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ENMU arrow Athletics arrow News arrow Press Releases arrow 2005 Archive arrow 11/5 Greyhounds Defeat Western New Mexico, 47-20
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Acuna and White Named to Daktronics Division II All-Southwest Region Second Team

PORTALES, N.M. — Eastern New Mexico University senior offensive guard Robert Acuna, Jr. (6’0”, 307 lbs., Alice, TX/Angelo State University) and senior cornerback Corey White (6’0”, 165 lbs., Lubbock, TX/Estacado HS) have been selected to the Second Team of the Daktronics Division II All-Southwest Region Football Team for 2005, as selected by sports information directors at NCAA Division II colleges and universities. Acuna helped the ENMU offense rank third nationally in rushing with 303.0 yards per game this fall. White provided 27 tackles, four pass break-ups, two blocked kicks and a fumble recovery during the season, while also returning 11 kickoffs a total of 192 yards.

Overall, 25 players were named to the First Team and 25 were chosen for the Second Team. The First Team selections became eligible for the 2004 Daktronics Division II All-America Football Team.

ENMU, playing one of the most difficult schedules in NCAA Division II, finished the 2005 season with a 5-6 overall record, including 2-4 in the LSC South (5th place tie). The Greyhounds took on seven teams that were nationally or regionally ranked at the end of the season, including three teams that advanced to the NCAA Playoffs.

Eastern defeated previously unbeaten Angelo State University, 38-14, on Oct. 1, during the ENMU Homecoming game. The Hounds fell to eventual LSC South champion West Texas A&M University, 52-51, in overtime, on Oct. 8. Eastern was led by Mark Ribaudo, in his first season as head coach after eight years as an assistant coach at ENMU.

Second Team All-West Region

Acuna was named to the All-West Region Team for the first time, after receiving Second Team All-LSC South honors for the third consecutive season. He started every game for the Greyhounds this year, helping Eastern score 307 points, while contributing to 199 first downs. He helped Eastern set a school single game record with 475 rushing yards against West Texas A&M (Oct. 8). He also helped the Greyhounds rank second in the Lone Star Conference in sacks against, as the ENMU offensive line allowed just nine sacks for 42 yards during the season.

Acuna played in 40 games during his ENMU career. He saw action for the Greyhounds in seven games in 2004, despite missing four contests withe leg and shoulder injuries. He started all 11 games in 2003 and played in all 11 games in 2002. He transferred to ENMU following a redshirt season at Angelo State in 2001.

During his four seasons playing for the Greyhounds, he helped Eastern ranked in the top 20 in the nation in rushing each year. The Hounds ranked third in the country in 2002 with 3,188 yards (289.8 avg.), then placed ninth in 2003 with 2,620 yards (238.2 avg.). The ENMU rushing attack finished 20th in the nation in 2004 with 2,455 yards (223.2 avg.). Acuna helped the Hounds set a new ENMU single season record with 3,333 rushing yards in 2005.

In 2002, Acuna provided blocking that helped Eastern set school records for scoring (339 points), rushing (3,188 yards; record broken in 2005) and total offense (4,457 yards). The 2002 team achieved an 8-3 overall record.

White recorded 20 unassisted tackles and seven assists this season. His four pass break-ups tied for the team lead, while his two blocked punts led the Greyhounds. He recorded one tackle for a loss, despite providing pass coverage on most downs. He was Eastern’s top defensive back, which gave him primary coverage on the top receiver each week. He was seldom beaten on pass plays and provided many outstanding performances in pass coverage and run support.

White was named First Team All-LSC South for the second consecutive year. He also received Third Team All-Southwest Region honors from D2Football.com. It is his first time on the Daktronics All-Region Team.

In 2004, he led ENMU with four interceptions and seven pass break-ups. He also recorded 33 total tackles, including 29 unassisted stops. He made three tackles for losses and registered one sack. He scored a touchdown on a 25-yard interception return against Texas A&M-Kingsville on Oct. 23, 2004.

During his career, White accumulated 83 total tackles, with 69 unassisted tackles and 14 assists. He registered six tackles for losses (36 yards) and had 16 pass break-ups. He intercepted five passes.

White returned kickoffs and punts the past three seasons. In 2005, he averaged 17.5 yards per kickoff return. He also averaged 18.0 yards on two punt returns.

In 2004, he returned 23 kickoffs for 569 yards to rank 17th in NCAA Division II with 24.7 yards per return. He scored on a 100-yard return to open the second half against Southwestern Oklahoma State University on Sept. 11, 2004. He also returned four punts in 2004 for 33 yards (8.2 avg.). In 2003, he contributed 11 kickoff returns for 286 yards (26.0 avg.).

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