MONMOUTH, Ore. – For a second-straight game, Eastern New Mexico football got the ball to start. For a second-straight game, they opened the contest with a touchdown scoring drive.

The scoring drive took eight minutes off the clock and set the tone in ENMU's favor. Full back Ron Craten totaled 42 of the team's 75 yards in the series. He capped the drive with a five-yard gain into the endzone.

Western Oregon quickly answered the opening score with one of their own. The Greyhounds went back to the ground game on the first two plays of their next drive, but decided to open up with a throw. The third down pass was tipped by the Hound receiver, intercepted, and taken back for a pick-six.  From there, the energy shifted at McArthur Field as the contest moved into the second quarter.

WOU facilitated another defensive stop with ENMU turning the ball over on downs to open the period. The Wolves extended the lead by scoring another touchdown on the drive.

From there, the Hounds needed to answer as the quarter was coming to a close. ENMU took more than eight minutes off the clock but were only able to kick a 29-yard field goal.

With under one minute remaining in the half, WOU wanted to find a way to take a larger lead going into the halftime intermission.

That is exactly what the Wolves did. They went five plays for a touchdown and saw themselves up 28-10.

Western Oregon opened the third quarter with two-straight touchdown scoring drives while stopping Eastern New Mexico with a three-and-out. The Wolves gave themselves a 42-10 advantage. Just before the end of the third quarter the Greyhounds scored their second field goal of the game off a 30-yarder from Cooper Hamilton.

Just seconds into the fourth quarter, WOU scored their seventh and final touchdown of the game. ENMU did add another touchdown late in the game on a rush from Elijah Zeh.

Mario Sanchez finished the game 8-of-14 through the air for 62 yards. However, he tossed a pair of interceptions. Running back Chad Ragle was part of a trick play throwing 47 yards on his only attempt. Backup quarterback Rashad Carter was a perfect 2-for-2 for 43 yards through the air.

On the ground, ENMU totaled 231 yards. Leading the Hounds in the rush game were Ron Craten (65) and Elijah Zeh (62). Both full backs scored touchdowns in the loss.

Wideout Jeremiah Moore became the first 100-yard receiver for the Greyhounds in 2024. He caught six passes for 103 yards.

Defensively, Matthew Quartieri continues to lead ENMU. He posted seven tackles and the only tackle for loss in the game for the Hounds.

Kicker Cooper Hamilton made two field goals in the contest. It is the fifth time in his career that he has accomplished the feat of making multiple field goals in a single game.

Next up for ENMU is a home game versus West Texas A&M. The annual Wagon Wheel rivalry will kickoff at 12 p.m. on October 19.