Portales, N.M. - The Eastern New Mexico football team will welcome Colorado Mesa to Portales for the 2018 home opener this Saturday at 7 p.m. inside Greyhound Stadium.
HOME KICKOFF
The Hounds welcome #25 Colorado Mesa to Portales for the 2018 home opener inside Greyhound Stadium. Eastern has secured victories in the last four home openers dating back to 2013 and will need a quality performance on the field following a 31-14 loss last week to Missouri S&T. The Hounds recorded a home record of 4-1 a season ago, with their lone loss coming at the hands of Lone Star Champion Midwestern State.
STORY LINES
The Hounds haven't registered back to back losses since the 2015 season and will need to feed off of the energy inside Greyhound Stadium for the home opener. After leading the nation in time of possession a season ago, the Hounds maintained possession of the ball for more than four minutes on just three of their eleven drives in last week's season opener against Missouri S&T. Eastern New Mexico will enter the game as the third-ranked rushing attack in the LSC, with only Midwestern State and Tarleton State outrushing the Hounds in week one. Eastern enters the home opener ranked ninth in the conference in total defense after giving up 512 yards to the Miners in the season opener.
SCOUTING THE MAVERICKS
Colorado Mesa stormed back after surrendering the first 17 points of the game against South Dakota Mines and overcame a 14-point deficit with 11:42 remaining in the game to win their sixth season opener under head coach Russ Martin, 36-33. Quarterback Eystin Salum finished the game going 22-for-42 for 257 yards through the air and 111 yards on the ground on 16 carries. The 6'1 senior is the reigning RMAC Offensive Player of the Year and will be an obvious focal point of the offense Saturday afternoon. True freshman tailback Pailate Makakona announced his arrival to the college scene in a big way, getting all ten of his carries in the second half to finish the game with 55 yards and the game-winning touchdown. Senior linebacker Tom Saager led the Mavericks with 10 total tackles in week one and returns for the 2018 season as a First Team All-RMAC selection. Mesa has posted at least nine wins each of the last three seasons and was selected to finish second in the 2018 RMAC Preseason Coaches Poll.
RUNNINGBACK BY COMMITTEE
With the departure of
Kamal Cass from a season ago, the Hounds have as expected turned to a runningback-by-committee approach to fill in for the loss of the school's all time leading rusher.
Paul Terry lined up primarily from the fullback position last week and gained the heart of the carries with 20, but both
Johnny Smith and
Tayshaun Gary will each get their share of touches as the season moves along, including eight carries apiece in week one. Quarterback
Wyatt Strand will also be involved in the rushing attack of the Ground Strike offense throughout the season and totaled seven carries for 19 yards in the season opener a week ago.
TERRIBLE TOWELS
Graphic Connection will be giving away rally towels to the first 150 fans in attendance of Saturday's game. Fans will also have the chance to enter a raffle before the game for a chance to win exclusive Greyhound Gear upon entrance to the stadium at the Graphic Connection table.
