSC-leading 285 yards versus the Mustangs.

NMHU PASSES FOR 199 YARDS IN LOSS
New Mexico Highlands passed for 199 yards against New Mexico State despite losing 73-7. Starting QB Richard Fuentes was 9 of 17 for 86 yards. Back-up Bryan Rosner completed 6 of 14 passes for 113 yards.

Rosner connected with Darcel Sharp on a 13-yard touchdown pass with 12 seconds left in the game to avoid a shutout. Highlands’ top receiver in the opening game was Arjuna Garavelly. He hauled in 6 passes for 100 yards, including a 72-yard catch.

The Cowboys committed a total of five turnovers in the game: three interceptions and two fumbles lost. NMSU also lost two fumbles, but did not throw an interception.

HIBBLER RETURNS INT FOR TD IN FIRST GAME
Eastern New Mexico freshman defensive back Justin Hibbler from Lubbock, Texas (Estacado H.S.) picked off a pass and returned it 34 yards for a touchdown in his first ever college game last Saturday against WNMU. The interception return came just 25 seconds after ENMU had taken a 27-13 lead on an 80-yard drive by the Greyhound offense.

WEIMER HAULS IN 33-YARD TD PASS
Junior wide receiver Brian Weimer (Clovis, NM/Clovis H.S.) caught just one pass against Western New Mexico, but it was a well-executed 33-yard touchdown strike from quarterback Bobby Rodriguez (Santa Teresa, NM/ Las Cruces H.S.).

The TD gave ENMU a 14-0 lead in the second quarter. Last year, Weimer led the Hounds with 25 catches for 370 yards. Josh Lynn (Jr., TE, Eunice, NM/ Eunice H.S.) Caught 3 passes against WNMU last week. He gained 23 yards for the Greyhounds.

UP NEXT FOR ENMU
The Greyhounds remain at home next Saturday to take on Ouachita Baptist University in an LSC crossover game. ENMU competes in the LSC South and OBU is a member of the LSC North. Crossover games count in the Lone Star Conference divisional standings. OBU opened the season last week with a 34-14 win over Henderson State. The Tigers are playing at SW Baptist (Mo.) tonight.