Saturday, October 25, 2014
                                                                                                         
SAN ANGELO, TEXAS — Senior fullback E'lon Spight (St. Louis, Mo. / Hazelwood East HS / Grossmont College) rushed for a career-high 196 yards and two touchdowns, but the Eastern New Mexico University football team (4-4; LSC 2-4) dropped a 41-20 decision in Lone Star Conference action to Angelo State (5-2; LSC 4-2) at LeGrand Stadium. Spight's 40 carries were the most by any Greyhound player since at least the 1998 season.
 
The loss also marked the Rams' first home win over Eastern since the 2010 season, as the Hounds earned dramatic wins on second-half rallies during the 2013 and 2011 seasons. The setback also snapped ENMU's seven-game win streak in road games. The Hounds had not dropped a road game since a 33-26 loss at Incarnate Word last year. It also marked Eastern's first road loss in LSC play since the 2012 season finale at Texas A&M-Kingsville.
 
The Greyhounds used 5:54 during the game's opening drive and capped a 13-play, 75-yard drive with a three-yard touchdown run from Spight. The Rams immediately tied the game on Anthony Yancey's 97-yard kickoff return. After forcing a punt, Yancey struck again, making catches of 16 and 21 yards on the ensuing drive, to set up Warren Truesdale's go-ahead two-yard touchdown run. Eastern was at midfield on their next possession, before Blair Smith forced a fumble, which was returned by Jesse Hanson IV 49 yards, to put the Rams ahead 21-7, with 1:48 left in the opening quarter.
 
A 15-yard touchdown catch from Aaron Johnson (So., WR, Colorado Springs, Colo./Vista Ridge HS) capped a 14-play, 75-yard drive and pulled the Hounds back to within a touchdown, early in the second quarter. After the teams traded punts. The Hounds had a second down-and six at their own 37-yard line, when quarterback Jeremy Buurma (R-Jr., Las Cruces, N.M./Las Cruces HS) threw an incomplete pass to Jacob Johnson (R-Sr., WR, Idalou, Texas/Idalou HS). Initially, a penalty flag was thrown on the incompletion, but the officials ruled that there was no foul on the play. On the next play, the Ram's Paul Mason registered his third interception of the season. Angelo State capped the ensuing drive with a six-yard touchdown run from Kyle Washington for a 28-14 lead.
 
After the Greyhound defense forced a punt to open the second half, Eastern drove 56 yards and pulled within 28-20 on Spight's two-yard touchdown run. Spight ran for 40 yards on the scoring possession. Peter Marquez kicked a pair of field goals to seal the win for Angelo State.  
 
Eastern held a 314-78 yard advantage in the running game and held the ball for 39:46 of play. The Greyhound defense limited the Rams to just a pair of third-down conversions in 11 opportunities, while ENMU converted seven of 20 third-down chances. The Hounds also crossed the first-down marker three time on fourth down, in seven attempts. Angelo State converted three ENMU turnovers into 14 points. Seth Bailey (R-Sr., LB Texico, N.M./Texico HS) made eight tackles with five solo stops, while Elijah Saina (Sr., DE, Stockton, Calif./San Joaquin Delta College) registered a fourth-quarter sack.
 
Next Saturday, the Eastern New Mexico University football team host West Texas A&M in the annual Wagon Wheel Game. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. MT. The contest will also be the Greyhounds' senior game and sponsored by Plateau Wireless.
 
NOTES
 
Spight's 40 rushing attempts were the most in a game by a Greyhound since at least the 1998 season Michel Benton had 35 carries twice in the 2007 season (vs Northeastern State and at Abilene Christian)
 
Since the 1998 season, there have been three players to reach 1,000-rushing yards in a season: Michael Benton (1,468/2007, 1,116/2006 and 1,311/2005), E'lon Spight (1,101/2014) and Steven Hinson (1,006/2004)
 
Spight's 14 rushing touchdowns this season tied Benton for the third most since the 1998 season (Benton 18 in 2007, 17 in 2005 and 14 in 2006).
 
Tonight marked the first time in his 22 games as a Greyhound that Jeremy Buurma was intercepted more than once.
 
Of Aaron Johnson's five touchdowns this season, three have come in the last two games