Athletic Report
October 6, 2001

ANGELO STATE SCORES TWICE ON FUMBLES AS RAMS SHUT OUT GREYHOUNDS, 28-0
PORTALES, NM — Angelo State University returned two fumbles for touchdowns and scored on the first play following an interception, as the Rams defeated Eastern New Mexico University, 28-0, at Greyhound Stadium, Oct. 6. Eastern, ranked #25 in NCAA Division II, lost its Homecoming game for the third consecutive season and fell to 4-2 overall.

ASU improved to 3-2 on the season and to 2-0 in the Lone Star Conference South Division. Eastern New Mexico fell to 0-2 in the LSC South. Overall, ENMU committed 4 turnovers, while Angelo State did not have a turnover in the game.

The Greyhounds gained three more offensive yards than ASU (258 to 255), ran 15 more plays (68 to 53) and had possession of the ball for 34:25. Even so, Eastern was shut out for the first time since losing at Angelo State, 38-0, on October 8, 1994.

The Greyhounds had scored in 75 consecutive games. ASU took a 7-0 lead just 1:04 into the game. The Rams scored on a 54-yard touchdown pass from Sterlin Gilbert to Lance Cauthen one play after John Palafox intercepted a pass by Heath Ridenour (Jr., QB, Lovington, NM/Lovington H.S.) on ENMU’s second play from scrimmage.

Neither team scored the rest of the first half, although Eastern drove from its own 29-yard line to the Angelo State 2-yard line early in the second quarter. The Greyhounds had 1st-and-goal at the ASU 7, but Rashad Conway tackled Dennis Beard (Sr., RB, Albuquerque, NM/N.M. Military Inst.) for a 1-yard loss on 4th-and-goal at the 2-yard line to complete a goal line stand.

The Rams increased their lead to 14-0 early in the second half. ENMU started the half at its own 35-yard line when the kickoff by ASU went out of bounds. On the first play, Cale Sanders (Jr., WR, Roswell, NM/Goddard H.S.) caught a short pass at the 37-yard line, and was driven backward. Before the play was stopped by officials, Sanders fumbled near the sideline.

Dane Krager recovered for ASU and scampered 34 yards for a touchdown. DeWayne Wages made the extra point on his way to a 4 for 4 day on PATs. ENMU was forced to punt on its next possession, and Angelo State took over at its own 46-yard line. The Rams drove 54 yards in 8 plays, and scored on a 1-yard run by Jarrett Lambert with 10:22 left in the third quarter. Wages’ extra point kick gave the Rams a 21-0 lead.

The final touchdown for ASU came late in the third quarter. Punter Neil Martinez had pinned Eastern at its own 13-yard line with a 54-yard punt aided by a strong northerly wind. On the fifth play of the drive, ASU’s Curry Dawson and Dane Krager sacked Ridenour (Jr., Lovington, NM/ Lovington H.S.). One play later, ENMU running back Taryll Boxton (Jr., Albuquerque, NM/ Del Norte H.S.) fumbled at the 21-yard line. Justin Carrigan recovered for ASU and scored on an 18-yard return with 1:07 remaining in the quarter.

Eastern threatened to score three times in the final period. Steven Hinson (Fr., QB, Olney, TX/Olney H.S.) blocked an ASU punt early in the quarter and Aaron Dunnam (Jr., FB, Wheeler, TX/Wheeler H.S.) recovered for the Greyhounds at the Rams’ 23-yard line. Six plays later, on 3rd-and-3 at the 5-yard line, Boxton carried the ball inside the one, but fumbled, and John Woolard recovered for ASU at the 3-yard line. He returned the ball 11 yards.

The Hounds reached the Angelo State 31-yard line later in the quarter. Mike Trimble (Sr., PK, Houston, TX/Adams State) missed just wide to the left on a 49-yard field goal attempt on 4th-and-10 with 4:43 remaining. ASU was forced to punt four plays later, and ENMU drove from its own 36 to the ASU 32 in the final 2:25. Time expired to end the drive.

Gilbert finished the game 10 of 20 passing for 155 yards and one touchdown. He also ran for 46 yards on 9 carries. Cauthen caught 4 passes for 105 yards, while Ben Reid carried the ball 14 times for 45 yards. Jamin Phipps led the ASU defense with 14 total tackles, including 2 tackles for losses and a quarterback sack. Lynn Hadnot added 10 tackles for the Rams. Krager achieved 9 total tackles, 3 tackles for losses and 1.5 quarterback sacks to go with his 34-yard touchdown on a fumble return.

Eastern’s offense was led by senior running back Antoine Lacy (Richmond, CA/Contra Costa College), who carried the ball 13 times for 122 yards. His longest carry was a 61-yard run on the drive that ended with Angelo State’s goal line stand.

Ridenour was 5 of 12 passing for 36 yards and one interception, while senior quarterback James Williams (Earth, TX/Springlake-Earth H.S.) was 1 of 2 for 18 yards and no interceptions. Sanders caught 4 passes for 45 yards. Defensively, the Hounds received 10 total tackles from Larry Varnado (Sr., LB, Clovis, NM/ Clovis H.S.). Varnado registered 2 tackles for losses and 0.5 sacks. Freshman strong safety Adrian Quigley (Lubbock, TX/Monterey H.S.) made 8 total tackles (5 solo), including 2 tackles for losses.

The Greyhounds will return to action on Saturday, Oct. 13 at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. (MST).