Blackwater Draw, N.M. – The Eastern New Mexico University football team remained undefeated with a 3-0 record after easily winning in a 49-13 blowout over East Central University at Greyhound Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 15th. The win gave the Greyhounds an all-time record of 9-4 against the Tigers in a series that dates back to 1948. With the Lone Star Conference Crossover game, ENMU improves its record to 3-0 overall and 2-0 in the LSC. East Central, who competes in the LSC North, dropped its record to 1-3 overall and is 1-1 in conference play.

The Greyhounds took control of the game early, scoring on their first two possessions on two touchdown runs by Jason Walker (Sr., RB, Houston, Texas/Texas Southern University). Eastern’s first possession came after Devin Sweet (So., DB, Clovis, N.M./Clovis HS) intercepted a Marcus Johnson pass and returned it 18 yards to give ENMU the ball at the Tigers’ 45 yard line. The Hounds drove down the field on nine plays before the handoff to Walker, who ran it in from six yards out. Eastern’s next possession came after a quick-kick attempt by Johnson was blocked on a fourth and one play at his own 46 yard line. Five plays later, Walker scored his second TD with an eight yard run. Jordon Walker (Fr., K, North Richland, Texas/Birdville HS) converted on both point after attempts to give ENMU a 14-0 lead with just over four minutes left in the first quarter.

Less than five minutes into the second quarter, Michael Benton (Sr., QB, Everman, Texas/Everman Joe C. Bean HS) ran 35 yards to put the Hounds up by three TDs. The Tigers went for it on a fourth and fifteen at Eastern’s 48 yard line, but Kyle Wilson (Jr., DE, Ft. Worth, Texas/North Crowley HS) broke up Johnson’s pass attempt to give the Hounds’ offense great field position. Two plays later, Benton scored his second TD of the game on a 53 yard run for a 28-0 lead. East Central finally got on the board as back-up quarterback Josh Phillips completed a two yard TD pass to Sterling Headen to cut the lead to 28-7.

Eastern was not done scoring in the first half, as its defense once again stopped the Tigers. Facing a big deficit forced ECU to not punt on fourth and 10 at their own 39 yard line. Phillips was hit by Wilson for a 12 yard loss to give the Hounds the ball at ECU’s 27 yard line. On the first play of the drive, Benton dropped back into the pocket and threw it to Jessie Poku for a 27 yard TD and a 35-7 lead going into the intermission after the PAT by Jordan Walker.

After Eastern gave the ball up on downs in its opening drive of the second half, the Hounds’ defense stepped up with an interception by Tillman Stevens (Fr., DB, Baytown, Texas/Sterling HS) to regain possession on the Tigers’ 32 yard line. Jason Walker scored his third TD of the game as he ran it into the endzone from 24 yards out for a 42-7 lead.

In the fourth quarter, Phillips attempted to get the ball into the endzone, but Derek Higgs (Sr., DB, Sacramento, Calif./John F. Kennedy HS) picked off the pass at the one yard line to give the offense the ball. On the next play, JT Thompson took the snap and ran it to the left side the entire length of the field for a 99 yard TD, establishing a new ENMU record. Phillips threw his second TD, a four-yarder to Marcus Pitts for the final score.

The Hounds finished with 515 yards of total offense, with 488 yards coming on the ground. On defense, Eastern contained ECU’s offense, forcing four interceptions and allowing for 330 total yards. Sweet picked off two of the passes, getting his second interception in the third quarter. Benton led all runners with 168 yards rushing on 13 carries and Thompson gained 140 yards on the ground, including the 99-yard TD.

ENMU has two tough games on the road over the next two weeks. The Hounds travel to Edmond, Okla., to take on Central Oklahoma University on Saturday, Sept. 22^nd. On Saturday, Sept. 29, Eastern will be in Abilene, Texas, for a game against nationally-ranked Abilene Christian University.