Big Plays Prove Costly as Greyhounds Lose at East Central

Box score

ADA, OK.— The final score suggests Eastern New Mexico University was outplayed in its 33-14 loss at East Central University on Saturday, Sept. 18. In reality, a handful of plays kept the Greyhounds from winning or staying in a close contest until the closing minutes.

Three big pass plays for ECU, a long run by the Tigers in the final minutes, two mistakes on punt plays and two Eastern drives that ended inside the ECU 10-yard line made the difference, as the Greyhounds fell to 1-3, 1-2 in the overall Lone Star Conference standings. East Central improved to 2-1, all in the LSC.

The first key play occurred at the end of the game’s opening possession. ENMU picked up one first down, but was forced to punt on 4th-and-15 at its own 25-yard line. Steven Todd (Sr., P, Lubbock, TX/Frenship HS) dropped a slightly low snap, fell to the ground and was tackled after he picked up the ball at the 13-yard line. Four plays later, running back King Bennett scored for ECU on a 3-yard run. The Tigers averted a turnover on the second play, when quarterback Wilson Pirtle fumbled at the 8-yard line and right guard Brad Widger recovered the ball at the ENMU 6.

Eastern regained the ball at its own 20-yard line following Brad Gresham’s kickoff resulted in his second consecutive touchback. An incomplete pass and two running plays netted the Hounds just five yards, and Todd was forced to punt. He kicked a 37-yarder to the ECU 38. James Whisenhunt was tackled by Michael Benton (Fr., QB, Everman, TX/Everman Joe C. Bean HS) for a four-yard loss on the return.

Two plays later, on 1st-and-10 at the ECU 47, Pirtle connected with wide receiver Matt Suffal for the first of ECU’s big passes. Suffal’s reception was good for 40 yards, as the Tigers advanced to the ENMU 13-yard line. On 3rd-and-15, Pirtle hit Suffal with an 18-yard scoring strike. Gresham added the extra point, giving ECU a 14-0 lead with 6:34 left in the opening quarter.

The Greyhounds drove from their own 20-yard line to the East Central 35 on their next possession, but did not score. Just over two minutes later, Bennett fumbled at the ECU 37 and Adrian Quigley (Sr., SS, Lubbock, TX/Monterey HS) recovered for ENMU at the 38. Again the Hounds failed to score.

On the next Eastern possession, Steven Hinson (Sr., QB, Olney, TX/Olney HS) led the Greyhounds 72 yards on 14 plays for ENMU’s first score. Hinson had carries of 17 yards and 28 yards on the drive, and closed out the series with a 1-yard touchdown run. Lee Price (So, PK, Holliday, TX/Holliday HS) kicked the extra point, as Eastern cut the lead to 14-7.

The next big pass play for ECU was on the ensuing possession, when Pirtle threw a 37-yard pass to Suffal, who was tackled at the ENMU 34. A personal foul was tacked on, giving ECU the ball at Eastern’s 20-yard line. Bennett ran for 14 yards on the next play, then scored on a 6-yard scamper. Gresham made the extra point with 2:15 left in the opening half.

Hinson took the Greyhounds down the field quickly. ENMU went from its own 30-yard line to the ECU 25 on passes of 11 yards and 20 yards to Fide Davalos (So., RB, Portales, NM/Floyd HS) and a 14-yard pass to Jason Tezeno (Jr., RB, Levelland, TX/Levelland HS).

Eastern eventually faced 1st-and-goal at the ECU 6. Hinson threw an incomplete pass, then tried to force a pass into Tristan Selmon (Jr., WR, Dallas, TX/Richardson HS) in the end zone. Selmon and the ball were hit at about the same time, causing the pigskin to fly back toward the goal line. Eli Kieslich grabbed the ball in the air for an interception with 22 seconds left in the half.

Another key play took place with 4:51 left in the third quarter and ECU still leading 21-7. The Tigers punted form their own 19-yard line. Gresham’s punt went 41 yards, forcing Corey White (Jr., CB, Lubbock, TX/Estacado HS) to back peddle to field the ball. White fumbled and Bennett recovered for East Central at the ENMU 38. The Greyhounds held defensively, with Gresham missing a 38-yard field goal with 2:20 left in the quarter.

