Hounds hit road for Angelo

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It’s pretty simple for the Eastern New Mexico University football team — win the next two weeks and the Greyhounds should be in the championship half of the Lone Star Conference’s first postseason playoff. Lose one or both, and they’ll be in the bottom bracket.

Their work is cut out, beginning with today’s 6 p.m. (MDT) contest at Angelo State.

The Greyhounds (4-3, 2-3 LSC) are currently sixth in the conference, one game behind four teams tied for second, including ASU (4-2, 3-2). Since they’ve already lost to two of the others, Midwestern State and Tarleton State, it behooves them to win this week and in next week’s regular-season finale at Blackwater Draw against West Texas A&M (4-2, 3-2) — teams which they beat last year after overcoming deficits of more than 20 points.

ASU presents a stiff challenge with an offense averaging more than 40 points a game, led by LSC preseason offensive player of the year Kyle Washington at quarterback.

“Offensively, they’re real good,” ENMU coach Josh Lynn said. “Their receivers aren’t bad, but everything goes through their quarterback.”

Fourth-year ASU coach Will Wagner echoed that sentiment, but added that having receivers like senior Dakarai Pecikonis has helped.

“Our quarterback, Kyle Washington, is playing at a high level right now,” Wagner said. “It helps that Kyle’s been surrounded by guys like (Pecikonis). But most of our success has to go to our offensive line.

“It’s been fun to watch, and to see these guys grow.”

Wagner said the Hounds’ triple-option attack presents challenges of its own.

“With the type of offense they run, it’s hard to simulate it in practice,” he said. “But these guys (ASU defense) have been working hard in practice.”

ENMU may again be without leading receiver Jacob Johnson (knee) this week. He was hurt early in the team’s win at McMurry two weeks ago.

Lynn said he’s hopeful if Johnson can’t go today, he will be ready for the WT clash.

If not, 6-foot-5 sophomore wide receiver Aaron Johnson will be counted on again after a breakout game in last week’s 59-42 loss to Tarleton State in which he caught four passes for 117 yards and two TDs.

“It was my best game, my first time to get 100-plus yards,” Johnson said.

He said, though, the passing game could be far more potent with the return of the other Johnson.

“We’re just waiting for him to get back, but (until then) somebody has to step up,” Aaron Johnson said. “When he gets back, I think we’re going to be something special.”

GAMEDAY

ENMU at Angelo State

• When: 6 p.m. (MDT) today at San Angelo, Texas

• Records: ENMU 4-3 (2-3 Lone Star Conference), Angelo State 4-2 (3-2).

• Radio: KSEL-FM 105.9.

• Coaches: ENMU, Josh Lynn, 3rd season, 14-13; Angelo State, Will Wagner, 4th year, 19-20.

• Last week: The Hounds lost at home to Tarleton State 59-42. The Rams erased an early 10-point deficit to beat Texas A&M-Kingsville 57-31 at Kingsville, Texas.

• Last meeting: 2013, the Hounds overcame a 28-0, second-quarter deficit to stun the Rams 29-28 at San Angelo.

• Rams players to watch: Kyle Washington, 6-5, 205, Jr., QB; Ryan Byrd, 5-9, 195, Jr., RB; Dakarai Pecikonis, 6-0, 180, Sr., WR; Clayton Callicutt, 6-4, 275, Jr., DE; Rush Seaver, 6-3, 250, Sr., LB; Jarred Ross, 5-9, 170, Sr., CB.

• Notes: The Hounds have won the last two matchups at San Angelo, blocking a late Rams field goal to preserve a 23-21 victory in 2011. Prior to that, ASU had won the previous five meetings and leads the all-time series 22-15-1. … ENMU is 3-0 in true road games, 1-2 at home and 0-1 on a neutral field this season. … Of the top five teams in the LSC, the Rams would seem to have the toughest remaining schedule with a game left next week at West Texas A&M. The other four all have a game against either seventh-place McMurry or last-place Kingsville, a combined 1-9 in the league. … The Rams are ranked 10th in NCAA Division II scoring offense (44.3 ppg). ASU’s defense has forced 17 turnovers this season (11 interceptions, six fumbles) and the offense has converted 14 into points (13 TDs, 1 FG). … ASU has finished 5-6 in each of Wagner’s first three seasons. … Washington has scored six TDs and is second the team in rushing with 541 yards (6.4 ypc), just behind Byrd. He’s completed 66 percent of his passes for 16 TDs, with five interceptions. … Eleven Rams caught at least one pass in last week’s win.

— Compiled by Dave Wagner