Silver Team Routs Green Team, 35-7, in ENMU Green vs. Silver Spring Game

Box Score - 2005 Green vs. Silver Spring Game

PORTALES, N.M. — Running back Fide Davalos (So, Portales, NM/Floyd HS) rushed for 93 yards and one touchdown on seven carries, and quarterback Michael Benton (Fr., Everman, TX/ Everman HS) completed 8 of 14 passes for 107 yards and two touchdowns, as the Silver Team routed the Green Team, 35-7, in the annual Eastern New Mexico University Green vs. Silver Spring Game, Apr. 24 at Greyhound Stadium. The Silver Team amassed 493 total yards, including 336 yards in the first half, while holding the Green Team to just 210 total yards.

Benton threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to sophomore running back Zach Gerleve (Truth or Consequences, NM/Hot Springs HS) less than three minutes into the game to give the Silver squad a 7-0 lead. Gerleve, a two-sport athlete who won a Lone Star Conference title in the javelin at the LSC Track and Field Meet yesterday (Apr. 23), finished the game with two catches for 61 yards and two rushing plays for 29 yards.

The Green Team failed to recover the ensuing kickoff by Lee Price (So., PK/P, Holliday, TX/Holliday HS), so the Silver Team recovered the ball and took over at the Green 34. Four plays later, Benton ran into the end zone from one-yard out, as the Silver Team increased its lead to 14-0. The short drive included a 20-yard run by Benton and a 13-yard carry by Robert Garza (So., FB, Adalou, TX/Idalou HS). Price kicked the PAT to increase the Silver Team’s lead to 14-0.

Early in the second period, Benton hit Derrick Hunter (Jr., WR, Lamesa, TX/Lamesa HS) with an 18-yard touchdown pass to complete an eight-play, 83-yard drive. Gerleve opened the drive with a 31-yard carry, while Hunter caught a 10-yard pass and gained nine yards on a reverse to help move the ball down the field.

Rocky Hartline (Redshirt, QB, Levelland, TX/Levelland HS) put the Green Team on the scoreboard at the 4:00 mark of the second quarter when he crossed the goal line on a 1-yard run. The touchdown capped a six-play, 80-yard drive that featured a 32-yard run by Hartline. Davalos answered for the Silver Team with 1:25 left in the half, as he scored on a 35-yard run. The Silver team held a 28-7 lead at the break.

The Green squad had a chance to get back in the game early in the second half. On the third play of the period, quarterback Brandon Dominguez (Fr., Anton, TX/Anton HS) dashed 63 yards, but Corey White (Jr., CB, Lubbock, TX/Estacado HS) forced him to fumble at the Silver one-yard line. The ball bounced into the end zone, then went out of bounds, preventing the Green Team from scoring and giving the Silver Team possession of the ball on a touchback.

Price missed a 47-yard field goal at the end of a 12-play, 50-yard drive that consumed 8:11 off the clock following the fumble. The Green Team took over with 2:23 left in the third quarter, but kept the ball for just three plays before punting.

Neither team scored the rest of the way, until Lance Fikany took a pitch and ran to the end zone for the Silver Team from 19 yards out with 20.3 seconds left in the game. Price kicked the extra point, as he finished the day 5 for 5 on PATs. He also averaged 40.3 yards on four punts.

Davalos’ 93 yards led a potent rushing attack for the Silver Team, which gained 345 yards on 51 carries. Garza rushed for 68 yards on 11 carries, while Fikany earned 52 yards on seven attempts. Sukora Cooper (RS Sr., FB, Dallas, TX/W.W. Samuell HS) gained 39 yards and Benton rushed for 38 yards, as both players carried the ball seven times. Hunter contributed 27 yards on five carries.

Hunter also tacked on 52 yards on four receptions, returned a punt 20 yards and completed a reverse pass to Gerleve for 41 yards late in the game. Gerleve lost his balance after making the catch or he would have scored on a 70-yard play. The drive still ended successfully for the Silver squad when Fikany scored the game’s final touchdown.

Freshman fullback Patrick Hemphill (Paducah, TX/Paducah HS) led the Green team with 79 rushing yards on eight carries. Dominguez gained 68 yards on six carries and Hartline picked up 37 yards on nine carries. The Green squad failed to complete a pass, as Hartline went 0 for 5 and Dominguez had his only pass attempt intercepted by Bobby Reed (Fr., LB, Portales, NM/Floyd HS).

Michael Clark (Fr., CB, Rio Rancho, NM/Rio Rancho HS) and Marcus Ortiz (Fr., FS, Santa Rosa, NM/Santa Rosa HS) each intercepted a pass for the Green Team. Tony Johnson (Fr., LB, Levelland, TX/Levelland HS) led the Green Team with 10 total tackles (7 unassisted), while Joel Dunn (Redshirt, LB, Bledsoe, TX/Whiteface HS) and Tony Naccarato (So., LB, Raton, NM/ Raton HS) topped the Silver Team with seven tackles each.

Naccarato was the game’s leading tackler. Due to a limited number of healthy players at linebacker, he played for both teams at various times during the game. He made four tackles for the Green Team, giving him 11 tackles overall.

Michael Walton, who coaches quarterbacks and fullbacks, led the Silver coaching staff. He was assisted by Todd Wallis, Eric Boll, Draco Miller and honorary coach Duffy Moon from KSEL Radio. The Green Team was led by Offensive Coordinator Mike Howard, who received assistance from Randy Montoya, Josh White, Michael Connelly and honorary coach Steve Rooney of KSEL.

Mark Ribaudo, who moved up from defensive coordinator to head coach in January, oversaw the event, as the Greyhounds completed their spring workouts. ENMU will open the 2005 season on Aug. 25 against the University of Central Arkansas. The game will be played at the 53,727-seat War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, Ark., and will benefit the Arkansas Children’s Hospital.

NOTE: Player classifications are for the 2004-05 academic year.