PORTALES, N.M. -- The offense got things going in the second half, but it was just too late for the Western New Mexico University football team to come all the way back as they fell to in-state rival Eastern New Mexico University, 37-16, Saturday night in the Lone Star Conference opener for both.
ENMU (1-1, 1-0 LSC) scored the first 17 points of the game, as the WNMU (0-2, 0-1 LSC) defense came up big on the opening drive of the game, holding the Greyhounds to just a field goal after they chewed up 69 yards on 15 plays that took over six minutes off the clock.
The Greyhounds cashed in touchdowns on each of their next two drives to open a 17-0 lead near the midway point of the second quarter.
Junior safety Ian Davis (Grass Valley, CA/Nevada Union) turned momentum with five minutes to go before halftime when he picked off the first of his two interceptions on the night. His first INT had WNMU with the ball deep in ENMU territory at the 30. The Mustangs moved to the six, but couldn't get any further and had to settle for a 25-yard field goal by redshirt freshman Tyler Vargas (Ramona, CA/Ramona) to make it a 17-3 game.
ENMU had one score left in them before halftime and held a 23-3 lead at the break after missing the extra point.
The Greyhounds recorded the only points of the third quarter, which was a TD to extend the lead to 30-3 heading into the final frame.
Senior quarterback Javia Hall (Dallas, TX/Skyline) began to find his groove, hitting senior Xavier Ayers (Albuquerque, NM/Albuquerque) for a 36-yard strike and later a 22-yard pass down to the ENMU 34. A play later, Hall found senior Rodney Lawson (Hayward, CA/Patterson) for the 34-yard touchdown and after the two-point try failed ENMU held the 30-9 lead with 13:51 to play in the contest.
An ensuing onside kick was recovered by ENMU, but they would only gain eight yards and turn the ball over on downs back to the Mustangs at their 38. Lawson and Ayers again got into the act with Lawson hauling in a 22-yard pass from Hall and then Ayers with a 33-yard pass down to the ENMU 10. Redshirt junior Treydonte Hill (Nashville, TN/Cane Ridge) finished the drive off from there taking the 10-yard pass from Hall into the end zone cutting the deficit to 30-16 with just over 10 minutes to go in the game.
That ended up being as close as WNMU could get the rest of the way with the Greyhounds taking the 37-16 victory.
As expected, ENMU ran 29 more plays (85-56) and chewed up the clock (39:44-20:16) utilizing their triple option rushing attack. On the ground, ENMU rushed 72 times for 466 yards, while WNMU ran it 24 times for 45 yards. The Mustangs found the passing attack throwing for 249 yards, while ENMU went for just 106.
Freshman Deandre Williams rushed five times for 24 yards. Hall completed 14-26 for 240 with two touchdowns. Ayers broke loose this week with six catches for 118 yards. Lawson added three for 60 and sophomore Henry Norman (Fontana, CA/Henry J. Kaiser) with three for 44.
On defense, outside of the two interceptions by Ian Davis (Grass Valley, CA/Nevada Union), sophomore Connor Mowat (Lahaina, HI/Lahainaluna) and senior Alfonso Wilson (San Diego, CA/Morse) led the team in tackles with nine. Mowat also added a half sack. Sophomore Immanuel Dangerfield (Elk Grove, CA/Laguna Creek) and senior Leo Marin (Carlsbad, CA/Carlsbad) posted eight tackles apiece. Dangerfield added 1.5 tackles for loss and Marin another tackle for loss.
Kamal Cass led the ENMU rushing attack carrying the ball 31 times for 232 yards and two scores.
WNMU will prepare for their home opener this coming Saturday when they will face Oklahoma Panhandle State starting at noon. The Aggies bested Arkansas Pine Bluff, 20-16, earlier today.
