Hounds beat Red Leafs, snap losing streak

PORTALES - Junior quarterback Kason Martin threw for four touchdowns in his return to action and Eastern New Mexico University scored two early touchdowns in a span of 18 seconds on Saturday night en route to a 42-14 Lone Star Conference victory over Simon Fraser at Greyhound Stadium.

Martin, sidelined for the past two games by a shoulder injury, completed 21-of-30 passes for 274 yards, hitting junior wide receiver Asa Wondeh on scoring tosses of 45 yards and 1 yard, sophomore wide receiver Greg Thomas on an 11-yarder and sophomore tight end Bryzai White from 20 yards out. The Hounds (2-5, 1-4 LSC) snapped a five-game losing streak with their first victory since a season-opening 34-18 triumph at New Mexico Highlands on Sept. 1.

ENMU forced a three-and-out following the opening kickoff, then drove 63 yards in 12 plays with Martin hitting Thomas for the score at the 8:06 mark of the first quarter.

On the first play after the kickoff, ENMU junior defensive back Caden Ochoa stripped SFU running back Mason Glover of the ball as he was tackling him, and Ochoa returned it 12 yards for a TD and a quick 14-0 lead.

The Burnaby, B.C.-based Red Leafs (0-5, 0-5), one of three Great Northwest Athletic Conference teams to join the LSC this season as affiliate members in football, went into halftime trailing 35-6, but played more creditably in the second half in holding ENMU to one score.

The Hounds limited SFU to 196 total yards, including a net of 4 yards on the ground. They sacked junior quarterback Justin Seiber six times and backup Brandon Niksich once.

Seiber hit senior wide receiver Ethan Beselt for both Red Leafs scores, passes of 2 yards in the second quarter and 6 yards in the third.