Athletic Report
September 8, 2001

GREYHOUNDS DEFEAT N.M. HIGHLANDS, 37-6
Sanders Scores on 49-yard Punt Return
PORTALES, NM — Junior wide receiver Cale Sanders (Roswell, NM/Goddard H.S.) returned a punt 49 yards for a touchdown and freshman back-up quarterback Steven Hinson (Olney, TX/Olney H.S.) scored on a 75-yard run, as Eastern New Mexico University defeated in-state rival New Mexico Highlands University, 37-6, Sept. 8 at Greyhound Stadium. With the win, ENMU improved to 2-0 on the season. The Cowboys fell to 0-2.

In addition to keeping its record undefeated, Eastern also won the New Mexico small college championship for the 4th time in five years. The Greyhounds opened the season with a 70-7 win over Western New Mexico on Sept. 1, and have now swept their in-state NCAA Division II rivals.

Against NMHU, the touchdown by Sanders gave ENMU a 14-0 lead with 5:44 left in the first quarter. When the game ended, Sanders had 4 catches for 62 yards, one running play for 30 yards and 64 yards on 4 punt returns. He achieved 156 all-purpose yards. Hinson entered the game with less than 10 minutes remaining and the Greyhounds leading, 31-6. His long touchdown run came on the first play of a drive at the ENMU 25-yard line with 2:59 remaining in the game.

Eastern’s starting quarterback, Heath Ridenour, opened the scoring on a 4-yard run just 3:22 into the game. His scamper completed a 7-play, 73-yard drive to open the game. Place-kicker Mike Trimble (Sr., Houston, TX/Adams State) converted the extra point for a 7-0 Eastern lead. Ridenour also threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to tight end Kane Sweet (Jr., Clovis, NM/ U. of North Texas) with 1:33 left in the third period. Sweet’s touchdown and Trimble’s point after gave the Hounds a 28-6 advantage. For the game, Ridenour was 8 of 12 passing for 120 yard. He did not throw an interception, and is now 14 of 21 with no interceptions for the season.

With ENMU leading 14-0 in the second quarter, the Greyhounds put on a goal line stand. NMHU had driven from the ENMU 41 to the 1-yard line in 8 plays. The Hounds then stopped the Mustangs inside the 1-yard line on four consecutive plays. Jeremiah Johnson (Jr., DE, Clovis, NM/U. of New Mexico) and Jeff Howard (Fr., LB, Portales, NM/Portales H.S.) combined to tackle quarterback Kyle Biggs on 4th down, ending the drive inches from the ENMU goal line.

Eastern took its 14-0 lead in the intermission, then forced Highlands to punt at the start of the third quarter. The Greyhounds took over at the Cowboys’ 44-yard line, and drove to the end zone on 7 plays.

Antoine Lacy (Sr., RB, Richmond, CA/Contra Costa College) scord on a 3-yard run with 10:38 left in the period. NMHU scored its only touchdown just over three minutes later, when Chris Ford reached the end zone on a 75-yard pass from Biggs. Justin Hibbler (Jr., CB, Lubbock, TX/Estacado H.S.) blocked Justin Levine’s extra point kick, leaving the Hounds in front, 21-6. The Greyhounds completed the third quarter scoring with Sweet’s touchdown catch, then extended their lead early in the fourth quarter.

After a bad snap led to a 27-yard punt by NMHU, the Hounds drove 23 yards on 5 plays, which culminated in a 35-yard field by Trimble into the stiff north wind. ENMU led, 31-6, with 11:40 remaining. Hinson’s touchdown later in the quarter completed the scoring. He gained 84 yards on 2 carries to lead a balanced ENMU running attack. Ridenour followed with 59 yards on 12 carries. Taryll Boxton (Jr., RB, Albuquerque, NM/Del Norte H.S.) gained 57 yards on 11 carries, and Lacy added 35 yards on 13 carries.

NMHU ran for just 60 yards on 38 carries. Louis Hinchey and Edmond Ekeoha each gained 21 yards on the ground. Biggs was 9 of 23 for 228 yards and the touchdown strike to Ford, who caught 2 passes for 112 yards. H.R. Lugo grabbed 4 passes for 43 yards for the Cowboys.

In addition to the goal line stand, ENMU’s defense played well throughout the game. The Hounds limited the Cowboys to just 1.6 yards per carry, and registered 6 quarterback sacks. Eastern also forced two fumbles by NMHU, although only one led to a turnover. NMHU gained 287 total yards.

Redshirt freshman Adrian Quigley (SS, Lubbock, TX/Monterey H.S.) led the ENMU defense with 9 total tackles, including 7 solo stops. He recorded 2 sacks for 10 yards lost, and also forced a fumble. Jimmy Hamilton (Jr., LB, Artesia, NM/New Mexico State) added 7 tackles, 1 sack and 2 tackles for losses.

The Greyhound achieved 383 total yards on offense, and averaged 6.8 yards per play, compared to 4.6 yards per play for NMHU. Eastern rushed for 273 yards on 44 carries.

ENMU begins a three-game road trip at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas, next Saturday (Sept. 15). Game time is slated for 6:30 p.m. (MST). Last year, MSU defeated the Hounds, 33-16, at Greyhound Stadium.