| Comeback Kids: Hounds rally to defeat Incarnate Word | ||||||||||
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BLACKWATER DRAW, N.M. - In what was one of the most spectacular comebacks in recent memory, the Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds rallied from a one-point deficit with a 96-yard scoring drive orchestrated by true-freshman quarterback Wesley Wood (Fr., QB, Muleshoe, Texas/Muleshoe High School ), with only 3:13 remaining in the fourth quarter to win their season finale against Incarnate Word, 35-30.
In a game in which the Hounds broke the single-season scoring record, surpassing the mark of 339 points set during the 2002 season, ENMU found themselves faced against a resilient Incarnate Word team looking to claim a winning record in their first season of organized football. After jumping out to an early 14-0 lead, the Hounds quickly felt the momentum shift to the opposite sideline as the Cardinals mounted a furious comeback attempt, pulling even after two touchdown receptions by Texas Tech transfer Todd Walker. Walker hauled in touchdown passes of 18 and 23 yards from UIW quarterback Thomas Specia. The Hounds and Cardinals would trade scores until the 13:27 mark in the fourth quarter, when Incarnate Word would pull ahead by one, 30-29, on a four-yard run by J.J. Johnson, setting the stage for the drama that would unfold in the final minutes of the closing period. After two costly unsportsmanlike penalties backed the Cardinals out of scoring range, a Thomas Rebold punt would take a UIW bounce, pinning the Hounds, who were trailing by one, deep inside their own territory at their own six-yard line. Replacing Harlon Hill award candidate Harp, who was knocked from the game late in the fourth quarter, Wood found himself and the ENMU offense pinned inside their own ten, 96 yards from the end zone and victory, with only 3:13 left in the contest. On first down, Wood faced heavy pressure and overthrew his receiver, Dale, on a flag route into the home sideline. On the next play from scrimmage, Wood would show what caused him to be one of the most decorated high school players in Texas during his high school career, scrambling the right and finding Handler for a 51-yard reception, putting the Hounds in Cardinal territory. After a pass interference call against the Cardinals, the Hounds would go to the ground game for two consecutive carries, trusting freshman Mills to tote the rock, moving the ball inside the UIW ten-yard line. One the next play, Wood would find Dale in the front corner of the right side of the end zone for ENMU touchdown and go-ahead score. The two-point conversion attempt would fail, putting the Hounds on top 35-30 with 1:43 remaining in the contest. Henry would seal the game with an interception off of a Specia pass at the ENMU 30-yard line with :23 seconds remaining. A kneel down by the Hounds would end the game and the season, ENMU winning 35-30 Leading the way on offense for the Hounds were quarterbacks J.J. Harp (QB, SO., Argyle, Texas/Argyle High School), who was 32-49-2 for 368 yards and four touchdowns and Wood, who was 5-7-1 with a crucial touchdown pass to Darian Dale (WR, SO., Bay City, Texas/Bay City High School), to take the lead with less than three minutes left. The touchdown pass to Dale capped the 96-yard, game-winning drive that would provide the go-ahead scored. Harp would also break the single-season touchdown mark of 29 set by ENMU great Kevin Kott during the 1983 and 1984 seasons. Dale had eight receptions on the evening with 59 receiving yards and one score. Also factoring into the Hound passing attack were receivers Matt Handler (WR, SO., Argyle, Texas/Argyle High School), Arvin Jackson (WR, Soph., Houston, Texas/Westside High School), and Dominic Preston (WR, RS-FR, College Station, Texas/A&M Consolidated High School). Handler was a target of choice during the game, recording seven receptions for 134 yards, including a crucial catch in the second quarter to set the Hounds up in scoring position. Jackson tallied seven receptions for 79 yards and two scores, while Preston had six catches for 89 yards and one score. Stefan Mills (RB, FR, Clovis, N.M./Clovis High School), led the Hounds on the ground, netting 64 yards on ten carries. On defense the Hounds were led by junior standout Nathan Uland (LB, JR, Denton, Texas/Ryan High School), who recorded 17 tackles during the contest, consisting of four solo stops and 13 assists. Seniors Edward Zamora (LB, SR, San Antonio, Texas/Taft High School), Derek Dimitroff (LB, SR, Fort Sumner, N.M./Fort Sumner High School), and Texavier Henry (LB, SR, Pearland, Texas/Pearland High School), were second, third and fourth on the tackle chart with 12, 10, and nine stops, respectively. The game ended the season for the Hounds, who will be moving to the Lone Star Conference North Division beginning during the 2010 season. The Hounds finished the year 3-8 while the Cardinals finished the season at 5-5. |
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Courtesy: Eastern New Mexico University
