Sports Release
September 11, 1999

EASTERN NEW MEXICO POUNDS NEW MEXICO HIGHLANDS
54-7 Rodriguez gains 289 yards of total offense
PORTALES, NM — Eastern New Mexico University senior quarterback Bobby Rodriguez (Santa Teresa, NM/Las Cruces H.S.) gained 289 yards of total offense and the Greyhounds finished with 612 total yards overall, as ENMU routed visiting New Mexico Highlands, Sat., Sept. 11 at Greyhound Stadium. The Greyhounds improved to 2-0 with the victory, while NMHU dropped to 0-2.

Rodriguez completed 9 of 14 passes for 226 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also carried the ball 15 times for 63 yards. Last year, Rodriguez also had an outstanding game versus NMHU. He completed 15 of 30 passes for 249 yards and gained 66 yards on 10 carries. He contributed 315 yards in Eastern’s 31-30 victory.

This year, the game started out as though it would be another close contest. Rodriguez opened the scoring by hitting junior wide receiver Brian Weimer (Clovis, NM/Clovis H.S.) with a 76-yard touchdown pass.

Eastern’s 2-play, 77-yard drive was followed by a lengthy 9-play 78-yard drive by Highlands that ended with Thaddeus Variance scoring on a 17-yard run. Erick Hernandez (So., PK, Amarillo, TX/Palo Duro H.S.) of ENMU and Cesar Perez of NMHU kicked the extra points for their respective teams, creating a 7-7 tie.

ENMU gradually pulled away from the Cowboys. Siegan Keys (Sr., RB, Oakland, CA/ Chabot College) scored with 1:39 left in the first quarter on a 26-yard pass from Rodriguez. Bruce Hatch (Sr., FB, Bloomfield, NM/Bloomfield H.S.) added a 4-yard run with 2:00 left in the first half, giving ENMU a 19-7 lead at halftime.

The Mustangs had a chance to cut into Eastern’s lead prior to the intermission, but a 42-yard field goal was blocked by Jermaine Washington (Sr., DT, Albuquerque, NM/Eastern Arizona College) as time expired. Hatch opened the third quarter scoring with an 11-yard run at the 6:59 mark.

ENMU junior cornerback Tonmar Johnson (Vallejo, CA/Henderson State U.) intercepted a Highlands pass two plays later and returned it 17 yard to the NMHU 14-yard line. Antoine Lacy (Jr., RB, Richmond, CA/Contra Costa J.C.) reached the end zone on a 2-yard run on Eastern’s fourth play, giving the Greyhounds a 33-7 advantage.

Eastern’s remaining touchdowns were scored by Terrance Smith (Sr., WR, Fort Walton Beach, FL/Tennessee-Martin) on a 5-yard run, back-up quarterback James Williams (So., Earth, TX/Springlake-Earth H.S.) on a 39-yard run, and freshman wide receiver Cale Sanders (Roswell, NM/Goddard H.S.) on a 5-yard run.

Williams led all rushers with 78 yards on 3 carries. Lacy finished with 39 yards on 5 carries. Eastern’s top receiver was Weimer with 3 catches for 106 yards. Keys added 2 catches for 47 yards.

ENMU finished the game with 331 rushing yards on 59 carries. The Greyhounds also completed 13 of 18 passes for 281 yards. The 612 yards of total offense fell 74 yards short of the ENMU record of 686, set against Fort Lewis College on Sept. 24, 1988.

Leading Eastern’s defensive efforts was senior linebacker Michael Walton (Earth, TX/Texas Tech U.), who earned 4 tackles and 4 assists (1 sack). Senior linebacker Floyd White (Pampa, TX/ Pampa H.S.) added 5 tackles and 2 assist, while senior defensive tackle Nelson Smith (Albuquerque, NM/U. of Miami (Fla.) provided 4 tackles and 1 assist (2 tackles for losses).

New Mexico Highlands gained just 82 yards on the ground (28 carries). The Cowboys gained 166 yards through the air on 15 completions out of 35 attempts. Richard Fuentes was 8 of 20 for 72 yards through the air and Bryan Rosser completed 7 of 15 passes for 94 yards (2 ints.).

Variance rushed for 55 yards on 10 carries. Eastern New Mexico opens Lone Star Conference play next Saturday (Sept. 18), when the Greyhounds host Ouachita Baptist University in a crossover game (Eastern in the South Division and OBU competes in the North Division). Kickoff at Greyhound Stadium is set for 6:00 p.m. (MDT).