PORTALES, N.M. – Eastern New Mexico football played its annual Green & Silver spring game Friday, March 29 at Greyhound Stadium. The green team led by quarterback Mario Sanchez took the victory, 13-3.

Sanchez managed to carry the winning side to 313 yards of total offense, including 246 on the ground. The Denver City, Texas native threw for 67 yards, including a connection with second-year Hound Nicholas Harper who caught a 33-yard pass in the endzone to give the team a 6-0 advantage.

Towards the end of the second half, quarterback Chad Ragle managed to run a two-minute drill and get the white team into field goal position. Los Lunas, N.M. native Kaden Bell kicked a 48-yard field goal to get the score to 6-3 at the intermission.

Green stuck to some strong rushes from newcomers Elvis Vakapuna and Jarius Stewart to keep possession time in the second half. A lengthy drive guided by quarterback Logan Howell culminated in a one-yard rush by Howell.

Both teams had eight different rushers in the contest. The primary options for both sides went through the middle as Elijah Zeh carried the ball 12 times for 45 yards for the green team and Ron Craten ran 14 times for 53 total yards. However, the large gains came from a couple of returners. The green team was led by Nicholas Harper with 63 yards and Ja'Calvin Newsom finished with 60 yards.

The longest pass completion of the night was a toss from Ragle to Newsom for 34 yards.

Green forced silver to less than four yards per play as the losing side only managed 204 yards on 52 plays.

ENMU will now turn its attention to preparation for the fall 2024 season. The Greyhounds are expected to begin the campaign on the road in Las Vegas, N.M. August 29.