ENMU Football Players Howard, Hunter and White
Selected for First Team All-LSC South Honors
Seven Players Named to Second Team;
Quarterback Hinson Earns Honorable Mention

PORTALES, N.M . — The Eastern New Mexico University football team earned its seventh consecutive winning season with a 6-5 record in 2004, including a 4-2 mark and third place finish in the Lone Star Conference South Division. ENMU has added to its list of positive results with the announcement by the LSC Office that 11 Eastern players have been chosen for the 2004 All-LSC South Football Team in voting by the LSC South head coaches.

The Greyhounds placed senior linebacker Jeff Howard (6’2”, 220 lbs., Portales, NM/Portales HS), junior wide receiver Derrick Hunter (6’0”, 180 lbs., Lamesa, TX/Lamesa HS) and junior cornerback Corey White (6’0”, 165 lbs., Lubbock, TX/Estacado HS) on the First Team. Eastern also placed seven players on the Second Team and one player was on the Honorable Mention list.

Eastern’s winning record was the ninth in 11 seasons under Head Coach Harold “Bud” Elliott, who will retire at the end of the fall semester. Elliott concluded his career with a 205-179-9 (.533) overall record during 37 season as a collegiate head coach. His record at ENMU was 68-49-2 (.580). He was named LSC South Coach-of-the-Year in 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2002.

1st Team All-LSC South

Howard was named First Team All-Conference for the second year in a row. He led the Hounds with 67 unassisted tackles, 48 assists and 115 total tackles. He also recorded 9.0 tackles for losses and 4.5 quarterback sacks. He picked off three passes, including two interceptions returned for touchdowns.

He also forced two fumbles and recovered two fumbles. He tied for 35th in NCAA Division II, and was fourth in the LSC, in tackles per game. He tied for 18th in the nation in solo tackles per game. In 2003, Howard led the Hounds with 85 total tackles (64 solo). During his four-year career, he recorded 248 total tackles, including 135 solo tackles.

His career stats also included 29 tackles for losses of 98 yards and 7.5 sacks for 48 yards lost. He intercepted four passes, forced four fumbles, recovered four fumbles and broke up three passes. He was selected as the LSC South Defensive Player-of-the-Week three times: Oct. 14, 2003 vs. Texas A&M- Commerce (10-3 win); Sept. 11, 2004 vs. Southwestern Oklahoma (39-0 win); and Sept. 26, 2004 vs. Abilene Christian (28-21 win).

Howard, who is majoring in Biology (Pre-Medicine), was named First Team CoSIDA Academic All-District in 2003 and 2004. He was named to the LSC South All-Academic Team in 2003, and qualified for the LSC South Commissioner’s Honor Roll in 2002. The LSC All-Academic Team for 2004 has not yet been announced.

Hunter was named First Team All-LSC South for the first time. He was chosen Second Team All- LSC South in 2003 and was an Honorable Mention All-LSC South selection in 2002. This year, he led the Greyhounds with a career-high 51 catches for 829 yards and eight touchdowns. He also carried the ball six times for 44 yards (7.3 avg.) and returned one kickoff a total of 12 yards.

In three seasons at ENMU, Hunter has earned 110 receptions for 2,092 yards and 16 touchdowns. He needs just 12 more receiving yards to reach the ENMU career record of 2,104, set by Steve Jackson from 1983 through 1984. He is just 16 catches from the school record for career receptions (126), set by Robert Griggs (1985-86 and 1988-89).

Hunter has ranked among the top receivers in the LSC all three years. He was eighth in the LSC in receiving yards per game as a freshman (58.5 avg.), then placed 10th as a sophomore (56.3 avg.) and was third this season (75.4 avg.). He also ranked ninth in the LSC this fall with 4.64 receptions per game.He tied for second in the conference with eight catches for touchdowns.

White was selected First Team All-LSC South for the first time. He had an outstanding season this fall, as he led the team with four interceptions and seven pass break-ups, while recording 33 tackles, including 29 unassisted stops. He made three tackles for losses of 14 yards, and registered one sack for an 8-yard loss. He scored a touchdown on a 25-yard interception return against Texas A&M-Kingsville, which was ranked #2 in NCAA Division II at the time.

He has accumulated 56 total tackles, including 49 unassisted tackles, during his three years with the Greyhounds. He has made five tackles for losses and two quarterback sacks. He has recorded five career interceptions to go with 12 career pass break-ups.
White has showcased his athletic talent by returning kickoffs and punts for the Hounds. This year, he brought back 23 kickoffs a total of 569 yards, an average of 24.7 yards per return. He scored on a 100-yard kickoff return to open the second half against Southwestern Oklahoma on Sept. 11. He ranked 19th in NCAA Division II in kickoff returns and was third in the LSC in the same category. He also returned four punts for 33 yards, an average of 8.2 yards per return. In 2003, he returned 11 kickoffs for 286 yards (26.0 avg.).

