Saturday, October 11, 2014
                                                                                                         
ABILENE, TEXAS — Senior linebacker Seth Bailey (Texico, N.M./Texico HS) stepped in front of a Matt McHugh pass and returned it for a 32-yard touchdown, on McMurry's first possession of the game and the Eastern New Mexico University football team (4-2; LSC 2-2) never looked back, en-route to a 62-23 victory over McMurry University (2-3; LSC 1-3) in Lone Star Conference action, Saturday at Moore Stadium. The win was Eastern's first over the War Hawks and the first meeting between the teams since the 1959 season.
 
The Greyhounds added a six-yard touchdown run from E'lon Spight (Sr., FB, St. Louis, Mo. / Hazelwood East HS / Grossmont College) late in the first quarter, to seize a 14-0 lead. From that point, the teams exchanged touchdowns for the remainder of the half, with Eastern taking a 28-14 edge into the locker room.
 
After the teams had exchanged a number of punts in the third quarter, McHugh connected with Jeret Smith for a 34-yard gain, and with a penalty tacked on, the War Hawks had a first and goal at the ENMU four-yard line. After the Greyhounds stopped the next play for a loss, and two incomplete passes, MCM faked a field goal, with McHugh's pass falling incomplete. Eastern took complete control of the contest at that point and punched the ball into the endzone on the ensuing possession and each of the following four possessions, to seize a 55-16 lead. All five of the Greyhounds second-half touchdowns came from the running game.
 
The Greyhound rushing attack dominated the second half, with 132 yards in the third quarter and 146 more in the fourth quarter. The offensive explosion came after the War Hawks had limited Eastern to 148 yards total on the ground in the entire first half.
 
For the game, ENMU held the ball for 35:25 and registered 426 rushing yards, to mark the second time this season they have topped the 400-yard plateau. McMurry's 80-rushing yards was the second-highest total allowed by Eastern this season. The Greyhounds scored on all eight of its trips inside the McMurry 20-yard line, and allowed McMurry just one score on two trips. Eastern's defense limited MCM to five or fewer plays on 10 possessions.
 
Spight set career-highs with 189 rushing yards and four touchdowns, with a 7.0 yards per carry average. Vaughn Johnson (R-Jr., FB, Amarillo, Texas/Palo Duro HS)) and Andy Lopez (R-So., FB, Artesia, N.M./Artesia HS) both topped the 50-yard rushing mark and had touchdowns. Myles Johnson (Sr., RB, Los Angeles, Calif. / Carson HS / Santa Monica Junior CC) added one rushing touchdown and scored on a 16-yard reception. Jeremy Buurma (R-Jr., QB, Las Cruces, N.M./Las Cruces HS) turned in an efficient performance and completed six of his eight throws for 68 yards. Bailey paced the defense with seven tackles, a sack, an interception and two passes defended. Jeret Smith paced McMurry with seven catches for 168 yards.
 
Next Saturday, the Eastern New Mexico University football team will host Tarleton State. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. MT. The contest will be Eastern's "Cannon Air Force Base Appreciation Day" and "Think Pink Day." It also will be sponsored by Big Valley Auto.
 
NOTES
 
The Greyhounds 62 points was their highest total since setting a school record, with 76, in a 76-56 win over Texas A&M-Commerce, on September 19, 2009
 
ENMU's seven touchdowns scored was the most in a game since scoring eight against Sul Ross State on September 13, 2013
 
The win was Eastern's first in Abilene, Texas, since a 33-30 decision against Abilene Christian on September 24, 2005
 
Dating back to last year's setback against Incarnate Word, the Hounds have won seven consecutive road games
 
The Hounds' last Lone Star Conference loss on the road came at Texas A&M-Kingsville, on November 10, 2012
 
Since the 1998 season, ENMU there have been six four-rushing touchdown performances in a game: Dennis Beard 5 (at West Texas A&M 11/4/2000), E'lon Spight 4 (at McMurry 10/11/2014), Heath Ridenour 4 (Texas A&M-Kingsville 11/2/2002), JT Thompson 4 (at Bacone 8/25/2007), Michael Benton 4 (Angelo State 10/1/2005, at Texas A&M-Kingsville 10/27/2007), Troy Harris 4 (Texas A&M-Commerce 9/19/2009)
 
Seth Bailey's pick-six in the first quarter was the first for ENMU since Darrelyn McCloud's against New Mexico Highlands on September 7, 2013
 
The PAT return against Eastern was the first since November 9, 2002 at West Texas A&M by Cody Stovall. The last time ENMU returned an opponent's PAT was David Strickland against Incarnate Word on September 28, 2013