Athletic Report
September 2, 2001

ENMU OPENS SEASON WITH 70-7 ROUT OF WNMU
Greyhounds Score Most Points Since 1984
SILVER CITY, NM — The Eastern New Mexico University football team broke open a close game with five touchdowns in the second quarter on its way to a 70-7 rout of in-state rival Western New Mexico University, Sept. 1 at Ben Altamirano Stadium. Koefie Powell (So., FB, Odessa, TX/Permian H.S.) and Heath Ridenour (Jr., QB, Lovington, NM/Lovington H.S.) each scored two touchdowns, helping ENMU win its fourth consecutive season opener.

The 70 points by ENMU were the most since the Hounds defeated Southern Colorado, 70-13, on Oct. 6, 1984. The score was four points short of Eastern’s all-time record of 74 points, set against Omaha University on Oct. 11, 1958. ENMU’s score at WNMU did set a record for points in a road game. The Southern Colorado and Omaha games were both Homecoming games played at Eastern.

Only one touchdown was scored in the first quarter in this year’s game at WNMU. Taryll Boxton (Jr., RB, Albuquerque, NM/Del Norte H.S.) recorded the touchdown on a 1-yard run at the end of a 9-play, 70-yard drive. Mike Trimble (Sr., PK, Houston, TX/Adams State College), missed the extra point, but ENMU remained in front, 6-0, with 2:27 left in the quarter. Trimble converted 8 consecutive PATs later in the game.

Eastern increased its lead to 14-0 with a touchdown at the 12:05 mark of the second quarter. Powell scored the TD on a 30-yard run. Ridenour added two points by hitting Richard Stevens (So., RB, Smyer, TX/Smyer H.S.) with a pass on the conversion attempt.

The half concluded with a scoring frenzy, as five touchdowns were scored in the final 6:30. Four of the touchdowns were scored by ENMU, giving the Hounds a 42-7 halftime lead. Ridenour scored on the first of his two 1-yard TD runs with 6:30 on the clock, then Powell added another 1-yard run with 5:38 remaining. Powell’s touchdown came on the first play after ENMU’s Adrian Quigley (Fr., SS, Lubbock, TX/Monterey H.S.) blocked a WNMU punt and Aaron Dunnam (Jr., FB, Wheeler, TX/Wheeler H.S.) fell on the ball at the Mustangs’ 1-yard line.

Western New Mexico recorded its only points of the game on a 40-yard pass from Damien Ocampo to Torrey Myer with 4:28 left in the half. Ocampo scrambled in the backfield for about 10 seconds, then spotted Myers in the end zone. Ramsey Yamini kicked the extra point.

The Mustangs had a chance to pull closer when Donnell Terrell forced an Eastern fumble two plays later. WNMU’s Sergio Campos recovered the loose ball at the Eastern 27-yard line. WNMU’s possession was also short-lived, as Ocampo’s fourth-and-four pass was intercepted by Robert Caballero (Fr., DE, Lubbock, TX/Frenship H.S.) at the ENMU 21 and returned 79 yards for a touchdown. Trimble kicked the PAT, giving the Hounds a 35-7 lead.

Jeff Howard (Fr., LB, Portales, NM/Portales H.S.) forced a fumble on the following kickoff, and Eastern’s Kane Sweet recovered the pigskin at the WNMU 14-yard line. Wide receiver Cale Sanders (Jr., Roswell, NM/Goddard H.S.) scored on a reverse on the very next play.

Sanders also accounted for all of Eastern’s pass receptions in the first half, as he hauled in 4 passes for 112 yards, with the longest catch covering 34 yards. He played sparingly in the second half, and did not catch any additional passes.

Ridenour left the game after completing 6 of 9 passes for 119 yards. He scored on a 1-yard run with 5:06 remaining in the third quarter, then gave way to Steven Hinson (Fr., QB, Olney, TX/Olney H.S.). Hinson increased ENMU’s lead to 56-7 with a 6-yard pass to Brad Holland (Jr., TE, Ruidoso, NM/Tucumcari H.S.) with 1:58 to go in the quarter.

Dunnam scored on a 4-yard run, and Larry Moss (Jr., RB, Houston, TX/Blinn J.C.) rushed 5 yards for a touchdown, to complete the scoring in the fourth period. ENMU reached the WNMU 4-yard line late in the game, but downed the ball three times to run out the clock.

A total of 12 players carried the ball for Eastern, and earned a combined 364 yards on 63 running plays. Dunnam led the rushing attack with 12 carries for 54 yards, and Boxton added 50 yards on 8 carries. Eight other runners gained at least 20 yards for ENMU. The Greyhounds achieved 489 yards on offense and earned 28 first downs.

Defensively, the Hounds limited the Mustangs to 95 passing yards on 9 of 24 passes. Eastern also held WNMU to 97 rushing yards on 34 carries. Ocampo was 9 of 21 in the air, and topped Western in rushing with 8 carries for 36 yards.

Jonathon Solis (Jr., FS, Roswell, NM/N.M. Mil. Inst.) led the ENMU defense with 7 tackles. Larry Varnado (Sr., LB, Clovis, NM/Clovis H.S.) added 6 tackles — all unassisted — while Jeremiah Johnson (Jr., DE, Clovis, NM/U. of New Mexico) provided 4 solo tackles and 2 assists. Steven Todd (So., P, Lubbock, TX/Frenship H.S.) averaged 44.0 yards on two punts, and Ty Touchstone (Fr., DB, Lubbock, TX/Monterey H.S.) gained 23 yards on two punt returns. Moss returned one kickoff for 22 yards.

The Greyhounds host New Mexico Highlands University on Saturday, Sept. 8, in Eastern’s home opener. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. (MST) at Greyhound Stadium.