Joe Barnes Named LSC South Special Teams Player-of-the-Week

PORTALES, NM – Eastern New Mexico University freshman place-kicker/punter Joe Barnes (Andrews, TX/Andrews HS) has been named Lone Star Conference South Division Special Teams Player-of-the-Week for his kicking and punting in Eastern’s 70-28 victory at New Mexico Highlands University on Saturday, Sept. 14. Barnes helped the Greyhounds improve to 2-0 on the season.

Barnes converted 10 of 10 extra points and took all of Eastern’s kickoffs. He also punted three times (35, 40, 45) for a 40.0 average.

For the year, Barnes has scored 13 points, on 13 of 14 PATs. He ranks eighth in the 13-team Lone Star Conference in scoring. As a punter, he has averaged 39.3 yards on 7 punts, and is tied for fifth in the LSC in punting average.

In the win over Highlands, Barnes did not have to punt in the first half, as the Greyhounds scored on all but one possession (lost fumble). ENMU scored six times during the half, including 28 points in the second quarter. Barnes was kept busy as a place-kicker throughout the game, with Eastern scoring at least two touchdowns in each quarter.

Barnes and the Greyhounds will return to action on Saturday, Sept. 21, at Greyhound Stadium, when they take on Northeastern State University (Okla.). Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. (MST).

ENMU enters the NSU game with a 30-14 combined record since the beginning of the 1998 season. Head Coach Harold “Bud” Elliott recorded his 50th win at Eastern in Saturday’s triumph over NMHU. He is 50-36-2 (.580) in nine seasons with the Greyhounds.