Athletic Report
October 4, 2001

GREYHOUNDS COMMIT FOUR TURNOVERS
IN 35-21 LOSS AT ABILENE CHRISTIAN
ABILENE, TX — Eastern New Mexico University, ranked #18 in NCAA Division II, threw two interceptions and lost two fumbles, as the previously undefeated Greyhounds were upset by Abilene Christian University, 35-21, at Shotwell Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 29. ACU, which improved to 2-3 overall and to 1-0 in the Lone Star Conference South Division, did not commit a turnover, as the Wildcats registered their third straight victory over ENMU.

The Greyhounds fell to 4-1 overall and to 0-1 in the LSC South. ACU has committed just one turnover in its three-game winning streak against the Hounds. In the same three games, ENMU has lost the ball 10 times on turnovers.

Abilene Christian edged Eastern 31-28 in 1999 and 23-21 in 2000. Both times Eastern went on to tie for the LSC title. At Saturday’s game in Abilene, Texas, the Wildcats took an early 7-0 lead just one play after ENMU’s first turnover.

Running back Eric Polk scored the touchdown on a 19-yard run with 10:52 left in the first quarter, and Eben Nelson kicked the extra point. The touchdown was set up when Nick Gray recovered a fumble after ENMU quarterback Heath Ridenour was hit as he prepared to release a pass. Polk finished the game with 102 rushing yards on 28 carries. He scored three touchdowns for the Wildcats.

ACU increased its lead when Polk scored on a 2-yard run with 4:42 remaining in the opening period to complete a 9-play, 64-yard drive. The key play of the drive came on 4th-and-16 at the ACU 30-yard line, when ENMU received a roughing the kicker penalty, giving the Wildcats an automatic first down. Polk crossed the goal line five plays later, as the Wildcats took a 14-0 lead.

The Greyhounds scored their first points of the night at the 8:33 mark of the second quarter. Sophomore fullback Koefie Powell (Odessa, TX/Permian H.S.) finished an 80-yard drive on a 2-yard touchdown run. Mike Trimble (Sr., PK, Houston, TX/Adams State) kicked the extra point, as ENMU cut the deficit to 14-7.

Abilene Christian did not score after Jody Clayton intercepted at ENMU pass on the Hounds’ next possession, but the Wildcats increased their lead to 21-7 when Eastern committed its second fumble of the game. Ridenour was pitching the ball to a running back deep in ENMU territory. Ryan Boozer deflected the pitch at the ENMU 7-yard line and recovered the ball near the end zone before scoring a touchdown on the play. Eastern New Mexico forced ACU to punt at the start of the second half.

The Greyhounds took over at their own 27-yard line and drove to the ACU 24-yard line in 10 plays. On the next play, senior quarterback James Williams (Earth, TX/Springlake-Earth H.S.) threw a medium- range pass intended for Cale Sanders (Jr., WR, Roswell, NM/Goddard H.S.). David Jones hauled in the pass for ACU instead, and returned the ball 6 yards to the Abilene Christian 18-yard line.

Four plays later, reserve quarterback Greg Wiggins connected with Rodney Vanduren on a 21-yard scoring pass. The 82-yard drive featured a 62-yard pass from Wiggins to Odis Dolton. Nelson kicked the extra point with 5:17 left in the third quarter for a 28-7 ACU lead. Wiggins played nearly all of the second half after ACU starter Colby Freeman broke his ankle.

Freeman was 2 of 9 passing for 36 yards. Wiggins finished the game with 4 completions on 5 attempts for 109 yards and one touchdown. Eastern cut its deficit to 28-14 with a 10-play, 76-yard drive. Nine plays were runs, with the remaining play covering 28 yards on a pass from Williams to wide receiver Josh Quebe (Fr., Lockney, TX/Lockney H.S.). Antoine Lacy (Sr., RB, Richmond, CA/Contra Costa College) completed the drive with a 7-yard touchdown run on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Taryll Boxton (Jr., RB, Albuquerque, NM/Del Norte H.S.), carried the ball 5 times for 23 yards during the drive. Polk recorded his final touchdown with 8:18 left. His 1-yard run came at the end of a time- consuming 65-yard drive that featured 12 plays and lasted 6:37.

ENMU completed the scoring when Larry Moss (Jr., RB, Houston, TX/Blinn J.C.) caught a touchdown pass from Ridenour on 4th-and-2 at the ACU 4-yard line with 2:18 remaining. The Greyhounds gained 346 yards and ran 78 offensive plays, compared to 269 yards and 53 plays for the Wildcats. Eastern also earned 23 first downs, while ACU managed just 15 first downs.

ENMU had possession of the ball for 33:04 during the game. Boxton was Eastern’s top offensive threat. He rushed for 66 yards on 9 carries and caught 2 passes for 26 yards. Sanders caught 5 passes for 40 yards, while Lacy gained 56 yards on 12 carries and Powell contributed 54 yards on 8 carries.

For ACU, Polk’s 102 rushing yards and Wiggins’ 109 passing yards led the way. Jacob Pruitt was the only Wildcat with more than one pass reception. He caught 2 passes for 65 yards. Punter Brad Raphelt made significant contributions with an average of 42.2 yards on 5 punts, including two inside the 20-yard line.

The Greyhounds, who completed a 3-game road trip at Abilene Christian, have played four of their first five games on the road. ENMU will play three of its final five games at home, starting with the Homecoming Game against Angelo State University on Saturday, Oct. 6. Kickoff at Greyhound Stadium is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. (MST).