PORTALES, N.M. -- In moving to the Lone Star Conference, the Western New Mexico University football team ends a long-standing series with New Mexico Highlands University and rekindles one with Eastern New Mexico University. The Mustangs will face the Greyhounds this Saturday at 7 p.m. for the first time since 2005.
Eastern New Mexico has enjoyed success recently in the series, having won the last 11 between the two teams. This will also be the first LSC game of the 2016 season for any of the teams and is the only one on the schedule this week.
WNMU will look to get the offense going this week after being limited to 217 yards against the University of San Diego in a 27-0 loss this past Saturday. Freshman Job McGinty (Gardena, CA/Junipero Serra) led the ground attack with 32 yards on four carries, while redshirt junior Tracy McNair (San Diego, CA/Morse) added 23 yards on six attempts. Senior Javia Hall (Dallas, TX/Skyline) and junior Matt Hommel (Suffolk, VA/Kings Fork) split time at quarterback with Hall completing 8-20 for 83 yards, with a long pass of 25, while Hommel went 8-16 for 59 yards, with a long pass of 19. Senior Xavier Ayers (Albuquerque, NM/Albuquerque) snagged the most balls with four for 16 yards. Sophomore Henry Norman (Fontana, CA/Henry J. Kaiser) went for the most yards with 40 on just two catches, with a long of 25. Redshirt freshman Tyler Vargas (Ramona, CA/Ramona) had a strong first collegiate game punting, as he had eight attempts and averaged 37.8 yards, with a long of 46 and two inside the 20.
Senior Steven Stewart (Fremont, CA/Irvington) paced the defense with nine tackles, six solo, along with a tackle for loss. Seniors Leo Marin (Carlsbad, CA/Carlsbad) and Dominic Barry (Moreno Valley, CA/Vista Del Lago) added six tackles apiece and each had a half tackle for loss. Marin added a forced fumble that sophomore Collin Grady (Glendora, CA/Glendora) recovered. Juniors Charles-John Smith (Las Vegas, NV/Arbor) and Lenier Lee (Moreno Valley, CA/Rancho Verde) each added a tackle for loss.
Eastern New Mexico also struggled in their opener at Southwest Baptist falling 49-35 in Bolivar, Mo. The Greyhounds had plenty of offense racking up 538 yards, but turned the ball over four times and the Bearcats chewed up 550 yards of their own offense.
The Greyhounds, who feature a triple option/wing-t set style of offense, don't really throw the ball much as Adam Lucero completed 6-13 for 88 yards with a TD and INT. The rushing attack then contributed the other yards of offense with top returning offensive tailback Kamal Cass going for 149 yards and two scores on 24 carries. D'Maujeric Tucker added 147 yards and a TD on just nine carries. When they did throw the ball, Aaron Johnson snagged five for 89 yards and a score.
Brad Hardin led the defense with 12 tackles, half solo, along with two tackles for loss. Todd Countee added eight tackles, while Desmond Blue came away with the only sack.
Live video, stats and audio will be available for the game with Mike Rowse on the call for KSCQ 92.9 and streamed live. It will also be the opening of ENMU's new stadium of Al Whitehead Field at Greyhound Stadium.
