Ty Touchstone Named LSC South Defensive Player-of-the-Week

PORTALES, NM – Eastern New Mexico University free safety Ty Touchstone, a sophomore from Lubbock, Texas (Monterey HS), has been named Lone Star Conference South Division Defensive Player-of-the-Week for his efforts in Eastern’s 27-20 victory over Western New Mexico University on Saturday, Sept. 7, at Greyhound Stadium. Touchstone led ENMU with 10 tackles (6 solo, 4 assists), intercepted two passes, forced a fumble, and provided two key plays in the closing seconds.

Western had the ball at the ENMU 33-yard line with 28 seconds left when Touchstone made his first big play of Eastern’s final defensive stand. Touchstone, 5’11” and 180 pounds, knocked down a pass in the end zone that was intended for WNMU tight end Richard Angulo, 6’8” and 260 pounds.

The pass deflection occurred on first down. The Mustangs lost five yards on second down, when quarterback Damien Ocampo was called for an illegal forward pass after crossing the line of scrimmage. On third down from the ENMU 38-yard line, Ocampo threw for the end zone. Touchstone intercepted the pass several yards behind the goal line, giving ENMU possession with 5.3 seconds remaining. The Greyhounds snapped the ball and ran out the clock.

Touchstone also intercepted a pass at the ENMU 12-yard line with 1:51 left in the third quarter and the Greyhounds trailing 17-3. Western added a field goal early in the fourth quarter, before ENMU rallied with a pair of touchdowns. Quarterback Heath Ridenour (Sr., Lovington, NM/Lovington HS) hit running back Taryll Boxton (Sr., Albuquerque, NM/Del Norte HS) with a 14-yard pass for the winning TD with 1:13 left.

ENMU, now 1-0 on the season, has a 29-14 overall record since the start of the 1998 season. Head Coach Harold “Bud” Elliott is 9-0 against Western New Mexico, and owns an overall record of 49-36-2 (.575) in nine seasons with the Greyhounds.