Sports Release
September 25, 1999

(#7) EASTERN NEW MEXICO DEFEATS (#15) NORTHEASTERN STATE, 20-14
Greyhounds Improve to 4-0, 2-0 in LSC, with Road Victory
TAHLEQUAH, OK — In a battle of Top 20 NCAA Division II teams, the Eastern New Mexico University Greyhounds, tied for #7, improved to 4-0 overall and 2-0 in the Lone Star Conference with a 20-14 victory on Sat., Sept. 25 over Northeastern State University, ranked #15. NSU fell to 2-2 overall and 2-1 in the LSC with the loss. It was the final LSC crossover game for both teams this season.

ENMU competes in the LSC South Division and NSU competes in the LSC North. Crossover games count in the LSC divisional standings.

Sophomore placekicker/punter Erick Hernandez (Amarillo, TX/Palo Duro H.S.) and the ENMU defense provided key plays for the Greyhounds. Hernandez scored the game’s only second half points on a 30-yard field goal with 8:58 left in the third quarter and a 34-yard field goal with 1:13 remaining in the game. He also averaged 36.8 yards on 5 punts, including a 55-yarder and three punts inside the 20-yard line.

The defense forced a missed 37-yard field goal on the first play of the fourth quarter. Then ENMU made a series of defensive stands that kept its 17-14 lead intact until Hernandez booted his second field goal.

To start the sequence, ENMU held NSU to three plays, forcing a punt. The 26-yard kick took a strange bounce, hit an unsuspecting ENMU player, and was recovered by the Redmen at the NSU 48-yard line (11:15 left).

Again, the Hounds allowed Northeastern State just three plays. The ensuing punt went 30 yards, was muffed by the Greyhounds, and was recovered by Luke Pitman of NSU at the Eastern 16-yard line (10:10 left).

The Redmen earned a 1st-and-goal at the five, but were denied a score. On 4th-and-goal at the three, the Redmen attempted a 20-yard field goal that was blocked by senior linebacker Floyd White (Pampa, TX/Pampa H.S.) with 7:59 remaining.

The ENMU defense made one more stand in the final minute, after Jojo Polk returned a kickoff 61 yards to the Eastern 30-yard line. Running back Carlton Booe, who gained 126 yards on 23 carries for NSU, gained 7 yards on first down. Quarterback Greg Bobbitt’s passes fell incomplete on the next three downs, as Eastern secured the win.

ENMU played nearly the entire game without starting quarterback Bobby Rodriguez (Sr., Santa Teresa, NM/Las Cruces, NM), who suffered a shoulder injury on the Hounds’ third play from scrimmage. He received a late hit after throwing a 16-yard pass to tight end Josh Lynn (Jr., Eunice, NM/Eunice H.S.). Including a 15-yard personal foul against the Redmen, the play brought the Greyhounds to the NSU 32-yard line. The extent of the injury to Rodriguez has not been determined.

Back-up quarterback James Williams (So., Earth, TX/Springlake-Earth H.S.) finished the drive and completed the game. He carried the ball twice for 16 yards on his first two plays, then handed off to Antoine Lacy (Jr., RB, Richmond, CA/Contra Costa J.C.), who gained 16 yards to the one. Siegan Keys scored on the next play, tying the game at 7-7 with 9:29 left in the opening quarter.

NSU started the game with a 9-play, 74-yard drive that ended with a 5-yard touchdown run by Booe. NSU regained the lead, 14-7, on a 44-yard pass from Bobbitt to Jamar Sutton with 2:24 left in the first quarter. It was the final score of the game for the Redmen.

The Greyhounds tied the game before halftime on a 4th down, 2-yard run by Keys with 3:05 remaining in the second quarter. It was the fifth TD scored by Keys this season.

After ENMU opened the second half with a 12-play, 60-yard drive that led to the 30-yard field goal by Hernandez, the score remained 17-14 for nearly the rest of the game.

Eastern’s final scoring drive started at its own 48-yard line and featured a 36-yard pass from Williams to senior running back Terrance Smith (Fort Walton Beach, FL/Tennessee- Martin). The Greyhounds reached the NSU 14-yard line, but faced 4th-and-13 four plays later, and added three points to their lead with Hernandez’ 34-yard field goal.

Williams guided Eastern’s offense to 296 total yards. He carried the ball himself 21 times for 98 yards. Lacy added 43 yards on 6 carries, and Keys totaled 42 yards on 10 carries.

The Greyhounds edged the Redmen, 296-278 in total offensive yards. Leading tacklers for ENMU were senior linebacker Michael Walton (Earth, TX/Texas Tech University), with 14 total tackles (6 solo, 8 assists), senior linebacker Floyd White (Pampa, TX/Pampa H.S.), With 12 total tackles (6 solo, 6 assists), and junior strong safety Quincy Scott (Seaside, CA/Monterey Peninsula), with 10 total tackles (8 solo, 2 assists).

ENMU junior defensive end Myckael Dorise (Detroit, MI/Butte C.C.) intercepted a pass at the Greyhounds’ 20-yard line that ended an NSU 12-play drive with 6:21 left in the third quarter.

The Greyhounds will host their Homecoming game next Saturday (Oct. 2) against Abilene Christian University. Game time is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. (MDT) at Greyhound Stadium.