Athletic Report
October 31, 2000

HIBBLER NAMED NATIONAL DEFENSIVE PLAYER-OF-THE-WEEK BY “Division2insider.com”
PORTALES, NM — Justin Hibbler, a 5’9”, 165-pound sophomore cornerback at Eastern New Mexico University, was chosen National Defensive Player-of-the-Week by Division2insider.com for games played on Saturday, October 28. Overall, three players were named Division 2 Insider National Players-of-the-Week: Hibbler on defense, wide receiver Chad Luttrull of Henderson State on offense, and Western Washington strong safety Erik Totten on special teams.

Luttrull caught 18 passes for a Gulf South record 352 yards and 3 touchdowns in Henderson State’s 42-40 loss to Arkansas Tech. Totten returned four punts for 112 yards, including a 69-yard return for a touchdown, as Western Washington defeated Simon Fraser University (Canada), 55-13. Totten also returned 2 kickoffs for 58 yards.

Hibbler (Lubbock, TX/Estacado H.S.) returned an interception 100-yard on the final play of the first half, as ENMU took a 28-7 halftime lead in its 35-7 victory over Texas A&M University-Kingsville. Hibbler also provided solid coverage in the secondary, as the Greyhounds limited TAMUK to 181 yards of total offense.

Hibbler actually returned the interception 102 yards, but under NCAA rules it was ruled officially a 100-yard return, tying the NCAA record. It was the second interception Hibbler has returned for a touchdown at ENMU. He returned an errant pass 34 yards for a touchdown as a freshman in last year’s season opener at Western New Mexico. He leads this year’s team with 4 interceptions for the season.

Hibbler’s selection gives ENMU two National Defensive Players-of-the-Week during the month of October. Defensive end James Stewart (Sr., Anton, TX/N.M. Mil. Inst.) was named National Player-of-the-Week by Don Hansen’s Football Gazette for his efforts against Tarleton State University (34-27 win) on Oct. 14.

Prior to Hibbler’s interception, TAMU-Kingsville was gaining momentum. The Javelinas scored midway through the second quarter to cut their deficit to 21-7, and were threatening to add another touchdown before halftime. On 1st-and-goal at the ENMU 7-yard line, Kingsville QB Lamar Amos threw to the left flat in the end zone, where Hibbler intercepted the pass.

Hibbler ran down the right sideline for the first forty yards, receiving a quality block from Stewart. He cut back toward the middle of the field, beat the last defender, and scored near the left sideline.

The win was ENMU’s second ever over TAMU-Kingsville. Eastern’s other win was a 34-28 triumph on Nov. 8, 1986. The Javelinas had won 13 consecutive games prior to Saturday. TAMUK now leads the all-time series, 14-2. Eastern New Mexico, 5-4 overall, is second in the LSC South (3-2), and trails first place Angelo State (2-1) by percentage points. If

ENMU wins its season finale at West Texas A&M University next Saturday (Nov. 4) and Angelo State loses one of its final three games, the Greyhounds will clinch at least a tie for the LSC South title. In 1999, ENMU and Angelo State were LSC South Co-Champions.