PORTALES, N.M. – The 2024 football season begins tomorrow with Eastern New Mexico squaring off against New Mexico Highlands on the road. Before the Greyhounds head to Las Vegas, N.M. for a 6 p.m. kick, please take a look at the "4^th & 1 Preview."

1^st Down – Return of the Hounds: ENMU brings back 14 starters from the 2023 squad, including starting quarterback Mario Sanchez and starting fullback Elijah Zeh. Both players made a statement in a rushing offense that led the Lone Star Conference a year ago as they ran for 1,346 yards and 21 total touchdowns on the ground. Defensively, the Greyhounds will look for strong production from linebackers Matthew Quartieri and Dylan Quartieri. The two brothers combined for 70 tackles last season. Sophomore cornerback Micah Lewis is back with the program and was named a conference player to watch in late-July. The Amarillo, Texas native posted six pass breakups in his rookie campaign.

2^nd Down – Saddle Up: The history between the two programs from the Land of Enchantment has been heavily dominated by Eastern New Mexico. The Greyhounds hold a 34-13 advantage over the Cowboys and have won four-straight in the overall series. In road games, ENMU carries a 15-9 record and has not lost in Las Vegas, N.M. since 2012. The two programs last met at Sanchez Family Stadium in 2022 with the Hounds pulling out a 34-18 victory to open the season. The longest winning streak between the two teams belongs to Eastern as the program held seven-straight wins from 1983-91.

3^rd Down – Greyhound Rewind: ENMU started the 2023 season on a high note as they scored three first half touchdowns on runs from Mario Sanchez (2) and Ja'Calvin Newsom. NMHU managed to bring the game within two points, but a failed two-point conversion kept the Hounds in the win column – 28-26. Eastern had great contributions from some returners as Dylan Quartieri (9), James Apsey (4), and Matthew Quartieri (3) all posted three or more tackles. Sanchez managed to complete 4-of-5 passes for 60 yards and gained 77 yards on the ground. Also returning for the Hounds is kicker Kaden Bell who connected on all four of his point after attempts.

4^th Down – Noting the Opposition: New Mexico Highlands brings back Cayden Walton who ran 37 times for 108 yards as a freshman. He scored one touchdown last year in a game versus South Dakota Mines. Joey Cave also returns at quarterback for the Cowboys. He completed 67-of-123 passes for 681 yards, three touchdowns, and four interceptions. His best game in 2023 came against Black Hills State as he tossed for 170 yards on 14 completions. Fifth-year student-athlete and starting cornerback Damonte Campbell is back for NMHU after a 2023 season that saw him compete in ten contests. They also bring back third-year linebacker Fabiano Valdez who has six total tackles in his career. The other nine players listed as starters on the Cowboys' two deep are playing their first season in Las Vegas, N.M.

&1 – How to Stay Updated: Fans interested in watching the game on the RMAC Network for free can use this link (https://rmacnetwork.com/nmhighlands/?B=1184774). Jody Bailey and Doc Elder have the call on KSEL Country. Local fans can tune into 105.9 FM or outside viewers can catch the game on (www.kselcountry.com). For those attending the game in person, tickets are complimentary as part of New Mexico Highlands' Community Night. Statistics will be provided by NMHU (https://nmhuathletics.com/sidearmstats/football/summary). The game kicks off at 6 p.m.