Athletic Report
October 7, 2000

ENMU DEFEATS 11TH-RANKED ANGELO STATE Greyhounds Win, 18-8
SAN ANGELO, TX — Eastern New Mexico University limited Angelo State University to 180 total yards, as the Greyhounds defeated the 11th-ranked Rams, 18-8, in a Lone Star Conference South Division game, Oct. 7 in San Angelo, Texas. With the win, ENMU evened its overall record at 3-3, while improving to 1-1 in the LSC South. Angelo State fell to 3-2 on the season, while dropping to 1-1 in the LSC South.

ENMU took a 9-0 lead by forcing an Angelo State miscue early in the contest. The sequence of events began with ASU at its own 12-yard line with a 1st-and-10. ENMU senior defensive end James Stewart (Anton, TX/N.M. Military Institute) plowed through the line and hit ASU quarterback Sterlin Gilbert as he was pitching the ball to running back Ben Reid. The ball sailed into the end zone, and Reid fell on the pigskin, giving the Greyhounds two points for a safety.

The ensuing free kick by ASU was returned by Tonmar Johnson (Sr., CB, Vallejo, CA/ Henderson State Univ.) 45 yards to the Rams’ 31-yard line. Four plays later, Taryll Boxton (So., RB, Albuquerque, NM/Del Norte H.S.) ran 8 yards for a touchdown. Quarterback Heath Ridenour (So., Lovington, NM/Lovington H.S.), making his first collegiate start in place of injured quarterback James Williams (Jr., Earth, TX/Springlake-Earth H.S.), gained 21 yards on 2 carries during the drive. Williams, who started the first five games this season, was unavailable due to a slight MCL tear (ligament) in his knee.

Junior place-kicker Mike Trimble (Houston, TX/Adams State College) added the PAT, as ENMU increased its lead to 9-0. The Greyhounds upped their advantage to 12-0, when Trimble added a 25-yard field goal with 5:12 left in the first quarter. The field goal was set up by a 16-yard punt by the Rams that was downed at the ASU 31-yard line.

ENMU continued to maintain its 12-point margin during the second quarter, despite heading into the wind. Meanwhile, the Rams reached the ENMU half of the field just once during the second period. That drive ended when George Yunes missed on a 50-yard field goal attempt. Angelo State headed into the half with a meager 41 yards on 29 offensive plays. The Greyhounds gained 147 yards in the first half on 32 plays.

The Greyhounds increased their lead to 18-0 in the third quarter on the strength of two more field goals by Trimble. His first field goal covered 40 yards and concluded a 9-play, 46-yard drive with 6:31 remaining in the third quarter. His next field goal was good from 33 yards. It went through the uprights with 2:04 left in the period.

Angelo State’s only touchdown of the game was scored with 3:15 left in the contest. Ricky Boehle recorded the touchdown on a 22-yard pass from Gilbert. The score finished an 8-play, 80-yard drive by the Rams. Joe Gibson hauled in a pass from Gilbert on ASU’s two-point conversion attempt.

After an onside kick was touched by ASU before going 10 yards, the ENMU offense took over at the Rams’ 43-yard line. The Greyhounds kept the ball the remainder of the game, preventing Angelo State from extending its comeback efforts.

ENMU’s defense kept the ASU offense in check for most of the contest. The Rams gained just 15 rushing yards on 30 carries, and completed only 8 of 35 passes. Gilbert’s eight completions resulted in 165 yards of offense.

Ridenour led the Greyhounds on offense, with 84 rushing yards on 19 carries. He also completed 4 of 11 passes for 45 yards. Aaron Dunnam (Fr., FB, Wheeler, TX/Wheeler H.S.) added 74 yards on 17 carries, and Dennis Beard (Jr., RB, Albuquerque, NM/N.M. Military Institute) gained 59 yards on 16 carries. The Eastern New Mexico rushing attack achieved 265 yards on 62 carries.

On defense, strong safety Marcus Rivers (Jr., Vallejo, CA/Solano C.C.) led the way with 8 total tackles, including an 11-yard sack and two other tackles for losses. Sophomore linebacker Jimmy Hamilton (Artesia, NM/New Mexico State) and junior linebacker Larry Varnado (Clovis, NM/Clovis H.S.) each provided 6 tackles.

Free safety Michael Garvin (Sr., Salinas, CA/Hartnell C.C.) contributed 5 tackles for the Greyhounds. Nelson Smith (Sr., DT, Albuquerque, NM/Univ. of Miami) earned 2 quarterback sacks, and Eric Mims (Fr., CB, Amarillo, TX/Palo Duro H.S.) was credited with 1 sack.

Matt Fryar topped the Angelo State defense with 15 total tackles. Jonathan Palafox earned 10 total tackles. Dane Krager recorded 9 tackles, including 2 quarterback sacks and 4 tackles for losses.

Eastern New Mexico returns home to Greyhound Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 14, to take on Tarleton State University in an LSC South game. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m. (MDT). Last year, the Greyhounds rallied from a 13-7 deficit early in the second half to defeat the Texans, 27-13, in Stephenville, Texas.