PORTALES, N.M. – A defensive stand on the final possession for Western Oregon capped off a defensive slugfest as the Hounds shutout their non-conference opposition in the final three quarters to pull off the 19-14 victory in the final game of the regular season.

On an afternoon in which 11 seniors were recognized for their efforts on and off the gridiron, senior Brad Hardin came up with what proved to essentially be the decisive tackle on a 4^th-and-goal attempt by Western Oregon (5-6, 4-4 GNAC) with just over four minutes remaining in the game. Quarterback Wyatt Strand then converted a 3^rd-and-three attempt to allow time to expire and the Hounds (5-6, 4-4 LSC) to finish off senior day in style.

Hardin finished with a season-high 15 tackles in his final game as a Greyhound to lead the way for a defense that shut-out the Wolves in the final three quarters and forced two turnovers throughout the contest. Eastern also took advantage of a botched snap on a punt attempt by Western Oregon early in the fourth quarter that went through the back of the end zone for a safety to put just the fifth point on the board for either team in the final three quarters of action.

Eastern New Mexico held the ball for just over 30 minutes of the game and made the plays when it counted offensively despite just 246 yards of total offense for the day. The Hounds converted on 7-of-15 attempts on third down and kept pace with a frantic start to the game that saw each team score twice in the opening quarter.

Junior Charles Countee returned an interception for a touchdown on the first drive of the game for Western Oregon 28 yards to the house to open up the scoring at the 10:49 mark of the first quarter. It took the Wolves just three plays to respond with points of their own on the ensuing possession, before junior Paul Terry cashed in from 10 yards out on the ground following a 62-yard pass from Strand to receiver Nathan Betts.

Strand's second longest completion of the season helped the Logan, N.M. to 71 yards through the air on 3-of-7 attempts. Terry finished with 81 yards on the ground on 19 carries and the aforementioned touchdown rush while junior Johnny Smith and senior Tayshaun Gary finished with 42 and 35 yards respectively.

A defensive slug fest broke out on the final football game day of the 2018 season for the Hounds after Western Oregon scored with just over a minute to go in the first quarter. Defensive lineman Kevin McCracken picked off a ball at the Eastern New Mexico 31-yard line on a batted ball from Hardin and Countee blocked a 21-yard field goal attempt by the Wolves to provide key stops on the Eastern side of the field during the second quarter.

Hardin and the Hound defense came up strong on the previously mentioned final drive for the Wolves following the safety in favor of the Hounds and capped off a gritty defensive performance. Senior Tony Andrews and linebacker Noah Sweitzer each posted 10 tackles while seniors Todd Countee and Josh Miller each had 1.5 tackles for a loss in the game.

Eastern finishes the year with a record of 5-6 and will have a strong core of contributors back for the 2019 season.