Midwestern State Scores Twice in Fourth Quarter
for 34-20 Win over Eastern New Mexico University
Indians Improve to 7-2 Overall, 4-1 in the LSC South

Box score

WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS — Two quarterbacks and a running back completed a total of 19 passes on 26 attempts for 322 yards and two scores, and Midwestern State University recorded the only two touchdowns of the second half, as the Indians broke a 20-20 halftime tie and defeated Eastern New Mexico University, 34-20, in a Lone Star Conference game on Saturday, Oct. 30. The Indians improved to 7-2 overall and clinched at least a tie for second place in the LSC South at 4-1. ENMU fell to 5-5 overall, 4-2 in the LSC South.

MSU kept itself in the race for an NCAA Division II Playoff berth. The Indians were ranked #6 in the Southwest Regional Rankings this week. The top six teams in the Region will qualify for the playoffs, which begin on Saturday, Nov. 13.

Starting quarterback Rahsaan Bell of Midwestern State completed 15 of 21 passes for 287 yards and one touchdown. Backup quarterback Daniel Polk was 3 for 4 for 28 yards, and running back Ross Harrison threw just one pass, but completed it for a 7-yard touchdown late in the first half. The success of the Indians through the air, overshadowed a solid performance by Eastern’s Steven Hinson (Sr., QB), who was playing approximately 40 miles from his hometown of Olney, Texas (Olney HS). Hinson completed 14 of 27 passes for 186 yards and one touchdown. He also carried the ball 10 times for 88 yards and one touchdown.

Hinson has rushed for 887 yards and 11 touchdowns this season, and needs 113 yards in ENMU’s season finale against Western New Mexico University at Greyhound Stadium on Nov. 6 to become Eastern’s first 1,000-yard rusher since Derrick Johnson ran for 1,265 yards in 1995. Hinson is three rushing touchdowns away from Eastern’s single season record of 14, set by Charlie Painter in 1951.

Harrison scored the go-ahead touchdown for Midwestern State on a 29-yard run at the 14:53 mark of the fourth quarter. The touchdown followed a scoreless third period that was in sharp contrast to the flurry of offensive activity in the final minute of the first half that left the teams tied at halftime.

Polk did not throw a touchdown pass, but scored on a 20-yard run on 3rd-and-2 with 2:27 left in the game for an insurance score to clinch the win. Polk was at quarterback for the entire drive leading to Harrison’s touchdown. He also replaced Bell after an injury three plays into MSU’s next possession and remained at quarterback for the rest of the game.

Eastern scored the game’s first touchdown on a 9-yard run by J.J. Jennings (RS Fr., FB/RB, Fort Worth, TX/Everman Joe C. Bean HS) with 6:10 left in the opening quarter. The extra point attempt by Lee Price (So., PK/P, Holliday, TX/Holliday HS) hit the upright and failed. Jennings’ touchdown completed a 5-play, 80-yard drive that took just 1:50 off the clock. The drive featured a 51-yard run by Hinson, moving the ball from the Eastern 20 to the MSU 29. On the next play, Jennings ran for 9 yards, then Hinson threw a pass to Derrick Hunter (Jr., WR, Lamesa, TX/Lamesa HS) for 5 yards and a first down at the 15-yard line. Jennings closed out the possession with a 6-yard run, followed by his touchdown jaunt.

Neither team scored again until one quarter later, with 6:10 to go in the second period, when the Indians tied the game with a quick drive. MSU moved 89 yards on three plays, starting with a 12-yard run by Adrion Butler. Myron Cooper hauled in a 75-yard pass from Bell to take care of nearly all the remaining yards, as MSU reached the ENMU 2. Butler scored on the next play, but Kristian Foster hit the upright on the conversion, and the score was tied, 6-6.

The last four touchdowns of the half were scored in the final two minutes of the second quarter Eastern regained the lead on a 25-yard scoring run by Hinson to start the offensive explosion with 1:56 left. Hinson completed 4 of 5 passes for 26 yards during the 77-yard drive. Price kicked the PAT, giving the Greyhounds a 13-6 advantage.

ENMU was offside on Price’s ensuing kickoff, which went out of the end zone. On the re-kick, Marcus Davis of MSU caught the ball three yards into the end zone and returned it to the Indians’ 44-yard line. Five plays later, Midwestern State scored at the 0:51 mark on a 16-yard pass from Bell to Darrius Richard. Foster tied the game with his extra point kick.

The kickoff by Foster eluded the Greyhounds at the ENMU 32-yard line and Midwestern State recovered the ball for a lengthy onside kick. On the first play, Bell connected with Richard for 27 yards to the ENMU 5. An incomplete pass and a negative 2-yard run by Bell left MSU with 3rd-and-goal at the 5-yard line. Harrison, who started at running back, threw an option pass to tight end Mark Crowe for the touchdown. Foster converted again for a 20-13 lead for Midwestern with 0:28 on the clock.

