Football | 10/13/2017 11:02:00 AM

Friday, October 13, 2017

PORTALES, NM — With their best start since the 200w season, the Eastern New Mexico University football team (5-1; LSC 4-1) hits the road this week for what should be a key Lone Star Conference showdown with Tarleton State (4-2; LSC 3-1). The contest will kick off at 1 p.m. MT, and will be played at Memorial Stadium in Stephenville, Texas.

How to Follow the Game
For information on how to attend, please visit the ticket page on the Tarleton State Athletics site. The game will be broadcast by KSEL Country 105.9 FM, with a livestream offered on the station's website. Live statistics and a video stream will be available on www.TarletonSports.com, and links will be provided on the ENMU football schedule page and main index page.

About the Greyhounds
Eastern New Mexico University
Greyhound Athletics
Greyhound Football
Schedule
Roster
Statistics

After opening the season with a dramatic win over then 18^th-ranked Southwest Baptist, the Hounds continued with their finest start to a season since 2002. Last week, ENMU held off a rally from UT Permian Basin to move to 5-1 with a 4-1 record in Lone Star Conference play.

The ground game has been a staple of the Greyhound football team and they lead the LSC in that category on both offense and defense. ENMU leads the conference in time of possession with an incredible average of 38:47 per game. Eastern's defense has been a key part of their successful start, as the squad leads the league in total defense. ENMU has given up the fewest first downs in the conference, while the offense ranks fourth in that category. Third and fourth down conversions are a key part of that success, as the defense allows the fewest and the offense ranks second. The Greyhound special teams has been outstanding and rank second in the LSC in punt-return coverage and fourth in field goals.

Kamal Cass, the LSC Preseason Co-Offensive Player of the Year currently ranks first in rushing. Wyatt Strand ranks fourth in that category, while Tayshaun Gary, Johnny Smith and D'Maujeric Tucker are 16^th, 17^th and 18^th. Smith leads the LSC in yards per reception. Bailey Hale has been extremely reliable and leads the LSC in kicking points and sixth overall. Cass leads the league in all-purpose yardage, while quarterback Wyatt Strand rates ninth in total offense. Nicolas Little is ninth in punt average. Deion Hart is tied for second in the LSC in passes broken up, while Tobi Amadi and Desmond Blue are tied for ninth. KeAndre Hall is tied for the LSC lead in forced fumbles, while Zach Johnson is tied for second in fumble recoveries.
 
In the Series
The Greyhounds have a 13-11 lead in the series record with Tarleton State, with a 5-4 mark on the road. The Texans have claimed victory in five of the last six meetings, although ENMU registered a 49-44 win on October 17, 2015, in Stephenville.
 
In Eastern's last win over the Texans, they built two 14-point leads, only for Tarleton State to battle back and pull even both times. A 51-yard, De'Aundre Sanders interception return with 6:08 left in the third quarter gave the Hounds a 35-28 lead they would not relinquish. ENMU held a 385-190 edge in rushing yards, although they were outgained 572-526 in total offense. The Greyhound shad three interceptions in the game with the other two coming from Lawrence Hall and Jerrell Bradford. Kamal Cass and Jeremy Buurma both topped the century mark on the ground and combined for five rushing touchdowns. Buurma also passed for 141 yards with a scoring pass to Cameron Mikell.
 

About Tarleton State
Tarleton State University
Texan Athletics
Football
Schedule
Roster
Statistics

The Texans boast a 4-2 record with a 3-1 mark in Lone Star Conference play. Tarleton State has won both of its home games this season over Oklahoma Panhandle and West Texas A&M.

With 369 rushing yards and five touchdowns, Xavier Turner leads a talented group of running backs for the Texans, while quarterback Zed Woerner has a nine-to-three touchdowns to interceptions ratio. Defensively, Andrew Blackshire and Elliott Hart each have a pair of interceptions, while Tyrell Thompson has two sacks.
 
Up Next
The Eastern New Mexico University football team will have a bye next week, prior to hosting Texas A&M-Kingsville on Saturday, October 28th. The contest will be played at Al Whitehead Field at Greyhound Stadium and sponsored by Wienerschnitzel.