Saturday, November 5, 2016
PORTALES, N.M. — After more than two hours of lightning delays, the Eastern New Mexico University football team (6-4; LSC 5-3) struck to force turnovers on two of Oklahoma Panhandle's (2-8; LSC 1-7) first three plays of Saturday's Lone Star Conference game.
Wyatt Strand also was electric, with 163 passing yards with three touchdowns, along with 91 rushing yards, en-route to leading ENMU to a 53-10 win at Al Whitehead Field at Greyhound Stadium.
The win improved Eastern to 18-8-2 over OPSU with a 10-3-1 mark in home games against the Aggies. Eastern hadn't hosted Oklahoma Panhandle since the 2006 season finale. With the win, Eastern clinched winning overall and LSC records for the season.
The Turning Point
- After the defense forced turnovers on two of OPSU's first three plays, the Hounds took the lead for good on a 23-yard run from Paul Terry
- The teams exchanged a number of punts before ENMU closed the first quarter with a 34-yard touchdown reception from Larry Baker-Bruce for a 13-0 lead
Pulling Away
- Just three plays into Eastern's first possession of the second quarter, quarterback Wyatt Strand found Baker-Bruce again, this time from 45-yards out for the score
- OPSU connected on a 32-yard field goal from Sterling Claphan, but ENMU responded with a 47-yard touchdown run from Strand on third-and-12, to take a 26-3 lead into the locker room
- ENMU outscored OPSU 27-7 in the second half to put the game out of reach
Beyond the Box Score
- Eastern's 645 yards of total offense were the team's most since the team-record 767 against Southeastern Oklahoma on Sept 12, 2009
- ENMU rushed for a season-best 482 yards
- The Hounds five rushing touchdowns matched the 2016 season high set against West Texas A&M
- Quarterback Wyatt Strand has thrown seven touchdowns over the last three games with just one interception
- Kamal Cass' 154-yard outing was his second-highest yardage total of the season and fifth 100-yard game of the year
- Baker-Bruce topped the 100-yard mark for the second straight game, with a career-best 132 yards and three touchdown catches
- Eastern's defense held the opposition under 300 yards for the third straight game
In the Numbers
- The Greyhounds found the end zone on four of their first six possessions
- In the opening half, Eastern limited one of the league's top passing offense to just 66 yards through the air on 11 completions
- Strand accumulated 164 yards of total offense with three passing touchdowns and one rushing score
- Tayshaun Garry added 65 yards rushing
- Dakota Montoya had two of ENMU's four sacks
- DeSean Anderson and Charles Stevens each had an interception
Up Next
The Eastern New Mexico University football team will conclude the regular season at Midwestern State, next Saturday. Kick-off is scheduled for 12 p.m. MT.
