Saturday, November 11, 2017
PORTALES, NM — Senior fullback
Kamal Cass rushed for a career-best 276 yards as the #20 Eastern New Mexico University football team (8-2; LSC 6-2) went back and forth with fourth-ranked Midwestern State (9-0; LSC 8-0) in a classic Lone Star Conference matchup. The Greyhounds trailed by four points early in the final quarter of play, but the Mustangs pulled away for a 56-43 win at Al Whitehead Field at Greyhound Stadium.
Senior Day
- The Greyhounds honored its seniors prior to kickoff for the final home game of the year
The Record
- Cass entered the game needing 177 rushing yards to tie the ENMU career record
- He broke the record with a three-yard run on his second carry of the third quarter, which was his 21st of the game
- Cass now has 4,301 rushing yards to eclipse Tom Manley's (1973-76) total of 4,202 yards
The Key Plays
- After Eastern took the initial kickoff, Cass had runs of 15, 47, and eight yards, before scoring on a three-yard plunge to give the Hounds the lead
- The Mustangs tied the game with a seven-play drive
- Midwestern State's Jacob Sherrill forced a fumble at the ENMU 47-yard line, which was recovered by the Mustangs
- Four plays later, MSU's Layton Rabb found Brandon Sampson for a go-ahead 25-yard touchdown pass
- Eastern responded with a 10-play drive, capped by a 12-yard touchdown from Cass to tie the E
- After a missed field goal from Midwestern State, a 41-yard strike from Wyatt Strand to Johnny Smith sparked a four-play drive
- Three Paul terry runs later, ENMU held a 21-14 lead
- Rabb connected with Sampson again on the ensuing drive to again tie the game
- Eastern ran the ball nine times on the next drive and took its third lead when Tayshaun Gary scored from three yards out
- Rabb found Jerryl Yarborough with just over two minutes left in the first half to pull the Mustangs even at 28-all
- After the teams combined for 35 points in the second quarter, a 10-yard touchdown catch from MSU's Yarborough were the only points of the third quarter
- ENMU's Bailey Hale pulled ENMU with 35-31 with a 33-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter
- MSU scored 21 of the next 27 points to build a 56-37 lead
- D'Maujeric Tucker found the endzone for the Hounds on a three-yard run
In the Numbers
- Eastern rushed for 433 yards and held MSU to 167
- The teams combined for 1,108 yards of total offense in the game
- Eastern held the ball for 36:03 of play
- Strand completed seven of his 10 attempts for a season-best 125 yards and had 97 rushing yards
- Warren Washington had three catches for 47 yards
- Dante Urrea made a team-high nine tackles for the Hounds
- Rabb played a strong game for Midwestern State and had 383 passing yards with six touchdowns
Up Next
- The game was the regular-season finale for both teams
- Eastern will await news on the postseason
- Follow www.GoEasternAthletics.com for news and updates