Surprisingly, the scoring for the first half wasn’t over yet. ENMU was penalized 15 yard for a personal foul prior to the kickoff, but Foster booted the kick out of bounds at the ENMU 22 and the Indians were forced to kick again. Corey White (Jr., CB, Lubbock, TX/Estacado HS) grabbed the kick at the 10-yard line and returned the ball 21 yards. Hinson then took the Hounds 69 yards on just two plays, a 33-yard pass to Hunter and a 36-yard pass to Jason Tezeno (Jr., RB, Levelland, TX/Levelland HS). Tezeno’s TD catch was followed by Price’s extra point and a 20-20 tie. It seemed the scoring might still continue after MSU took over at its own 39-yard line and Bell threw a 29-yard pass to Jason Washington on the final play of the half. A flag was thrown on the play — but the call was offensive pass interference against Washington and the half ended.

The go-ahead touchdown was set up by a partially blocked punt. Fred Moore of MSU blocked the kick, as Steven Todd (Sr., P, Lubbock, TX/Frenship HS) somehow managed to get the ball to go 17 yards to the Indians’ 41-yard line. Polk entered the game for MSU and completed two passes for 12 yards, then added 16 yards on three carries during the 9-play drive. Harrison opened the fourth quarter with his 29-yard TD run.

Eastern kept the ball for nine plays after MSU moved in front, but stalled at Midwestern 34 and Todd punted into the end zone. Four plays later, the Indians punted back to Eastern’s 40-yard line. Hinson gained one yard on first down, then Jennings was hit two yards behind the line of scrimmage by Marcel Moses and fumbled. Keven Taulton recovered the ball for MSU.

MSU didn’t score after the turnover, but punter Toby Zachary was able to pin ENMU at its own 6-yard line after the possession, and the Hounds kept the ball for just three plays. Price had his punt partially blocked by Moore, but the kick went 34 yards to the ENMU 38. Polk scored the game’s final touchdown seven plays later.

Trailing by 14 points with 2:27 left, the Hounds received a boost when White brought the kickoff back 42 yards to the ENMU 47. Midwestern State was penalized 15 yards for a face mask on the play, and the Eastern offense took to the field at the MSU 38. Three plays later, MSU was called for holding, which moved the ball to the MSU 28.

The Hounds eventually faced 3rd-and-1 at the 19-yard line. Hinson ran for 10 yards to pick up the first down, but the play was called back on a holding penalty against the Greyhounds. Hinson threw an incomplete pass on third down, then was forced to throw short to Hunter for 9 yards on 4th-and-11. MSU ran out the final 1:11 on the clock.

Hunter led all players with 9 catches for 121 yards. His career stats went past the 100-catch and 2,000-yard marks during the game. He has 105 catches for 2,018 yards in three years at ENMU. He needs 86 yards to reach the ENMU career record of 2,104 yards, set by Steve Jackson (1983-84), and is 21 catches from the career record of 126 receptions, set by Robert Griggs (1985-86 and 1988-89).

Hinson’s 88 rushing yards led all players. Jennings ran for 58 yards on 9 carries in the first half, and finished with 68 yards on 17 carries for ENMU. Harrison topped MSU with 16 carries for 57 yards, while Polk gained 39 yards on 6 carries. Cooper (86 yards), Richard (78 yards) and Andre Kelsick (55 yards) each caught 4 passes for the Indians.

ENMU’s defense was led by senior linebacker Jeff Howard, who registered 9 tackles (5 solo), including one sack for 11 yards lost. Howard also gave MSU its only turnover by making a one-handed interception at the ENMU 29 in the first quarter. Courage Idemudia (Sr., LB, Glenn Heights, TX/DeSoto HS) added 7 total tackles for the Greyhounds. Midwestern State received 11 tackles from right linebacker Cornelius Cooper. Blake Morrison (Sr., Rover) and Taulton (Sr., LB) contributed 9 tackles each. Senior defensive end Ryan Tones recorded five quarterback hurries.

Eastern will conclude the season at home against Western New Mexico University on Saturday, Nov. 6. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. (MST). It will be the final game for Eastern’s 22 seniors and Head Coach Harold “Bud” Elliott, who announced during the preseason he would retire at the end of the 2004 season. Elliott is 67-49-2 (.576) in 11 seasons at ENMU, where he is the winningest coach in Greyhound football history. He owns a career record of 204-179-9 (.532) during 37 seasons as a collegiate head coach.