PORTALES, N.M. - It has been 276 days since Eastern New Mexico University announced former AP College Football Coach of the Year Art Briles would become the 18th head coach in the football program's history. It has been 3,890 days since Briles coached in a collegiate football game. That streak ends today as the new-look Greyhounds head north to Las Vegas, New Mexico to take on the New Mexico Highlands Cowboys at 6 p.m. at Sanchez Family Stadium to kick off the 2026 season. The Hounds look to avenge last season's 34-28 season opening loss to the Cowboys.
There is a certain buzz around Portales in excitement for the upcoming football season, a fan base hopeful for a change in direction for the team.
"It's been a very rewarding atmosphere with the players here and at Eastern in general," said Briles, "I feel an extreme obligation… of rewarding our players. Our players have been so diligent, so dedicated, so trusting. I want something good to happen for them."


A mix of old and new faces make up the revamped roster including former All-Conference selections, transfers from nearly every level including Division 1, and a talented class of freshman. Notable returners for the Greyhounds on the defensive side of the ball include Second Team All-LSC linebacker J.J. Silver and honorable mention selections Matthew Quartieri and Jarrion Patton. Quartieri led the team in total tackles with 89.0, which put him at sixth overall in the Lone Star Conference. Quartieri and his twin brother Dylan will play their fifth and final seasons in an ENMU uniform on the front seven. Dylan Quartieri sat fourth overall on team in tackles last year with fifty-five and lead in tackles for a loss with eleven. Patton returns as a part of an experienced secondary for the Hounds, recording nineteen total tackles, four pass break-ups, and an interception. S Adrian Melvin, who played in ten games last year and had twenty-six tackles, also returned for the Greyhounds.
The offensive side of the ball is anticipated to look a lot different in the new year, but Greyhound fans will remember a few familiar faces returning to the team. All-LSC honorable mention Chad Ragle ran for 651 yards and threw for 860 and 7 touchdowns returns for his junior year and makes the shift over to wide receiver. Alongside Ragle returns Gerry Gomez, who led the Hounds with 590 receiving yards and had five touchdowns last season. Running back/wide receiver combo Robert Nora returns to the receiver room as well having 277 rushing yards, seventy-one receiving, and a touchdown in 2025.
Briles and the coaching staff have built an entirely new quarterback room that holds a mixture of talent, experience, and familiarity with the staff. Junior Ryder Lambert joins the Greyhounds from newly turned D1 Tarleton state and is a native of Stephenville, Texas, where Art Briles won four high school state championship titles in the 1990's. Lake Bennett comes from East Texas A&M where he played under now ENMU offensive coordinator Cameron Nellor last season. Junior Clifton Cooper joins the Greyhounds after stops at Henderson State and Navarro Community College. Rounding out the QB transfers is Jake South, who threw for over 1800 yards and 18 TDs at the New Mexico Military Institute last season.
Continuing the offensive investment through the transfer portal, the staff has brought in a group of experienced players who should add depth and competition across the unit. Up front, Jaren Woods, a 6-foot-5, 340-pound transfer from Baylor, joins Ian Polk and Lucas Barrientes to bolster the offensive line. At the skill positions, Jose Trevino and Joey Fussell Jr. provide additional options at running back, while wide receivers Jose Trevino, Rice transfer Trei Kibbles, and Ike White bring collegiate experience to the passing game.
A smaller number of new players make up the defensive roster, but a few notable additions will build on the experienced group. Michael Surface joins the Greyhounds from East Texas A&M, who last played a full season in 2023 where he had fourteen tackles that included a sack. Immanuel Moore (Southern Nazarene, LB), Xander Holt (Howard Payne, DL), and Mehki Harris (Sul Ross State, DL) add size and strength to the defense.
GAME PREVIEW
SERIES HISTORY
Eastern New Mexico holds a 35-14 advantage in the all-time series against New Mexico Highlands. The Greyhounds had won five consecutive meetings with the Cowboys before NMHU snapped the streak in 2025. ENMU is 16-9 all-time on the road against New Mexico Highlands.
REVISITING THE 2025 MATCHUP
The Greyhounds opened the 2025 season against New Mexico Highlands, falling 34-28 at home. ENMU scored the only points of the opening quarter on a 30-yard field goal before finding the end zone with 28 seconds remaining in the first half to take a 10-7 lead into halftime. Chad Ragle extended the Greyhounds' advantage midway through the third quarter with a two-yard touchdown run, but NMHU answered behind a three-touchdown performance from Jeffery Jones. Jones' one-yard touchdown run with 3:38 remaining in the third quarter gave the Cowboys the lead for good. Gerry Gomez recorded two receiving touchdowns of eight and forty-seven yards, while the Greyhounds' passing attack produced a season-high 200 yards in the contest.
NEW MEXICO HIGHLANDS
New Mexico Highlands enters the season coming off one of the nation's most productive rushing attacks. Lead by third year head coach Kurt Taufa'asau, the Cowboys ranked fifth nationally and first in the RMAC in rushing, averaging 288.6 yards per game while producing 6.4 yards per play on the ground. NMHU also ranked third in the conference in total offensive production, averaging 431.5 yards per game, and finished fourth in the RMAC in scoring at 31.3 points per game. The Cowboys were particularly successful at home last season, posting a 4-1 record at Sanchez Family Stadium. While NMHU found plenty of success offensively, the Cowboys struggled to keep opponents off the scoreboard, ranking second-to-last in the RMAC in scoring defense at 36.4 points allowed per game. However, they proved capable of creating turnovers through the air, recording twelve interceptions, good for second in the conference.
The stage is set for a highly-anticipated-in state battle to mark the beginning of Art Briles's Division 2 coaching career and a new era of Eastern New Mexico University Football.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: SANCHEZ FAMILY STADIUM, LAS VEGAS, NEW MEXICO

• NMHU is a cashless campus. All purchases must be made using debit/credit cards or mobile payment.
• NMHU has implemented a strict clear bag policy for all on-campus events.
• No outside food or drinks are permitted in Sanchez Family Stadium.
• No pets are allowed in Sanchez Family Stadium.

The game will be streamed live on the RMAC Network.
Live Stats can be found here.