Saturday, September 04, 2010 (statistics are subject to change)
SAN ANGELO, TEXAS— Melvis Hawkins (So., RB, Hale Center, Texas/Hale Center HS) covered 33 yards over two plays, scoring a three-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter, to give the Eastern New Mexico University football team (1-1) a four-point lead late in the fourth quarter of Saturday night’s Lone Star Conference crossover game at Angelo State (1-0). The Rams immediately responded with a 54-yard scoring play, snatching a 41-38 victory from the Greyhounds at San Angelo Stadium.
After quarterback Josh Neiswander staked ASU to a 6-0 lead, with the Rams missing the extra point, Wesley Wood (So., QB, Muleshoe, Texas/Muleshoe HS) capped a five-play, 65-yard drive with a six-yard scoring pass to Carl Bouldin (Jr., WR, San Antonio, Texas/Converse Judson HS). The extra point gave Eastern their first lead of the game, 7-6.
Angelo State scored the next two touchdowns to build a 21-7 lead, but Wood found Chase Kyser (So., WR, Roswell, N.M./Goddard HS) from three yards out to trim the Hounds deficit to a single touchdown with 1:43 left in the opening half. When the second half started, the Hounds drove 57 yards for a 28-yard Taylor Cannon (Jr., K, Los Lunas, N.M./Los Lunas HS) field goal, to pull within 21-17.
The teams traded scores down the stretch, with Arvin Jackson’s (So., WR, Houston, Texas/Westside HS) 11-yard touchdown reception with 7:27 left in the game pulling the Greyhounds to within three points, 34-31. Facing a second down and 10-yards to go at the Angelo State 33-yard line, Hawkins broke a number of tackles on a 30-yard run to the Ram three-yard line, setting up his go-ahead touchdown plunge.
The Rams received the kickoff at their own 46-yard line and were aided by a roughing the passer penalty, which allowed the game-winning drive to start on the Eastern 39-yard line. Neiswander completed all four passes on the drive, including a nine-yard scoring toss to Tristan Carter. Ryan Smith lofted a high kick off, which was fair caught by Eli Finch (So., WR, Farmington, N.M./Piedra Vista HS) at the Greyhound 27-yard line. On fourth down, Wood was intercepted by Markeith Jones to end the game.
The Greyhounds found the endzone on four of their five trips to the redzone and unofficially (pending statistical changes), passed for 437 yards. Wood threw for 317 yards and four touchdowns, while Jesse Poku (Sr., WR, Murphy, Texas/Richardson HS) hauled in eight passes for 67 yards and a touchdown. Darian Dale (Jr., WR, Bay City, Texas/Bay City HS) caught seven passes for 135 yards. Tony Valenzuela () rushed for 43 of the Hounds’ 120 yards on the ground. Perron Sellers (Jr., LB, La Marque, Texas/La Marque HS/Fullerton JC) led Eastern with nine tackles, while Ian Ogando (So., DT, La Porte, Texas/La Porte HS) forced a fumble.
The Eastern New Mexico University football team will return to Blackwater Draw, next Saturday, when they host 17th-ranked Midwestern State. Kick-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. MST.