Hounds ready to return to conference play

STEPHENVILLE, Texas — Eastern New Mexico University’s football team knew it was up against it on Saturday night against former Lone Star Conference compatriot Tarleton State, now in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision.

This week, the Greyhounds expect another stiff test when they resume LSC action on Saturday at unbeaten (3-0) Texas A&M-Kingsville.

Tarleton held ENMU to two field goals and just over 100 yards of total offense en route to a 41-6 victory, although second-year Hounds coach Tye Hiatt was happy with the effort his team displayed against the Texans (2-1).

“I’m really proud of our kids for battling the whole game,” Hiatt said. “I think it would’ve been easy for them to give up.”

While they had their moments, the Hounds simply weren’t able to keep pace with the Texans, who left the LSC for the Division I-AA Western Athletic Conference in 2020.

Tarleton wasted little time taking command. Redshirt freshman running back Deangelo Rosemond scored the first of his two 1-yard TD plunges less than five minutes in, and the Texans steadily pulled away.

A bright spot for the Hounds (1-2, 0-1 LSC) was sophomore placekicker Cooper Hamilton, who kicked a 50-yard field goal in the first quarter and a 28-yarder in the third. For the season, he’s 4-for-4 on field goals and 6-for-6 on extra points.

“Cooper’s really, really good,” Hiatt said. “(But) we need to be a little more consistent on offense.”

Redshirt freshman quarterback Beau Allen went 21-of-37 through the air for 312 yards for Tarleton, throwing for two touchdowns and running for another. The Texans piled up 473 total yards and held a 24-9 edge in first downs.

Senior running back Ontario Douglas rushed for 71 yards for Tarleton, while junior wide receiver Jaden Smith had seven catches for 129 yards, including a 7-yard TD toss from Allen in the third quarter.

Defensively, the Texans limited ENMU junior quarterback Kason Martin to just 7-of-33 through the air for 55 yards.

“I don’t think we’ll see (another) team as good as Tarleton,” Hiatt said.

Meantime, Kingsville (3-0, 1-0) is coming off a 31-24 win at West Texas A&M on Saturday.

“They’re a well-disciplined team,” Hiatt said of the Javelinas. “They don’t make many mistakes.

“I think it’s going to be a game like Midwestern (State, a 28-14 loss at Greyhound Stadium on Sept. 10), where it comes down to the fourth quarter. We’ve got to be able to finish drives.”