Greyhounds Outscore N.M. Highlands, 45-14
Steven Hinson Runs for 3 TDs, Throws 1 TD Pass

PORTALES, NM - Junior quarterback Steven Hinson (Olney, TX/Olney HS) rushed for three touchdowns and passed for one touchdown, leading Eastern New Mexico University to a 45-14 victory over New Mexico Highlands University, Sept. 13 at Greyhound Stadium. The victory, Eastern's eighth over NMHU in the past 10 years, improved the Greyhounds to 2-0 on the season. NMHU, which extended its losing streak since late in the 2001 season to 14 games, fell to 0-2.

Hinson reached the end zone on runs of a 7-yard run and a pair of 1-yard runs. His 7-yard touchdown opened the scoring just 1:26 into the game, and his second touchdown gave ENMU a 17-7 lead with 8:33 left in the second quarter. Hinson leads the Greyhounds with 24 points and four touchdowns in Eastern's first two games.

The Greyhounds led 24-14 at halftime, then outscored the Cowboys 21-0 in the second half. Eastern has not allowed a point in the second half this season.

Hinson scored his third rushing touchdown with 8:52 left in the third quarter, then hit Derrick Hunter (So., WR, Lamesa, TX/Lamesa HS) with a 27-yard scoring strike with 4:22 left in the period. Back-up quarterback Jon Bell (Jr., Pittsburg, LA/Los Medanos College) completed the scoring on a 10-yard run with 6:02 remaining in the game.

After Hinson opened the scoring, both teams had two unsuccessful drives before NMHU recovered a fumble at the ENMU 48-yard line and scored on the next play. Quarterback Nick Higgs connected on a pass play with Ikaika Neizman for the touchdown to tie the score, 7-7, with 5:23 left in the first quarter.

Lee Price (Fr., PK, Holliday, TX/Holliday HS) gave Eastern the lead for good with a 25-yard field goal on the second play of the second quarter. His field goal completed a 13-play, 68-yard drive. The drive stalled at the NMHU 3-yard line when an illegal procedure penalty was followed by an incomplete pass on third down.

Price, who went 4 for 4 on field goals in the season opener, had two more attempts against Highlands, but one kick was blocked and one kick failed. Price made all six extra points in the game, and has scored 21 points this year.

ENMU running back Dwayne Davis (So., Lubbock, TX/Monterey HS) led the Greyhounds with 58 yards on nine carries, but had to miss part of the second quarter due to an injury. While Davis was out, back-up player Fide Davalos (Fr., Portales, NM/Floyd HS) scored his first ENMU touchdown on a 3-yard run with 2:11 left in the half.

Eastern led 24-7 following the touchdown by Davalos, but NMHU cut the lead to 24-14 when Jose Serate caught a 12-yard scoring strike from Higgs with nine seconds remaining before halftime. The Highlands touchdown was set up by a 55-yard pass from Higgs to Neizman. Rocky Stevens kicked the extra point.

In the second half, the Greyhounds dominated play, limiting the Cowboys to just 30 yards and two first downs. ENMU also blocked a punt and forced three turnovers following the halftime break. NMHU had two punts blocked and four turnovers on the night.

ENMU punter Steven Todd (Jr., Lubbock, TX/Frenship HS) also contributed to the Hounds' success, as he located three punts inside the 20-yard line. One punt was downed by Adrian Quigley (Jr., SS, Lubbock, TX/Monterey HS) at the NMHU 4-yard line during the first half. Higgs was sacked and fumbled four plays later, setting up Davalos' touchdown at the end of a short 10-yard drive. Todd also had a punt roll dead at the 6-yard line and forced the Cowboys to fair catch one punt at their own 12-yard line.

Linebackers Courage Idemudia (Jr., Glenn Heights, TX/DeSoto HS) and Jeff Howard (Jr., Portales, NM/Portales HS) each recorded six tackles to lead the Eastern defense. Overall, ENMU had 12 players with at least four tackles. DonTa Bright led NMHU with 14 tackles.

Idemudia and Randy Johnson (Jr., CB, Italy, TX/McLennan CC) each intercepted a pass for ENMU, while Quigley and Jason Tezeno (So., RB, Levelland, TX/Levelland HS) both blocked a punt. Tezeno also forced NMHU punter Adam Alvarez to take a 7-yard loss after dropping the ball on another punt snap.

On offense, Tezeno gained 54 yards on six running plays and caught one pass for nine yards. He trailed only Davis in rushing yards. Fullback Sukora Cooper (Jr., FB, Dallas, TX/Samuell HS) added 47 rushing yards on 12 carries, while Hinson ran for 42 yards on nine carries. Robert Garza (Fr., FB, Idalou, TX/Idalou HS) gained 34 yards on eight carries.

Hunter led ENMU's wide receivers with three catches for 44 yards. Cale Sanders (Sr., Roswell, NM/Goddard HS) caught two passes for 18 yards, and Josh Quebe (Jr., Lockney, TX/Lockney HS) hauled in one pass for 22 yards.

Hinson was 7 of 14 passing for 77 yards and Bell was 1 for 3 for 22 yards. Higgs hit 13 of 31 passes for 256 yards, while NMHU back-up Alton Tomlin went 3 for 6. Darnell Crowder topped the Cowboys with five catches for 97 yards. Neizman caught two passes for 103 yards.

ENMU returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 20, in Tahlequah, Okla., against Northeastern State University. The game will count as an Lone Star Conference crossover game for NSU, but will be a non-conference game for Eastern. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. (MDT).