Sports Release
September 19, 1999

GREYHOUNDS SHUT OUT TIGERS, 23-0
Michael Walton leads defense with 18 total tackles
PORTALES, NM -- The Eastern New Mexico University defense, led by senior middle linebacker Michael Walton, kept Ouachita Baptist University off the scoreboard, as the Greyhounds improved to 3-0 with a 23-0 victory over the visiting Tigers at Greyhound Stadium.

Ouachita Baptist suffered its first loss of the season and fell to 2-1. The game was the first ever meeting between the two teams, and was a Lone Star Conference crossover game. ENMU, from the South Division, is now 1-0 in the LSC, while OBU, from the North Division, is 0-1. Crossover games count in the LSC divisional standings.

Walton (Earth, TX/Springlake-Earth H.S.) led the ENMU defense with 18 total tackles (13 unassisted). Waylon Mayfield (So., FS, Andrews, TX/Andrews H.S.) added 14 tackles (6 solo). ENMU senior quarterback Bobby Rodriguez (Santa Teresa, NM/Las Cruces H.S.) finished with 190 yards of total offense. He completed 6 of 10 passes for 130 yards and 2 touchdowns. Rodriguez also gained 60 yards on 13 carries.

The Tigers had the first chance to score after a face mask penalty on Eastern’s punt coverage unit gave OBU the ball at its own 48-yard line with 6:20 left in the first quarter. The Tigers drove to the ENMU 22-yard line, but Jeff Works missed a 39-yard field goal with 2:23 left in the quarter. Eastern took over following the missed field goal, and drove 75 yards in 17 plays. A loss of 2 on third-and-goal at the 1-yard line forced the Greyhounds to settle for a 20-yard field goal by Erick Hernandez (So., PK/P, Amarillo, TX/Palo Duro H.S.).

With 7:55 remaining in the half, ENMU led 3-0. The Hounds increased their lead to 9-0 on another lengthy drive — 7 plays, 84 yards. The drive culminated in a 10-yard pass from Rodriguez to junior wide receiver Brian Weimer (Clovis, NM/Clovis H.S.) with 1:12 left in the half.

A Ouachita Baptist turnover early in the second half helped ENMU take control of the game. The Tigers started the half with great field position at their own 48-yard line, but fumbled on the first play and junior defensive end Myckael Dorise (Detroit, MI/Butte C.C.) recovered for ENMU at the 47. Three plays later, running back Antoine Lacy (Jr., Richmond, CA/Contra Costa J.C.) scored on a 31-yard run up the middle. The PAT kick by Hernandez was good.

In three games, ENMU has earned 8 takeaways from its opponents. The Greyhounds have not committed a turnover on offense this season.

Late in the third quarter, OBU started a lengthy 15-play drive. The Tigers took the ball from their own 20-yard line to the ENMU 7-yard line, but quarterback Cary Wheaton threw an interception on the first play of the fourth quarter. Senior linebacker Floyd White (Pampa, TX/ Pampa H.S.) picked off the pass at the 1-yard line.

ENMU scored the final touchdown on a 9-yard pass from Rodriguez to freshman wide receiver Cale Sanders (Roswell, NM/Goddard H.S.) with 6:45 remaining. The Hounds needed just three plays to score after linebacker Jimmy Hamilton (Fr., LB, Artesia, NM/N.M. State) recovered a dropped punt at the OBU 12-yard line.

The Greyhounds rushed for 259 yards on 49 carries (5.3 avg.). Rodriguez was the top rusher, followed by senior running back Siegan Keys (Oakland, CA/Chabot College) with 39 yards on 9 carries, and senior fullback Bruce Hatch (Bloomfield, NM/Bloomfield H.S.) with 38 yards on 9 carries. Weimer caught 2 passes for 53 yards. Overall, Eastern gained 389 yards on 59 offensive plays, an average of 6.6 yards per play.

Top rushers for Ouachita Baptist were Brian Robinette, with 43 yards on 11 carries, and Wheaton, with 41 yards on 14 carries. Wheaton was 5 of 11 for 94 yards passing.

ENMU plays another LSC crossover game next Saturday (Sept. 25) at Northeastern State University (Okla.). Kickoff in Tahlequah, Okla. is set for 5:00 p.m. (MDT). NSU is currently 2-1 following a 19-14 win on Sept. 18 at Texas A&M-Commerce.