The score remained 21-7 heading into the final period. Eastern cut the lead to seven points when Hinson threw an 11-yard scoring strike to wide receiver Derrick Hunter (Jr., Lamesa, TX/Lamesa HS) with 9:36 remaining. The drive featured three runs by J.J. Jennings (Fr., RB, Fort Worth, TX/Everman Joe C. Bean HS), including a 25-yard rush. Hunter caught 3 passes for 31 yards during the drive.

ECU’s third big pass play came on first down following the kickoff. Pirtle threw deep to Stephen Langford, who caught the ball on a 60-yard pass to the ENMU 7. Bennett ran into the end zone from two yards out with 7:51 left. An illegal celebration penalty, followed by illegal procedure, turned the extra point into a 40-yard kick, which Gresham missed.

Despite trailing 27-14, the Greyhounds mounted another drive. White returned the kickoff from the goal line to the Eastern 32. Tezeno opened the drive with a 9-yard run and Davalos followed with a 6-yard carry. Later, back-to-back passes from Hinson to Hunter advanced the ball to the ECU 19. On 3rd-and-5, Hinson threw incomplete. On 4th down, Hinson waited for a running back to get set, then took the snap as the play clock hit zero. The Hounds were called for delay of game. Hinson almost picked up the first down on a pass to Tezeno, who was stopped by Ra‘Mon Brown and Andrew O’Neill less than foot from the first down marker with 3:45 remaining.

The next play was the final big play of the contest. Bennett broke through the line of scrimmage and outraced the defense on a 90-yard touchdown run. White nearly caught Bennett, but his diving attempt for a tackle missed at the ENMU 25. Another excessive celebration penalty resulted in a second missed conversion by Gresham.

Mistakes clearly cost the Hounds, who had four interceptions (three by Hinson and one by Benton) and lost one fumble (on the punt return). The ENMU defense gave up the 60-yard pass and the 90-yard run in the fourth quarter, but allowed just 68 yards on ECU’s remaining 28 plays in the second half.

For the game, ENMU ran 80 plays to just 53 for East Central. The Hounds gained 356 total yards, while ECU’s big plays helped the Tigers earn 395 total yards. Both teams rushed for over 200 yards, with ENMU gaining 204 on 53 carries and ECU picking up 207 on 41 attempts.

Bennett led all rushers with 173 yards on 24 carries, but was averaging 3.6 yards per carry (83 yards on 23 attempts) prior to his 90-yard dash. Hinson topped ENMU with 60 yards on 14 carries. Patrick Hemphill (Fr., FB, Paducah, TX/Paducah HS) added 43 yards on 8 carries for the Hounds.

Hinson was 14 of 25 passing for 141 yards, 1 TD and 3 interceptions. Benton finished 1 of 2 for 11 yards and 1 interception. Hunter caught 8 passes for 75 yards (1 TD), while Davalos hauled in 4 passes for 41 yards.

Pirtle completed a solid 10 of 12 passes for 118 yards and 1 TD. He did not throw an interception. His top receivers were Langford, with 4 receptions for 81 yards, and Suffal, with 3 catches for 95 yards. Theo Watson (Jr., LB, Littlefield, TX/Littlefield HS) was credited with 13 tackles (11 assists) for the ENMU defense. Quigley recorded 10 assists, and Ty Touchstone (Sr., FS, Lubbock, TX/Monterey HS) earned 9 assists. Jeff Howard (Sr., LB, Portales, NM/Portales HS) made 1 solo tackle and added 7 assists.

ECU received a game-high 19 tackles (7 solo, 12 assists) from senior free safety Eric Johnson. Junior linebacker James Callins registered 17 tackles (7 solo, 9 assists).
Eastern New Mexico University returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 25, when the Greyhounds host Abilene Christian University in the LSC South opener for both teams.

Kickoff at Greyhound Stadium is set for 6 p.m. MDT. ENMU has lost six consecutive games to ACU since defeating the Wildcats, 35-21, on Oct. 3, 1998. Last season, ACU defeated the Greyhounds, 24-14, in Abilene, Texas.