2nd Team All-LSC South

Eastern’s Second Team selections included three offensive linemen. They were junior center Devin Pilgrim (6’2”, 270 lbs., Grapevine, TX/Grapevine HS), junior offensive guard Robert Acuna, Jr. (6’0”, 307 lbs., Alice, TX/Angelo State University) and senior tackle Daniel Lujan (6’2”, 285 lbs., Andrews, TX/Andrews HS). Defensive players named to the Second Team were senior defensive end B.J. Biggar (6’3”, 256 lbs., Kemp, TX/Kemp HS), senior defensive tackle Brandon Wickware (6’3”, 295 lbs., Floyd County, TX/Floydada HS), senior free safety Ty Touchstone (5’11”, 190 lbs., Lubbock, TX/ Monterey HS) and senior strong safety Adrian Quigley (5’9”, 185 lbs., Lubbock, TX/Monterey HS).

Pilgrim anchored the ENMU offensive line from the center position. He started every game and was a key contributor to Eastern’s rushing attack, which led the Lone Star Conference and ranked 20th in NCAA Division II with 223.2 yards per game. The Hounds scored 24 rushing touchdowns. ENMU gained 1,416 yards and 10 touchdowns through the air.

Pilgrim has played in 32 of 33 games during his three seasons on the active roster. He played in 10 of 11 games in 2002, and helped Eastern set school records for scoring (339 pts.), rushing yards (289.8 avg.) and total yards (405.2 avg.). In 2003, he played in all 11 games, and helped the Hounds achieve 352.9 total yards and 238.2 rushing yards per game. He redshirted in 2001.

Acuna was chosen Second Team All-LSC South for the second year in a row. He played in seven games this fall. The only games he missed were due to a leg injury and a shoulder injury. He provided outstanding blocking, and combined with Pilgrim and Lujan for a formidable attack on the right side.

He started all 11 games in 2003, after playing in all 11 games in 2002. He arrived at ENMU after redshirting at Angelo State in 2001. Acuna helped ENMU come-from-behind for four of the Greyhounds’ six wins in 2004. He also contributed to Eastern’s 2,455 rushing yards and 3,871 total yards this season.

Lujan started all 33 games for Eastern from 2002 through 2004, and was an Honorable Mention All-LSC South selection in 2003. This year, he earned 68 knockdowns against opposing defenders. The Hounds gained at least 300 yards of offense eight times, including three games with over 400 yards.

Over the past three seasons, Lujan has been a key member of three very successful offensive units. Including this year, he has helped the offense gain 8,263 rushing yards (250.4 avg.) and 12,210 total yards (370.0 avg.) during his 33 starts.

Biggar moved up to Second Team All-LSC South after being named Honorable Mention in 2001 and 2003. He ranked second on the ENMU team this season with 11.0 tackles for losses (60 yards lost) and 5.0 quarterback sacks (39 yards lost). He also provided the Greyhounds with 36 total tackles, including 21 unassisted tackles. He broke up four passes and forced two fumbles. He often forced opposing quarterbacks to alter their throws or pull the ball down and run.

In four seasons, Biggar amassed 126 total tackles, with 83 solo stops. He registered 32 tackles for losses (146 yards lost) and recorded 14.0 sacks (101 yards lost). He broke up eight passes, forced four fumbles and recovered three fumbles. He was First Team CoSIDA Academic All-District in 2004 after earning Second Team honors in 2003. He qualified for the LSC South Commissioner’s Honor Roll in 2001 and 2003.

Wickware played and started 10 games for ENMU in 2004, but missed one game due to injury. He was named Second Team All-LSC South for the second consecutive season. He earned 35 tackles during the season, with 18 solo tackles, 4.5 tackles for losses of 25 yards and 2.0 sacks for 17 yards lost. He was Eastern’s most threatening interior lineman and was often double-teamed. Even so, he put significant pressure on opposing quarterbacks and running backs .

His career featured a total of 40 games played and 23 starts. He played in eight games for Eastern in 2000, but did not attend ENMU in 2001. He played in 32 of 33 games the past three seasons. He achieved 96 career total tackles, including 57 unassisted stops. He made 17.5 tackles for losses (94 yards lost) to go with 7.0 sacks (58 yards lost). He recovered two fumbles.

