Saturday, November 15, 2014
                                                                                                                
BLACKWATER DRAW — The Eastern New Mexico University football team (7-4) registered a 27-point second quarter, before West Texas A&M (6-5) responded with a 21-point third quarter, in Saturday afternoon's Lone Star Conference playoff game at Blackwater Draw. With the Greyhounds facing a three-point deficit, senior wide receiver Bradley Beeston (Edmond, Okla./Edmond North HS/Eastern Arizona College) went 62-yards for the first touchdown of his career, to give Eastern the lead for good with just 3:12 left in the game, on the way to a 55-45 victory. 
 
The contest gave Eastern its 14^th victory in the 29 game history of the series against West Texas A&M. It also evened the teams at one win each, in games not played for the Wagon Wheel. Today marked the first non-Wagon Wheel game between the programs since the initial contest, which was won by the Buffaloes, 57-6, on September 15, 1945. With the win, ENMU claims its first three-game win streak in the series since a four-game stretch from 1999-2002.
 
After taking the opening kickoff, Eastern went 76 yards on four plays to take the lead on Jeremy Buurma's (R-Jr., QB, Texico, N.M./Texico HS) 21-yard sprint. The possession was highlighted by E'lon Spight's (Sr., FB, St. Louis, Mo. / Hazelwood East HS / Grossmont College) 44-yard run on the second play. The Buffaloes' ensuing drive got jump started, when Jarrian Rhone took a pass from Preston Rabb 56 yards, to the ENMU six-yard line. Three runs from Geremy Aldridge-Mitchell, later, and the game was tied.
 
After the teams exchanged punts, WT took advantage of a holding penalty on third down, which extended their drive. Three plays later, Rabb found Rhone for a six-yard touchdown pass and a 14-7 lead. Eastern's next possession stretched into the second quarter. On the first play of the second quarter, the Hounds took advantage of the south easterly winds and Buurma tossed his first pass of the game, which found a wide open Jacob Johnson (R-Sr., WR, Idalou, Texas/Idalou HS) from 45 yards out, to pull Eastern within 14-13. The Greyhound forced a three-and-out on WT's next possession and received strong field position, as ENMU set up the ensuing drive near mid field. Buurma capped a nine-play, 54 yard drive with his second touchdown run of the game, to give ENMU a 20-14 lead.
 
West Texas A&M drove 56 yards on their next possession, but was unable to convert fourth-and-nine at the Greyhound 20-yard line, when Jerrell Bradford (Jr., DB, Compton, Calif./ Robert A. Millikan HS / Cerritos College) tackled Rhone two yards away from a first down. After gaining possession, the Hounds converted a pair of third downs and added to their lead with a 13-yard touchdown run from Jordan Wells (Sr., RB, Austin, Texas/Round Rock HS/Southeastern Louisiana). The Buffaloes tried to run their two-minute offense, but on the third play of the drive, Elliot Peters (R-So., OLB, Mesepa, American Samoa / Marist HS) sprinted past his blocker a stripped the ball from Rabb. Linebacker Seth Bailey (Sr., Texico, N.M./Texico HS) scooped up the fumble and went 30 yards to give ENMU a 34-14 halftime lead.
Despite not having the wind at their backs, the Buffaloes managed to take control in the third quarter, with three consecutive drives capped by touchdown runs from Aldridge-Mitchell. His three-yard score with 3:38 left in the quarter staked WT to a 35-34 advantage. After a penalty forced The Buffaloes to kick off from their own 20-yard line, the Greyhounds managed to overcome a number of penalties. After unsportsmanlike conduct and personal fouls, early on the drive, Eastern faced a first-and-25 from its own 26-yard line. Buurma fired a perfect over-the-shoulder pass to Jacob Johnson for 36-yards and an ENMU first down at the 38-yard line. Three plays later, Buurma found Johnson again, from 14 yard out. Buurma also fired a pass to Myles Johnson (Sr., RB, Los Angeles, Calif. / Carson HS / Santa Monica Junior CC) for the two-point conversion and a 42-35 Greyhound lead. After a 47-yard field goal from Connor Hollabaugh, the Buffaloes took a 45-42 lead on Aldridge-Mitchell's fifth touchdown run of the game, which came with 6:02 left to play. Eastern answered on the fourth play of the ensuing drive, on second-and-nine from the Greyhound 38-yard line. Buurma found Beeston just past midfield, and the senior receiver sprinted 62 yards to give ENMU the lead for good.
 
On West Texas A&M's next drive, Tanner Melson (Sr., DL, Bakersfield, Calif. / North HS / Bakersfield College) stopped Aldridge-Mitchell for no gain on the first play. On the next play, Peters put pressure on Rabb, when led to a Julian Yearwood (Sr., LB, Las Vegas, Nev. / Desert Pines HS / Mt. San Jacinto College) interception at the WT 40-yard line, which was returned 15 yards. Eastern sealed the victory with an eight-yard Wells touchdown run.
 
ENMU held a 510-456 yard edge in total offense and a 315-151 yard lead in the running game. ENMU held the ball for 34:48 of play and converted a pair of third downs. Spight and Wells both rushed for 132 yards, while Buurma hit seven of his nine pass attempts for 195 yards and three scores. Jacob Johnson had three receptions for 119 yards and a pair of scores. Bailey finished with 11 tackles, which included eight solo stops. Bradford and Yearwood both made nine tackles. Aldridge-Mitchell had a huge performance for the Buffaloes, with 167 yards on 27 carries and six touchdowns, while Rabb passed for 305 yards.
 
NOTES
Seth Bailey's fumble return was his second touchdown of the season. He had a 32-yard interception return at McMurry, to open the scoring. He has four interceptions, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble this season
 
Bailey has six career touchdowns. In addition to this year's returns, he had four receiving touchdowns in 2011
 
The Greyhounds posted the first 400-point season in team history and finish the regular season with 437 points
 
Eastern eclipsed the team single-season rushing record (3,444 in 2007) with 3,602 yards
 
Spight has a Greyhound record 1,611 rushing yards and 19 rushing touchdowns this season.
 
Eastern's 55 points is the second most in team history against WT, with the 56-point outburst in 1992 being the most. West Texas A&M's 45 points was its highest total in any loss to ENMU. Twice they had scored 38 (2013 and 1994) in a loss.