Greyhounds Limit Angelo State to 217 Yards in 23-14 Lone Star Conference Victory

SAN ANGELO, TX – The Eastern New Mexico University defense held Angelo State University to 217 total yards, including just 79 rushing yards on 24 carries, as the Greyhounds defeated the Rams, 23-14, in a Lone Star Conference South Division game, Oct. 12 at San Angelo Stadium. ENMU improved to 5-1 overall and 1-1 in the LSC South. ASU fell to 1-4 on the season, including 1-1 in the LSC South.

Eastern’s defense limited the Rams to just seven pass completions on 25 attempts during the game. ASU starting quarterback Kyle Hardin was 3 of 15 passing for 64 yards, while back-up quarterback Chad Robertson was 4 of 10 for 74 yards. Eastern’s defense gave up just 112 total yards in the second half.

The ENMU offense, which struggled in the first half, erupted for 267 yards in the final 30 minutes. Eastern scored three times in the second half on two 10-play drives and a 13-play drive.

In the first two quarters, the game was a defensive battle, as the teams reached halftime in a 7-7 tie. ASU scored first on a 65-yard pass from Hardin to Marcus Hoffman. Eastern responded after the kickoff by going 77 yards on seven plays and scoring on a 2-yard run by Heath Ridenour (Sr., QB, Lovington, NM/Lovington HS) at the 5:08 mark of the second quarter. Sean McGarry of

ASU and Joe Barnes (Fr., PK/P, Andrews, TX/Andrews HS) of ENMU kicked the extra points.

The second half opened with a 47-yard kickoff return by Steven Hinson (So., QB, Olney, TX/ Olney HS) of ENMU. He caught the ball five yards deep into his own end zone and returned the pigskin to within three yards of the midfield stripe.

Eastern, moving into a stiff wind, kept the ball for 10 plays and scored on a 5-yard run by Taryll Boxton (Sr., RB, Albuquerque, NM/Del Norte HS) with exactly 10:00 left in the third quarter. Barnes kicked the extra point, giving the Greyhounds a 14-7 lead.

ENMU was called for an illegal block on the kickoff, which moved the ball to the Eastern 44-yard line for the start of ASU’s next drive. Hardin rushed for 18 yards on the first play to give the Rams a first down at the Eastern 26, but the Hounds stopped ASU on the next three downs to force a field goal attempt. McGarry’s 44-yard kick went wide of the goal post.

The Hounds drove to the ASU 44-yard line, but a long pass by Ridenour was intercepted at the Angelo State 12 by Nathan Davis, who made a diving catch. After three plays, Neil Martinez punted 49 yards for ASU, and the Greyhounds took over at their own 28-yard line. The punt was the last play of the quarter for the Rams, who had the ball for just 2:27 during the period, while playing with the wind at their backs.

ENMU marched 72 yards on 13 plays for an insurance score, while running off the final 4:54 of the third quarter and the first 1:27 of the fourth period. Dwayne Davis (RS Fr., RB, Lubbock, TX/Monterey HS) opened the drive with a 23-yard run. Two plays later, Ridenour dashed 10 yards for a first down at the ASU 37-yard line.

Later in the drive, wide receiver Derrick Hunter (Fr., Lamesa, TX/Lamesa HS) caught a 26-yard pass from Ridenour on 3rd-and-12. The completion resulted in a first down at the ASU 1-yard line.

Eastern did not score until Ridenour reached the end zone on a 1-yard run on fourth down. The snap on the extra point was off target, and Hinson, Eastern’s holder, was unable to complete a two-point pass to tight end David Ethell (Jr., Albuquerque, NM/Eldorado HS). The Hounds led, 20-7, with 13:33 remaining.

Barnes added a 23-yard field goal with 6:59 left, as the Hounds increased their advantage to 23-7. The 10-play, 48-yard drive ran 4:33 off the clock.