Touchstone was chosen Second Team All-LSC South for the first time. He was named First Team All-LSC South in 2002, when he led the Hounds with 109 total tackles, including 73 solo stops. He ranked third on the squad this year with 78 total tackles, and was second with 53 unassisted tackles. He also intercepted three passes, broke up three passes and blocked three field goals. All three blocked kicks came in the fourth quarter of ENMU victories.

He finished his ENMU career with 300 total tackles, including 187 solo tackles. He recorded eight career interceptions to go with nine career pass break-ups. He also forced two fumbles and recovered two fumbles. He played in all 43 games during his career, including 31 starts. Touchstone was named First Team CoSIDA Academic All-America in 2003, and was a Second Team CoSIDA Academic All-America pick in 2002. He is eligible to repeat on the first team this season after earning First Team CoSIDA Academic All-District VI honors with a 4.0 grade point average for the third year in a row. He was named to the LSC South All-Academic Team in 2002 and 2003, and has been nominated again this year. He is majoring in Business Administration/Computer Information Systems.

He recently was chosen one of 15 players to be recognized as 2004 National Scholar-Athletes by The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, Inc. The award includes an $18,000 post-graduate scholarship to be used as he pursues a master’s degree.

Quigley earned Second Team All-LSC South accolades for the second consecutive season, after receiving Honorable Mention status in 2001 and 2002. This year, he was credited with 81 total tackles (46 solo) and trailed only Howard on the ENMU tackle chart. He led the Greyhounds with 16.0 tackles for losses (78 yards lost) and 8.5 quarterback sacks (53 yards lost). He also registered a total of four pass break-ups and had three quarterback hurries. He recovered one fumble.

For his career, Quigley achieved 276 total tackles on 177 unassisted tackles and 99 assisted stops. He accumulated an impressive 50 tackles for losses of 242 yards, including 24.5 sacks for 176 yards lost. He forced seven fumbles, recovered five fumbles, broke up 14 passes and blocked three kicks.

Honorable Mention All-LSC South

Senior quarterback Steven Hinson (5’9”, 176 lbs., Olney, TX/Olney HS) was the only ENMU player named to the Honorable Mention All-LSC South list. He ended the season with over 1,000 yards rushing and more than 1,000 yards passing. He was named Second Team All-LSC South in 2003.

Hinson was one of five quarterbacks recognized in close LSC South voting. Derek Maupin of West Texas A&M University was named to the First Team, Daniel Taylor of Texas A&M University-Kingsville was on the Second Team, and Hinson was joined on the Honorable Mention list by Buster Faulkner of Texas A&M University-Commerce and by Rahsaan Bell of Midwestern State University.

During his senior season this fall, Hinson rushed for 1,006 yards on 175 carries, an average of 5.7 yards per rush. He became the first 1,000-yard rusher at ENMU since Derrick Johnson ran for 1,265 yards in 1995. Hinson scored 12 rushing touchdowns this season. He also completed 96 of 204 passes (47.1%) for 1,335 yards and nine touchdowns, while throwing seven interceptions. Hinson ranked third in the LSC in rushing yards per game (91.5 avg.), was seventh in total offense (212.8 avg.) and was eighth in passing efficiency (109.7 rating). He was sixth in the LSC in overall scoring with 7.1 points per game, and was third in touchdowns with 12. He scored three two-point conversions. Hinson was named LSC South Offensive Player-of-the-Week twice this season, on Aug. 28 against Central Arkansas and Oct. 2 against Angelo State, and on Oct. 11, 2003, versus Angelo State.

LSC South Special Awards

The LSC South head coaches also voted for several special awards. The awards and recipients were: Coach-of-the-Year, Richard Cundiff, TAMU-Kingsville; Offensive Lineman-of-the-Year, Pat McCoy (Jr., OT) of West Texas A&M; Offensive Back-of-the-Year, Daniel Taylor (Sr., QB), TAMU-Kingsville; Receiver-of-the-Year, Maurice Washington (Sr., WR), TAMU-Kingsville; Co-Defensive Linemen-of- the-Year, Clayton Farrell (Jr., DL), Abilene Christian, and Wilbert Martin (Jr., DT), TAMU-Kingsville; Co-Linebackers-of-the-Year, Deandrae Fillmore (Jr., LB), TAMU-Kingsville, and James Williamson (Sr., LB), Angelo State; Defensive Back-of-the-Year, Danieal Manning (So., DB), Abilene Christian; Freshman-of-the-Year, Daniel Polk (Fr., QB), Midwestern State.

Click here for the conference release (.pdf)