ENMU's Manyweather, Richards earn LSC individual awards

RICHARDSON, Texas — Five members of the Eastern New Mexico University football team were accorded All-Lone Star Conference recognition, including two individual award winners, the conference announced on Friday.

Senior wide receiver Justin Manyweather was named the league’s receiver of the year and earned a spot on the first-team All-LSC offense. Meantime, sophomore defensive end Mazin Richards was the LSC’s defensive lineman of the year and chosen for the first team on that side of the ball.

Also, senior guard Vili Fisiiahi was tabbed for the second-team offense, while freshman running back Howard Russell and freshman safety Cameron Santa Cruz were honorable mention selections.

ENMU finished its 2021 season with a 4-7 record under first-year coach Tye Hiatt, including a 1-6 mark in the LSC.

Manyweather, from Los Angeles, led the conference in receiving yards (751), receiving touchdowns (11), average receiving yards per game (75.1) and all-purpose yards (1,204). He added a return touchdown this season to finish with 72 points.

In 2019, Manyweather was named All-LSC honorable mention.

Richards, from Burleson, Texas, was second in the conference with 8 1/2 sacks, including four in a win over Lincoln (Calif.), and third with 12 1/2 tackles for loss. He was a second-team all-conference choice in 2019.

Fisiiahi, from Honolulu, was also a second-team All-LSC choice in 2019 and helped the Hounds churn out nearly 3,700 yards of total offense. Russell, from Phoenix, came on late and finished with 755 yards rushing and four touchdowns in 10 games, including four consecutive 100-yard outings to finish the campaign.

Santa Cruz, from Eunice, was in on 49 tackles (34 solos) this season, with one interception.

Angelo State, at 9-2 the only LSC squad to be selected for the NCAA Division II playoffs, collected 11 first-team selections. Texas A&M-Commerce, which is leaving the LSC and Division II after this school year for the Southland Conference, notched seven first-team picks, while league champion Midwestern State had six.

Other individual awards went to Dillon Sterling-Cole, Midwestern State, offensive player of the year and newcomer of the year; Nathan Omaybu III, Angelo State, offensive back of the year; Willis Patrick, Angelo State, offensive lineman of the year; Jalen March, Midwestern State, offensive freshman of the year; Hunter Kyle, Angelo State, defensive player of the year; J.T. Cavender, West Texas A&M, linebacker of the year and defensive freshman of the year; Kader Kohou, Texas A&M-Commerce, defensive back of the year, and Bill Maskill, Midwestern State, coach of the year.