Athletic Report
September 22, 2001

GREYHOUNDS SCORE FINAL 29 POINTS FOR 57-35 WIN AT CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
EDMOND, OK — Eastern New Mexico University scored 29 unanswered points in the fourth quarter, as the Greyhounds rallied from an 8-point deficit to defeat the University of Central Oklahoma, 57-35, Saturday, Sept. 22 at Wantland Stadium.

ENMU, ranked #20 in NCAA Division II, improved to 4-0 on the season and to 2-0 in the Lone Star Conference overall standings. Central Oklahoma dropped to 1-3 overall and to 0-2 in the LSC.

The Greyhounds trailed 35-28 late in the third quarter, but regained the lead on an 11-yard touchdown run by Aaron Dunnam (Jr., FB, Wheeler, TX/Wheeler H.S.), followed by a two-point conversion, with 11:56 left in the game.

ENMU added a 1-yard touchdown run by Taryll Boxton (Jr., RB, Albuquerque, NM/Del Norte H.S.) just over three minutes later for a 43-35 advantage. The Hounds completed the scoring with two touchdowns in the final two and half minutes.

Dunnam’s go-ahead touchdown capped a 3-play, 63-yard drive. The drive featured a 48-yard pass from James Williams (Sr., QB, Earth, TX/Springlake-Earth H.S.) to Cale Sanders (Jr., WR, Roswell, NM/Goddard H.S.) that brought the ball to the UCO 15-yard line. Boxton gained 4 yards on the next play, then Dunnam scampered into the end zone to cut UCO’s lead to 35-34.

A bad snap on the extra point forced holder Steven Hinson (Fr., QB, Olney, TX/Olney H.S.) to run with the ball. He eluded two tacklers in the backfield, before diving to the goal line for two points and a 36-35 ENMU lead.

On the Bronchos’ first play following the kickoff, Eastern cornerback Justin Hibbler (Jr., Lubbock, TX/Estacado H.S.) intercepted Brett Manning’s pass and returned it 22 yards to the UCO 38-yard line.Six plays later — all on the ground — Boxton scored, and Mike Trimble (Sr., PK, Houston, TX/Adams State College) kicked the extra point.

The drive took 3:07 and included a 19-yard carry by Antoine Lacy (Sr., RB, Richmond, CA/Contra Costa College). Dunnam, Boxton and Lacy each scored a touchdown in the second quarter, then added a TD in the final period. Dunnam’s 1-yard run with 8:04 left in the half gave ENMU a 14-6 lead.

Boxton, who topped all rushers with 14 carries for 162 yards, scored his first TD on an 89-yard run, as the Hounds took a 20-9 lead with 3:41 left in the half. His run was 3 yards short of the ENMU record of 92 yards, set by Andrew Sanders in 1967 and Eric Craig in 1987.

After UCO cut the lead to 20-15 on a 15-yard run by Greg Briley at the 1:33 mark, Lacy answered with a 5-yard touchdown jaunt with 27 seconds remaining in the half. He later provided a 1-yard touchdown run with 2:13 left in the game. Lacy’s first half score was set up by a 77-yard kickoff return by Hinson, plus a face mask penalty against UCO, as the Greyhounds took over at the Bronchos’ 7-yard line.

Lacy’s second touchdown finished a 9-play, 46-yard drive following a 21-yard punt by UCO. Eastern’s final touchdown was recorded by Larry Moss (Jr., RB, Houston, TX/Blinn J.C.) on a 6-yard rush. Trimble converted the extra point. The first half featured seven scoring plays, with ENMU taking a 28-15 advantage into the intermission.

Sanders opened the scoring on an 80-yard punt return with 11:10 left in the opening quarter. UCO countered with a 1-yard rushing touchdown by Briley only 1:03 later and just two plays after he dashed 64 yards to the ENMU 1-yard line.

Trimble converted the extra point for Eastern, but UCO’s conversion attempt by Jason Thomason failed. Sanders’ touchdown was his second on a punt return this season. He finished the game with 2 returns for 87 yards. He also caught 5 passes for 138 yards and scored on a 2-point conversion pass after Lacy’s first touchdown. Briley rushed for 122 yards on 16 carries for UCO.

Eastern’s running backs and Briley combined for four touchdowns in the second quarter. The only other scoring play in the period was a 27-yard field goal by A.J. Haglund of Central Oklahoma. The field goal cut Eastern’s lead to 14-9 with 4:09 to go in the half.

UCO controlled the third quarter, scoring three times, while keeping the Hounds out of the end zone. Manning hit Jace Sherrell with a 10-yard scoring pass, then Eric Gooden tacked on a 6-yard TD run two plays after UCO recovered a blocked punt at the ENMU 13-yard line. Dee Dee Carter caught a 90-yard scoring strike from Manning with 3:26 left in the quarter. Haglund made the first two PATs, but missed the third, leaving UCO in front, 35-28.

The Hounds gained 459 yards, including 305 yards on the ground. Boxton recorded his first ever 100-yard game, while Lacy added 80 yards on 20 carries. Heath Ridenour (Jr., QB, Lovington, NM/Lovington H.S.) completed 2 of 6 passes for 49 yards and Williams was 4 of 4 for 105 yards.

UCO gained 432 total yards, as the teams combined for 891 yards. The Bronchos gained 192 yards on 34 running plays. Manning provided 240 passing yards, with 12 completions on 24 attempts. Carter caught 6 passes for 196 yards.

Jonathon Solis (Jr., FS/Roswell, NM/N.M. Military Institute) led ENMU with 3 solo tackles and 13 assists. Adrian Quigley (Fr., SS, Lubbock, TX/Monterey H.S.) registered 4 tackles and 7 assists, plus a sack, a pass break-up and a forced fumble. Richard Bentley recorded 11 assists for UCO.

The Greyhounds will complete their 3-game road trip on Saturday, Sept. 29 against Abilene Christian University. Kickoff in Abilene, Texas, is set for 5:00 p.m. (MST). ACU defeated the Greyhounds last season, 23-21, in Eastern’s Homecoming game.