On Angelo State’s next play, Robertson was intercepted by Eric Mims (Jr., CB, Amarillo, TX/Palo Duro HS). Eastern drove from its own 36 to the ASU 20, before an illegal motion penalty on 2nd-and-8. On fourth down, Barnes missed to the right on a 42-yard field goal attempt.

Robertson led Angelo State on a 75-yard drive for the Rams’ final score. The key play of the drive was a 34-yard pass from Robertson to Deorrick Henry that moved the ball to ENMU’s 28-yard line. Robertson hit Tarron Brooks with a 17-yard touchdown pass with 0:21 left. Despite trailing by 10 points, the Rams kicked the conversion, cutting Eastern’s lead to 23-14.

ASU recovered the ensuing onside kick at the 50-yard line. On 4th-and-7, Robertson was forced to leave the pocket. He scrambled to the ENMU 31-yard line, but was driven out of bounds with no time on the clock.

Hunter led all players with 5 catches for 132 yards. All of his catches resulted in first downs for ENMU, and three brought the ball inside the ASU 10-yard line. In addition to his 26-yard catch on Eastern’s third touchdown drive, he also caught a 20-yard pass to the ASU 3 on ENMU’s first scoring drive and a 22-yard pass to the ASU 7 on the Hounds’ second scoring drive. He had a 14-yard reception during the successful field goal drive, and caught a 50-yard pass from the ENMU 30 with about 5:00 left.

Ridenour was 6 of 12 passing for 140 yards. He threw two interceptions, but neither miscue led to an ASU score. Overall, he threw effectively, even against the wind. Josh Quebe (So., WR, Lockney, TX/Lockney HS) caught one pass for eight yards and was the only receive other than Hunter to record a reception for ENMU.

On the ground, Eastern gained 239 yards on 63 carries. Davis topped the rushing chart, with 15 carries for 77 yards. Ridenour followed with 17 carries for 74 yards and two touchdowns. Sukora Cooper (So., FB, Dallas, TX/Samuell HS) added 13 carries for 49 yards. Hinson returned two kickoffs for 67 yards and brought back two punts for 30 yards.
Hardin was the leading rusher for ASU, with 5 carries for 36 yards, while Luis Padilla ran for 23 yards on seven carries. Hoffman led the Rams in receiving, with two catches for 77 yards.

The Rams finished the game with just 49 offensive plays. ASU gained only 118 yards on the 47 plays other than the 65-yard scoring strike to Hoffman and the 34-yard pass to Henry.

Eastern’s defensive leader was linebacker Jimmy Hamilton (Sr., Artesia, NM/N.M. State), who recorded seven total tackles, including one tackle for a loss. Ty Touchstone (So., FS, Lubbock, TX/Monterey HS), Courage Idemudia (So., LB, Glenn Heights, TX/DeSoto HS) and Jared White (Jr., LB, Pampa, TX/U. of Texas-El Paso) each added six tackles. Adrian Quigley (So., SS, Lubbock, TX/Monterey HS) made five tackles. He had two tackles for losses, including a 16-yard sack.

ENMU gained 379 yards on 75 offensive plays. The Hounds lead the LSC with 447.7 total yards and 306.3 rushing yards per game this season.

The top tackler for Angelo State was linebacker Jim Williamson, with 24 total tackles. Safety Justin Carrigan added 13 tackles, and Jon Palafox, also a safety, was credited with 10 tackles. Defensive end Adam Hryb registered both of ASU’s quarterback sacks.
Eastern’s victory spoiled the Rams’ Homecoming game. Last year, ASU defeated ENMU, 28-0, in the Greyhounds’ Homecoming contest. Overall, the visiting team has now won each of the past six meeting between ENMU and ASU.

The Greyhounds return to action on Saturday, Oct. 19, with the 2002 Homecoming game against Midwestern State University. Kickoff at Greyhound Stadium is set for 2 p.m. (MDT). Last year, the Hounds rallied from a 14-0 deficit to defeat the Indians, 36-33, in Wichita Falls, Texas.