Athletic Report
April 7, 2001

SILVER TEAM EDGES GREEN TEAM 31-30 IN GREEN VS. SILVER SPRING GAME
PORTALES, NM — Junior quarterback James Williams (Earth, TX/Springlake-Earth H.S.) completed 11 of 15 passes for 220 yards, including touchdown passes of 13 yards and 61 yards to sophomore wide receiver Cale Sanders (Roswell, NM/Goddard H.S.), as the Silver Team edged the Green Team, 31-30, in the annual Green vs. Silver Spring Game, April 7 at Greyhound Stadium. The Silver Team preserved the win by stopping a 2-point conversion by the Green Team with 1:27 left in the game.

The teams combined for 881 yards of total offense. The Silver Team amassed 470 yards and the Green Team gained 411 yards. Eastern’s Green vs. Silver Spring Game completed spring football practice for the Greyhounds. Sanders scored both of his touchdowns in the first half, which ended in a 21-21 tie.

The Silver Team had 20:37 of possession time in the first two quarters, but two touchdowns on fumble recoveries enabled the Green Team to stay even at the half. Adrian Quigley (Redshirt, RB, Lubbock, TX/Monterey H.S.) scored the game’s first touchdown on a 58-yard fumble return for the Green Team with 8:28 left in the first quarter. Sanders completed a 7-play, 95-yard drive with his 13-yard touchdown reception at the 3:44 mark of the opening period to tie the score.

Taryll Boxton (So., RB, Albuquerque, NM/Del Norte H.S.) answered just 39 seconds later with a 59-yard run, giving the Green Team a 14-7 lead. Williams tied the game for the Silver squad on a 1-yard run with 9:23 left in the second quarter.

The touchdown by Williams capped an 81-yard drive that lasted 11 plays. Sanders hauled in his 61-yard pass with 2:53 remaining in the half, as the Silver claimed a 21-14 advantage. Cornerback Eric Mims (Fr., Amarillo, TX/Palo Duro H.S.) pulled the Green Team even by taking a Silver fumble and returning it 36 yards for a touchdown with 0:46 left in the quarter.

The Silver Team built a 10-point lead in the third quarter. Sophomore fullback Randy Montoya (Roswell, NM/Goddard H.S.) scored on a 12-yard run to give the Silver a 28-21 lead with 6:49 left in the period. The TD drive covered 80-yard in 6 plays, including a 22-yard run by Williams and a 39-yard pass to Sanders. Place-kicker Mike Trimble (Jr., Houston, TX/Adams State College), who kicked for both teams, converted the extra point and added a 41-yard field goal with 2:05 remaining in the quarter.

Trimble kicked a 35-yard field goal for the Green Team at the end of a 12-play, 59-yard drive on the next possession. The field goal pulled the Green to within a touchdown, 31-24, with 8:02 left. The drive that nearly tied the game began at the Green 28-yard with 6:01 remaining. Heath Ridenour (So., QB, Lovington, NM/Lovington H.S.) completed 5 of 7 passes for 53 yards, and rushed 4 times for 20 yards, during the drive.

The big play for the Green Team was a 25-yard pass from Ridenour to Dennis Beard (Jr., RB, Albuquerque, NM/N.M. Mil. Inst.) on 4th-and-7 at the Silver 27-yard line. Ridenour scored three plays later on a 3-yard run.

The Green Team went for the win on a 2-point conversion. Ridenour completed a pass to Boxton behind the line of scrimmage, but he was knocked out of bounds near the 2-yard line. The Silver Team ran out the final 1:27 to preserve the win.

Williams and Sanders were directly involved in three of the Silver’s touchdowns, but Antoine Lacy (Jr., RB, Richmond, CA/Contra Costa J.C.) also made important contributions in the win. He carried the ball 13 times for 113 yards, including a long carry of 51 yards. Sanders finished with 5 catches for 128 yards, plus a 53-yard gain on a double-reverse. In addition to throwing for 220 yards, Williams gained 42 yards on 14 running plays.

Ridenour was 12 of 20 for 196 yards for the Green Team. Wide receiver Desmond Hill (Redshirt, Odessa, TX/Permian H.S.) caught 3 passes for 81 yards, including a 60-yarder. Beard hauled in 5 passes for 55 yards, and Chris Olivas (Jr., WR, Artesia, NM/N.M. Military Institute) caught 1 pass for 37 yards. Boxton led the Green Team in rushing, with 11 carries for 131 yards and 1 touchdown. Ridenour added 53 yards on 11 carries.

Defensive leaders for the Silver Team were Larry Varnado (Jr., LB, Clovis, NM/Clovis H.S.), Cesar Cardiel (Transfer, DB, Levelland, TX/South Plains College) and Jonathan Solis (Transfer, FS, Roswell, NM/N.M. Military Institute) with 10 total tackles each. Cardiel and Jeff Waugh (Fr., SS, Odessa, ,TX/Permian H.S.) each recorded 1 quarterback sack.

The leading tackler for the Green Team was linebacker David Ethell (So., Albuquerque, NM/ Eldorado H.S.), with 7 unassisted stops and 4 assists for 11 total tackles. Chris Murry (Fr., FS, Odessa, TX/Permian H.S.) added 9 total tackles, while Wayne Childs (So., DE, Odessa, TX/ Permian H.S.) recorded 3 tackles for losses, including 2 quarterback sacks for 14 yards lost.

The game was officiated by a crew from Lubbock, Texas, which donated its time. Kickoffs were returned, but the ball was dead on all punts. The first quarter was 15 minutes, with the final three quarters lasting 12 minutes each.

Team captains for next fall were announced. They will be Jimmy Hamilton (LB, Artesia, NM/ New Mexico State), James Williams (QB, Earth, TX/Springlake-Earth H.S.), E.J. Ume (LB, Lubbock TX/Estacado H.S.), Justin Hibbler (CB, Lubbock, TX/Estacado H.S.), Tyson Burkett (C, Lovington, NM/Lovington H.S.) and Larry Varnado (LB, Clovis, NM/Clovis H.S.). Varnado and Williams will be seniors. Burkett, Hamilton, Hibbler and Ume will be juniors.

The ENMU spring football awards also were presented. Jose Martinez (Fr., OG, Artesia, NM/ Artesia H.S.) received the award for Outstanding Achievement in the Weight Room. Cale Sanders (So., WR, Roswell, NM/Goddard H.S.) was named Most Outstanding Offensive Player, and Jimmy Hamilton (So., LB, Artesia, NM/New Mexico State) was chosen Most Outstanding Defensive Player. Michael Connelly (So., DT, Portales, NM/Portales H.S.) received the Most Improved Player Award. Larry and Christy Clark, parents of Rowdy Clark (Jr., OG, Earth, TX/Springlake-Earth H.S.) were presented the 2001 Award of Excellence for their involvement in organizing the Spring Barbecue, which was held following the game.

ENMU, which finished 6-4 in 2000 (4-2 LSC South), has recorded back-to-back Lone Star Conference South Division co-championships. The Greyhounds will start the 2001 season at Western New Mexico University on Saturday, Sept. 1 (Time TBA). ENMU Head Coach Harold “Bud” Elliott has been named LSC South Coach-of-the-Year each of the past three seasons.