Athletic Report
October 21, 2000

TEXAS A&M-COMMERCE EDGES GREYHOUNDS
Lions Win Defensive Battle, 9-7
COMMERCE, TX — Texas A&M University - Commerce won a defensive battle with the Eastern New Mexico University Greyhounds on Saturday, Oct. 21, as the Lions defeated ENMU, 9-7, in a Lone Star Conference South Division game. A&M-Commerce improved to 3-5 on the season, while upping its record in the LSC South to 1-2. The Greyhounds fell to 4-4 overall and to 2-2 in the LSC South.

Rain fell periodically throughout the game. The wet field conditions helped the defensive units control the game. ENMU and A&M-C combined for just 258 total yards, with the Lions gaining 143 yards and the Greyhounds earning 115 yards.

Not surprisingly, both touchdowns — one per team — came on short drives following turnovers. Neither team had a sustained drive during the contest.

Texas A&M-Commerce scored the game’s first points with 3:15 left in the first quarter on a 1-yard run by Adrian Barnes. The touchdown came 5 plays after Jessie Brooks intercepted a deflected pass at the ENMU 31-yard line.

Neither team scored again until the first play of the fourth quarter, when Bryan Smith of A&M-C tackled ENMU quarterback James Williams (Jr., Earth, TX/Springlake- Earth H.S.) in the end zone for a safety. Williams was setting up to pass after the Hounds took over at their own 1-yard line on a punt.

The punt preceding the safety was the second consecutive kick to pin ENMU inside its own 5-yard line. The Greyhounds started at the 4-yard line on the previous possession.

ENMU’s defense, which allowed just 2.1 yard per rush and limited A&M-C quarterback Will Shaw to 5 completions on 11 attempts, created a break for the Hounds with 5:34 left in the game. Garett Williams (Sr., LB, Monahans, TX/Monahans H.S.) forced a fumble, and Larry Varnado (Jr., LB, Clovis, NM/Clovis H.S.) recovered the ball at the Lions’ 18-yard line.

Three plays later, on 3rd-and-8, quarterback Heath Ridenour (So., Lovington, NM/ Lovington H.S.) connected with Brian Weimer (Sr., WR, Clovis, NM/Clovis H.S.) on a 16-yard touchdown pass. Place-kicker Mike Trimble (Jr., Houston, TX/Adams State) converted the extra point, cutting the ENMU deficit to 9-7.

On the first play by Texas A&M-Commerce after Eastern’s touchdown, the Lions appeared to score on a 77-yard run, but the play was negated by a holding penalty. The ball was moved back to the A&M-C 13-yard line, but an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against ENMU moved the ball to the 28-yard line, leaving the Lions with 1st-and-5. A&M-C picked up the first down on the next play.

After three more plays, the Lions were forced to punt. Officials ruled the punt touched an ENMU player as it landed, and A&M-C took over after recovering the ball at the ENMU 29-yard line with 1:44 remaining.

Eastern used its final timeout during the possession, but the Lions were still able to run out the clock. Intentional losses on all three plays, plus two penalties against the Lions, forced Texas A&M-Commerce to punt from it own 38-yard line with 9 seconds left. Time ran out as the ball was downed at the ENMU 25-yard line.

Brooks led the Texas A&M-Commerce defense with 8 total tackles, 2 tackles for losses, a fumble recovery and an interception. Demetrius Rector added 7 tackles, while Smith finished the game with 5 tackles, including 2 tackles for losses.

ENMU’s defensive efforts were led by Michael Garvin (Sr., FS, Salinas, CA/Hartnell C.C.), who recorded 18 tackles (2 for losses). Other top tacklers for the Greyhounds were James Stewart (Sr., DE, Anton, TX/N.M. Mil. Inst.) with 6 tackles, Justin Hibbler (So., CB, Lubbock, TX/Estacado H.S.) with 5 tackles, and Garett Williams, also with 5 tackles.

Aaron Dunnam (So., FB, Wheeler, TX/Wheeler H.S.) topped the Hounds with 34 rushing yards on 8 carries. Taryll Boxton (So., RB, Albuquerque, NM/Del Norte H.S.) gained 18 yards on 4 carries. Ridenour completed 2 of 6 passes for 23 yards and Williams completed 2 of 4 passes for 19 yards. Josh Lynn (Sr., TE, Eunice, TX/Eunice H.S.) hauled in a 20-yard pass for ENMU’s longest play from scrimmage.

The longest play for A&M-C was a 24-yard reception by Cendric Bonner, who finished with 2 catches for 26 yards. Zack Hudson caught 2 passes for 18 yards. Barnes led the A&M-C rushing attack with 52 yards on 16 carries. Ronnie Humphrey gained 46 yards on 21 carries.

Eastern New Mexico hosts Texas A&M University - Kingsville on Saturday, Oct. 28 at Greyhound Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Last year, TAMUK defeated the Greyhounds, 42-7, in Kingsville, Texas.