PORTALES, N.M. – Football season is finally here!

Eastern New Mexico University is set to take on New Mexico Highlands in Las Vegas, N.M. in a clash between two in-state institutions Thursday night.

Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at Sanchez Family Stadium. Before football begins its 2022 campaign, check out the 4th & 1:

First Down: Free Admission
NMHU is hosting Community Night and all tickets are free of charge. Fans are encouraged to get their tickets online using this link. https://nmhuathletics.com/sports/2021/3/10/tickets.aspx The Cowboys play on a turf field with a 5,000 stadium capacity.

Second Down: Players to Watch
ENMU returns a pair of all-conference honorees from the 2021 squad in running back Howard Russell and defensive back Cameron Santa Cruz. Russell played in nine games and ran for 622 yards. He finished with 100+ rushing yards in the final three games of the season, including a 168 yard performance against UT Permian Basin. Santa Cruz played in ten games and recorded 49 tackles for the Greyhounds. He picked off a pass against West Texas A&M.

Third Down: New DC In Town
Eastern named Jamison Bisch the new Associate Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator in February 2022. He comes to Portales from Bemidji State University (DII) where he aided the Beavers to the second round of the DII NCAA football championships. He served as the defensive coordinator at the New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI) from 2012-15. He played college football at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.
 
Fourth Down: All For NM
For the first time in 20 seasons, the Hounds will square off against both DII institutions in the state. Eastern leads the overall series against the Cowboys, 32-13, and holds a 14-9 advantage when the matchup is played in Las Vegas. In 2015, ENMU beat NMHU 40-10 in a matchup that saw four different rushers enter the endzone for the Greyhounds. This will be Tye Hiatt's first game against Highlands. Only three coaches in ENMU history have beaten both in-state opponents in their first matchup against the teams: Bill Kelly (1983), Don Carthel (1986), and Harold "Bud" Elliot (1994).
 
& 1: Pregame Party
ENMU Athletics will be hosting a pregame party before the start of the game at JC's New York Pizza Department (209 Plaza St., Las Vegas, N.M. 87701) from 4-6 p.m. Attendees can enter for a chance to win Greyhounds football tickets, a signed jersey, or a signed helmet. Fans are encouraged to RSVP by emailing ENMU.Athletics@enmu.edu to RSVP for the festivities and to enter into the giveaways.