ENMU Forces Four Turnovers, Records Six Sacks as Greyhounds Defeat Northeastern State, 24-10

Eastern Improves to 3-0 on the Season

TAHLEQUAH, OK - The Eastern New Mexico University defense forced Northeastern State University into four turnovers, recorded six sacks and held the Redmen without a touchdown until 8:43 left in the game, as the Greyhounds defeated NSU, 24-10, Sept. 20 at Doc Wadley Stadium. Eastern improved to 3-0 on the season, while Northeastern State dropped to 1-2.

Northeastern gained just 50 total yards in the first half. The Redmen finished the game with 246 total yards, but achieved only 71 rushing yards on 36 carries. NSU allowed the Greyhounds 308 total yards, including 183 rushing yards on 56 attempts. The Hounds held a commanding margin in time of possession at 35:58.

ENMU took an early 3-0 lead on a 33-yard field goal by Lee Price (Fr., PK, Holliday, TX/Holliday HS) with 7:39 remaining in the first quarter. NSU tied the score on a 35-yard field goal by Trae Ratliff at the 9:01 mark of the second quarter.

The Greyhounds claimed the lead for good when junior quarterback Steven Hinson (Olney, TX/Olney HS) connected with sophomore wide receiver Derrick Hunter (Lamesa, TX/Lamesa HS) on a 9-yard touchdown pass with just 36 seconds left in the first half. The touchdown strike completed an 11-play, 59-yard drive.

Hinson led the ENMU offense on back-to-back touchdown drives on the Hounds' first two possessions of the second half. On the first drive, Hinson scored on a 7-yard run with 9:51 left in the third quarter. On the second drive, Hinson threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Josh Quebe (Jr., WR, Lockney, TX/Lockney HS) at the 6:24 mark, as ENMU went 58 yards in three plays. Price kicked both conversions, giving the Greyhounds a 24-3 lead.

In Eastern's first three games, Hinson has rushed for a team-high five touchdowns, while connecting for three touchdown passes through the air. He was 9 of 16 passing for 125 yards against NSU. He also contributed 72 rushing yards on 25 carries.

Hunter led Eastern's pass receivers with six catches for 67 yards. Quebe, Jason Tezeno (So., RB, Levelland, TX/Levelland HS) and Dwayne Davis (So., RB, Lubbock, TX/Monterey HS) each caught one pass for ENMU.

Junior fullback Sukora Cooper (Dallas, TX/Samuell HS) rushed for 64 yards on 15 carries. Davis gained 45 yards on 14 running plays. Overall, the Greyhounds ran 72 offensive plays, compared to 61 for Northeastern State.

The ENMU defense held NE State to 246 total yards. The Redmen gained just 71 rushing yards on 36 carries. Quarterbacks Forrest Mazey and Dustin Workman combined to complete 14 of 25 passes for 175 yards.

Two big plays accounted for 111 of NSU's offense. Both were pass plays, covering 68 yards and 43 yards respectively.

The first play occurred when Workman's pass from the NSU 25 to midfield was almost intercepted by free safety Ty Touchstone (Jr., Lubbock, TX/Monterey HS), but bounced out of his hands and into the waiting arms of wide receiver Milton Harris. J.J. Ortiz (Fr., DB, Moriarty, NM/Moriarty HS) made a touchdown-saving tackle at the ENMU 7-yard line. The tipped pass, which came on the final play of the third quarter, went for 68 yards.

When the fourth quarter opened, the Greyhounds made a goal-line stand. On fourth down at the ENMU 1-yard line, NSU running back Chris Johnson was stopped for no gain.

The second lengthy pass came two Northeastern possessions later. Workman completed the pass to John King for a 43-yard gain to the ENMU 15. Four plays later, the Redmen scored their only touchdown on a 1-yard run by Workman.

Touchstone and senior linebacker Ben Dollar (Wheeler, TX/Wheeler HS) led the ENMU defense with eight tackles each. Dollar also forced a fumble and recovered a fumble. Other top tacklers for Eastern were junior linebacker Courage Idemudia (Glenn Heights, TX/DeSoto HS) and junior linebacker Jeff Howard (Portales, NM/Portales HS), both with six tackles.

Fullback Craig Fulton carried the ball 17 times for 70 yards for Northeastern. Workman led the passing game with 12 completions on 19 attempts for 181 yards. Harris caught six passes for 96 yards and King hauled down six passes for 71 yards.

Defensively, the Redmen received 14 tackles from Donald Mansfield and 13 tackles from Travis Creech. Steven White registered 11 tackles, while Nick Nance and Tyler Caid each earned nine tackles.

The Greyhounds will return to action on Saturday, Sept. 27, when they host East Central University in a Lone Star Conference crossover game. Kickoff at Greyhound Stadium is set for 6 p.m. (MDT). ENMU outscored East Central, 35-29, last season in a game that featured 994 yards of total offense between the two teams.