Football | 11/22/2016 12:40:00 PM

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

PORTALES, N.M. — On Saturday, December 3, the Eastern New Mexico University football team will kick off the postseason for the second consecutive year. With seven victories, the Greyhounds qualified for the C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl and will play Fort Hays State University from the Mid-American Athletic Association.

Ticket Information
Make sure to reserve your tickets in advance from ENMU Athletics, as 100% of proceeds from the first 250 tickets purchased from the ENMU Athletic Department will go to the football team to cover the cost of travel and participation in the bowl game. Tickets prices are $20 dollars for adults and $10 for students. Contact Karen Doherty in the ENMU athletic office at Greyhound Arena to purchase tickets at 575.562.2153. Tickets must be purchased with cash or a check, no debit or credit card payments will be taken. Kickoff at Bulldawg Stadium in Copperas Cove, Texas, is on Saturday, December 3^rd, at 5 p.m. MT.

How to Follow the Game
The legendary "Voice of the Greyhounds" Dr. Donald Elder will be on hand to broadcast the game on KSEL 105.9 FM, which also will have an audio stream of the game on their website. The game will be streamed on ESPN 3, while live statistics will be available at GoEasternAthletics.com.

Playing Past October
During the NCAA Division II/Lone Star Conference era, which started in 1985 (ENMU was independent in 1984), the Greyhounds have posted a 33-30-2 record in games played after the month of October. During the Josh Lynn era, the Hounds are 8-4 in post-October contests.
 
The ENMU record for post-October games in a season is five, coming in 1934, 1935, and 1939. The Greyhounds are 0-3 in December, falling to the Mexico City All Stars (45-26) on December 19, 1953, and Mesa College in the NAIA Playoffs (35-9) on December 3, 1984. ENMU also dropped the C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl last season to Arkansas Tech.
 
The Matchup
he Greyhounds are 3-2-1 against Fort Hays State, and the teams have not met since a 30-23 setback in Hays, Kan., on November 17, 1979. The Tigers have won the last two meetings between the teams.
 
Timing for the game has been key, as Eastern is 3-0-1 in the series when the contest is played in the month of October. On the two occasions that the teams met in November, Fort Hays is undefeated.
 
The C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl will mark the first time the programs have played each other in a month other than October or November.
 
The Greyhounds last win against the Tigers came on October 4, 1975, in Hays Kan.
 
Greyhound Head Coach Josh Lynn is in his fifth season at Eastern and has a 27-24 record. In 2013, the Greyhounds finished with a 5-1 mark in Lone Star Conference play to share the league title with Tarleton State. Chris Brown is in his sixth season with Fort Hays and has led the Tigers to a 37-30 record. 
 
On the Run
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The Greyhound offense has been explosive this season and ranks second in the NCAA Division II in rushing and 19th in total offense. Eastern leads the Lone Star Conference in both categories.
 
On six occasions this season, Eastern has topped the 500-yard mark in total offense, with a season-high 645 yards against Oklahoma Panhandle State. The running game has been in typical form and reached the 400-yard mark five times, which included a 482-yard performance against Oklahoma Panhandle State.
 
Kamal Cass has reached the century mark six times this season, including each of the last three games. He finished with a season-best 232 rushing yards in ENMU's Grand Opening win over Western NM. Wyatt Strand is the sixth-leading rusher in the LSC and became the first player since at least 1998 to rush for 100 yards and pass for 200 in the same game (at UTPB 105 rushing/260 passing).
 
With a strong group of receivers, which includes standouts Aaron Johnson and Larry Baker-Bruce, Eastern's passing game has been explosive. ENMU ranks eighth in the nation in passing efficiency
 
Defensively
The Greyhound defense has improved throughout the season and ranks 19th in the nation against the run and third in the conference for fewest points allowed.
 
In the Wagon Wheel Game, the defense fueled the comeback from a 21-point deficit by taking the ball away four times, which doesn't include a turnover on downs early in the game.
 
All-Conference linebackers Brad Hardin and Desmond Blue lead Eastern in tackles and bring an all-around game which has slowed down opposing offenses and forced turnovers. The duo has combined for three interceptions and two fumble recoveries. Samuela Toupou has helped anchor the line with 3.5 sacks and 5.5 tackles for a loss. De'Aundre Sanders made two key interceptions in Eastern's win over Midwestern State, while Todd Countee has a pair of interceptions and is third in tackles.
 
Special Teams
Bailey Hale has been a standout for the Hounds this season with three punts of 50 yards or more, with three being downed inside the 20-yard line. Of his 61 kickoffs, 22 have gone for touchbacks. Hale is second on the team in scoring and is nine-for-14 on field goals and 37-for-41 on PATs.
 
The Hounds have allowed just 5.9 yards per punt return this season. Chivasiay Gallagher has been Eastern's top punt returner and averages 8.6 yards, while Leondre Williams has gained an average 16.5 yards on eight kick returns.
 
Tiger Notes
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Fort Hays State boasts a 7-4 record with all 11 games coming in MIAA play.
 
The Tigers feature a tough defense let by Sie Doe Jr and Raheeme Dumas. FHSU is the only team to hold undefeated and top-ranked Northwest Missouri State under 40 points this season.
 
Three of the Tigers four losses this season came against ranked opposition (#1 Northwest Missouri St., #10 Emporia St., and #16 Central Missouri).