Athletic Report
November 4, 2000

GREYHOUNDS RETAIN WAGON WHEEL TROPHY ENMU Rallies Past West Texas A&M, 49-21
CANYON, TX — Dennis Beard (Jr., RB, Albuquerque, NM/N.M. Mil. Inst.) rushed for 168 yards on 21 carries and scored 5 touchdowns, leading Eastern New Mexico to a 49-21 victory over West Texas A&M University, in the 14th Wagon Wheel game, Nov. 4 at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium. ENMU now leads the Wagon Wheel series, 8-6.

The Greyhounds, who rallied from a 21-14 deficit late in the third quarter, concluded the season at 6-4 overall and 4-2 in the Lone Star Conference South Division. WTAMU fell to 4-6, 2-3 in the LSC South.

With the victory and a 14-13 loss by Angelo State at Texas A&M University-Commerce, Eastern New Mexico moved into first place in the LSC South. The Hounds clinched at least a tie for the division title. It is ENMU’s second consecutive LSC South championship. Last year, ENMU and Angelo State tied for the title.

At West Texas A&M, the Greyhounds trailed 7-0 in the first quarter and 14-7 at halftime. ENMU tied the score each time, with Beard scoring on runs of 14 yards and 21 yards.

DeWayne Miles broke the 14-14 tie with a 22-yard touchdown run at the 2:54 mark of the third quarter. Miles also scored the game’s first touchdown on a 45-yard run just 2:56 into the game. He finished with 243 yards on 27 carries.

Beard, who set a personal best with his 168-yard performance, answered Miles’ touchdown by leading a scoring onslaught that put 35 points on the scoreboard in the final 15:06. Beard scored the tying touchdown on a 26-yard run with 0:06 left in the third quarter, then scored on an 11-yard run just 41 seconds into the final period.

In between the two TDs, defensive end James Stewart (Sr., Anton, TX/N.M. Mil. Inst.) chased WTAMU quarterback Rick Leach from the weak side to the far sideline to force a fumble. Marcus Rivers (Jr., SS, Vallejo, CA/Solano C.C.) recovered for ENMU, and Beard scored on the next play.

ENMU forced the Buffaloes to punt four play later. The Greyhounds then drove 54 yards on 10 plays, taking 5:19 off the clock. Beard capped off the drive with a 1-yard run. Mike Trimble (Jr., PK, Houston, TX/Adams State College), who made 7 of 7 extra point attempts, converted the PAT for a 35-21 lead.

Justin Hibbler (So., CB, Lubbock, TX/Estacado H.S.) added another touchdown with 4:30 left on a 78-yard interception return. It was his second interception return for a touchdown in as many games. Last week (Oct. 28), he returned an errant pass 100 yards for a touchdown on the final play of the first half against Texas A&M-Kingsville.

Hibbler forced a fumble by wide receiver Chris Guillen at the WTAMU 24 on the Buffs’ next play. Rivers picked up the ball and advanced it to the 4-yard line. On ENMU’s first play following the turnover, with 4:01 remaining, running back T.J. Sheppard (Jr., Compton, CA/East Los Angeles C.C.) crossed the goal line for the game’s final touchdown.

Miles’ 243 rushing yards accounted for well over half of WTAMU’s 391 yards of offense. His 45-yard TD run was the game’s longest rush.

Beard’s 5 TDs were one short of the ENMU record (6), set by Charlie Painter against Western New Mexico University in 1951. Beard paced an ENMU attack that gained 450 total yards, including 350 yards on the ground. Quarterback Heath Ridenour (So., Lovington, NM/Lovington H.S.) rushed for 69 yards on 13 carries, and completed 5 of 9 passes for 100 yards and no interceptions. Running back Taryll Boxton added 68 yards on 11 carries.

Leach was 8 of 18 passing for 97 yards for the Buffaloes. He also scored WTAMU’s second touchdown on a 15-yard run with 0:28 left in the second quarter. Leach’s TD was set up by ENMU’s only turnover, a fumble at its own 14-yard line.

Rivers topped Eastern’s defensive chart with 12 tackles and 2 fumble recoveries. Michael Garvin (Sr., FS, Salinas, CA/Hartnell C.C.) added 10 tackles, while senior linebacker Garett Williams (Monahans, TX/Monahans H.S.) contributed 8 tackles.

Ray Ross led the Buffs with 16 total tackles. Carlos Cox provided 10 tackles, while Tracey Hunt supplied 9 tackles.

ENMU finished the season 5-2 in its last 7 games. For the season, the Hounds were 4-2 at home and 2-2 on the road. Eastern scored more than 30 points 4 times, achieving 49 versus West Texas A&M, 41 versus Western New Mexico, 35 against Texas A&M-Kingsville and 34 against Tarleton State. ENMU averaged 26.4 points per game, while allowing 18.0 points per game on defense.

Head Coach Harold “Bud” Elliott improved his overall record at ENMU to 42-32-2 (.566), while increasing his career record to 179-162-9 (.524). Elliott has achieved a 22-10 record (.688) over the past three seasons.