Athletic Report
September 9, 2000

GREYHOUNDS FALL TO HIGHLANDS, 30-22
LAS VEGAS, NM —The Eastern New Mexico University Greyhounds rallied in the closing minutes, but couldn’t overcome a 15-point second half deficit, as New Mexico Highlands University defeated ENMU, 30-22, Sept. 9 in Las Vegas, N.M. With the win, New Mexico Highlands improved to 1-1. ENMU fell to 1-1 on the season.

The Greyhounds trailed 30-15 with 6:41 left in the game, following a 22-yard field goal by NMHU kicker Justin Levine. ENMU cut the deficit to 30-22 on a 5-yard touchdown pass from quarterback James Williams (Jr., Earth, TX/Springlake-Earth H.S.) to wide receiver Cale Sanders (So., Roswell, NM/Goddard H.S.) with 3:15 left. The Hounds got the ball back with less than 2:00 remaining, and drove to the NMHU 17 before turning the ball over on downs.

New Mexico Highlands opened the scoring with 7:47 to go in the first quarter on a 40-yard field goal by Levine. The field goal ended a 7-play, 53-yard drive for the Cowboys.

ENMU moved in front 1:30 later, on an 11-yard run by sophomore running back Taryll Boxton (Albuquerque, NM/Del Norte H.S.). The big play of the drive was a 51-yard run by fullback Aaron Dunnam (So., Wheeler, TX/Wheeler H.S.) that brought the ball to the NMHU 20-yard line. The Greyhounds missed the extra point kick.

The Cowboys regained the lead on their next possession. NMHU drove from its own 13-yard line to the end zone in 11 plays. John Davis scored the touchdown on a 5-yard run with 0:54 left in the opening quarter, as NMHU took a 10-6 lead.

Just a few plays later, the Greyhounds turned the ball over to the Cowboys. Boxton fumbled at the ENMU 33-yard line, and the ball was recovered by Highlands as time expired in the quarter. NMHU quickly took advantage of the turnover, with Robbie Castillo scoring on a 33-yard run on the first play of the second quarter. Levine converted the extra point.

The score remained 17-6 until ENMU scored with 6:20 remaining in the first half. Boxton completed a 67-yard drive with a 1-yard, off-tackle run. Junior running back Dennis Beard (Albuquerque, NM/N.M. Military Inst.) took a pitch on the conversion, but was stopped before reaching the end zone. NMHU led, 17-12.

Eastern’s second turnover of the first half came with less than a minute remaining in the second quarter. Williams fumbled when he was hit by a pass rusher while setting up to throw. The Cowboys recovered the ball at the ENMU 17-yard line.

A pass interference call brought the ball to the 2-yard line. Three plays later, Levine kicked a 17-yard field goal as time expired in the half. NMHU led, 20-12, at the intermission.

Momentum appeared to move to ENMU in the third quarter, when the Greyhounds ended a 13-play drive with a 42-yard field goal by Mike Trimble (Jr., PK, Houston, TX/Adams State College) at the 5:07 mark. NMHU stopped the momentum when Castillo returned the ensuing kickoff 93 yards for a TD. Levine’s PAT increased NMHU’s advantage to 30-15.

ENMU, which gained 344 yards and allowed NMHU just 237 yards, used a turnover to set up the game’s next score. Highlands had the ball at its own 15-yard line after Isaac Carter intercepted a long pass. Two plays later, Davis fumbled and Larry Varnado (Jr., LB, Clovis, NM/Clovis H.S.) recovered for the Hounds. Following a 6-yard run by Beard and a personal foul against NMHU, Eastern scored on Williams’ 5-yard pass to Sanders.

With just one timeout and 3:15 remaining, ENMU attempted an onside kick. Stephen Todd (Fr., P, Lubbock, TX/Frenship H.S.) provided a quality kick, and ENMU had a chance to gain possession, but NMHU recovered the lose ball.

The Greyhounds stopped the Cowboys on four plays. Levine missed a 45-yard field goal, and Eastern took over at its own 27-yard line. A 43-yard pass to Sanders four plays later gave ENMU a first-and-10 at the NMHU 17-yard line. Williams spiked the ball to stop the clock, then threw incomplete passes on second and third down. On fourth down, Williams kept the ball on a quarterback draw, but was stopped short of the first down. NMHU ran out the clock.

Dunnam earned 71 yards on 7 carries, leading ENMU to 187 yards on the ground. Williams was 6 of 18 passing and Heath Ridenour (So., QB, Lovington, NM/Lovington H.S.) completed 3 of 8 passes, as ENMU added 157 passing yards. NMHU gained 142 rushing yards, led by Louis Hinchey with 81 yards on 16 carries. Daniel DePrato was 9 of 20 for 95 yards.

Sanders caught 5 passes for 109 yards, while Josh Lynn (Sr., TE, Eunice, NM/Eunice H.S.) added 2 catches for 49 yards. Hinchey, Davis and Castillo each caught two passes for NMHU.

Jimmy Hamilton (So., LB, Artesia, NM/N.M. State) led the Greyhounds on defense, recording 12 total tackles, including 8 unassisted stops. He also forced NMHU’s fumble. Tonmar Johnson (Sr., CB, Vallejo, CA/ Henderson State) added 5 tackles and 2 assists. The leading tackler for NMHU was John Collier with 10 tackles. Mark Chavez added 9 tackles.

ENMU plays at home on Saturday, Sept. 16 against Midwestern State University. Kickoff for the Lone Star Conference crossover game is set for 6:00 p.m. (MST).