Hounds lock in 2020, 2021 season opponents

PORTALES — Eastern New Mexico coach Kelley Lee has always made a simple case. If the Greyhounds wanted to make the Division II playoffs, it had to play 11 Division II opponents to give itself the best chance.

That’s what the Greyhounds now have lined up for the next three seasons, as the non-conference dates were settled for the 2020 and 2021 seasons.

The games will come against the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, which is doing a two-year partnership with the Lone Star Conference.

From the RMAC, the Greyhounds will face New Mexico Highlands University to open the 2020 season. They’ll have a home-and-home with Adams State as well, with a road game in 2020 and a home game in 2021.

The GNAC will offer three games against Azusa Pacific and Colorado Western — Azusa at home in 2020, followed by a 2021 season with Azusa on the road and Colorado Western at home.

"I'm thrilled that we have solidified 11 in-region NCAA Division II football games for 2020 & 2021," Lee said in a school release. “Over the next three years we are able to play non-conference games against teams from New Mexico, Colorado, California, Missouri, Oregon, and Washington. We are very excited to renew our in-state rivalry with New Mexico Highlands University. It makes sense that two in-state schools in the same division and so close in proximity continue to make this rivalry game a scheduling priority moving forward."

The GNAC games are part of a two-year agreement that will feature 26 total games played with LSC opponents.

The Greyhounds’ 2019 schedule remains the same as 2018 with the home sites flipped. The Lone Star Conference does welcome eight new schools this fall, but none of those eight play football.

The season opens at home Sept. 7 against Missouri S&T and includes five home games — including the Wagon Wheel game against West Texas A&M Oct. 26. Homecoming is Sept. 29 against Texas A&M-Kingsville.