Saturday, August 27, 2016

PORTALES, N.M. — In less than a week, the Eastern New Mexico University football team will kick-off the fifth season of the Josh Lynn era. Next Thursday's contest at Southwest Baptist University will mark the Greyhounds' first game since the C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl to conclude the 2015 season.

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. A video stream and live statistics will be available on the Southwest Baptist website.

The Matchup
Next Thursday's game at 6 p.m. MT, in Bolivar, Mo., marks the first meeting between the two programs. Eastern New Mexico posted a 6-6 record last season and won a coin flip to earn a tie-breaker for third place in the Lone Star Conference playoff seeding. The Hounds' trip to the Heart of Texas Bowl marked the first postseason bid since the 1983 NAIA playoffs.

In 2015, SBU posted a 4-6 record with a 3-5 mark in Great Lakes Valley Athletic Conference play. The Bearcats had lost by 10 or fewer points in five games. Southwest Baptist also registered a 3-2 record at Plaster Stadium.

ENMU has never competed against a team from the GLVC, but did play a game at Missouri S&T in the 1971 season. The Hounds earned a 37-7 victory in that contest. Missouri S&T joined the GLVC in the 2005 season.

Josh Lynn enters his fifth season at Eastern with a 20-20 record. In 2013, the Greyhounds finished with a 5-1 mark in Lone Star Conference play to share the league title with Tarleton State. Robert Clardy heads to his second season SBU and his tenth on staff. Under Clardy's direction, the Bearcats have posted an 8-13 record.

Around the Lone Star Conference
Lone Star Conference Website
Lone Star Conference Scoreboard
Lone Star Conference Football
Lone Star Conference Schedule
Lone Star Conference Standings
Lone Star Conference Statistics

Texas A&M-Commerce was picked in the LSC preseason poll to repeat as league champions, with Midwestern State in second place. The Greyhounds, picked fifth, finished tied for third last season with Angelo State and West Texas A&M.

Joining the Hounds in action on Thursday night will be Angelo State (playing at McKendree) and West Texas A&M (at Azusa Pacific). Oklahoma Panhandle State (at Sam Houston State), Tarleton State (at McNeese State), University of Texas of the Permian Basin (vs Sul Ross State), Midwestern State (at Truman State), and Western New Mexico University (at San Diego), will open their seasons on Saturday evening.

Eastern New Mexico University Website
ENMU Athletics
ENMU Football
ENMU Roster
ENMU Schedule
ENMU 2015 Statistics

On the Run
The Greyhounds backfield features 2015 All-American and 2016 preseason All-American Kamal Cass. Cass paced the LSC with 1,514 rushing yards and an ENMU-record 22 touchdowns. He leads a talented backfield which also returns Tayshaun Gary and D'Maujeric Tucker. Gary had a breakthrough game against Angelo State last season with 139 yards and three scores on just eight carries. Tucker also had 69 yards in that game.

The Greyhounds ranked third in rushing yards last season, with Cass ranking sixth in the nation. ENMU also finished 13^th in the country in passing efficiency.

Defensively
De'Aundre Sanders is the Greyhounds top returning tackler, with 53 total in 2015. He intercepted a pair of passes, broke up eight others, and forced a fumble. Brad Hardin is another notable returner, with 40 tackles in nine games. Hardin registered back-to-back games with at least 10 stops against West Texas A&M and Midwestern State.

Bearcat Notes
Southwest Baptist Website
Southwest Baptist Athletics
Southwest Baptist Football
Southwest Baptist Roster
Southwest Baptist Schedule
Southwest Baptist 2015 Statistics

Southwest Baptist saw numerous tight games last year, with five of its six losses coming by fewer than 10 points. The Bearcats ranked 12^th in turnover margin and 29^th against the run.
The Bearcats closed the 2015 season on a two-game win streak, with victories over Missouri S&T and Lincoln. The win streak snapped a four-game skid.

Up Next
On Saturday, September 10, the Greyhounds are prepared for the Grand Opening of Al Whitehead Field at Greyhound Stadium. For information on tickets and all other activities, please visit https://my.enmu.edu/web/greyhound-stadium/home

The Greyhounds will kick off their home schedule at 7 p.m., on September 10, against Western New Mexico University. The contest is the LSC opener for both teams. Eastern has not played WNMU since a 47-20 victory late in the 2005 season.