Falcons run wild in romp past ENMU

MIDLAND, Texas – Eastern New Mexico University’s football team got off to an impressive start in Saturday’s Lone Star Conference matchup against Texas-Permian Basin.

In the end, though, the Falcons were much more impressive.

Permian Basin set school records for rushing yards (458) and total offense (677) and used a 31-0 scoring run to pull away to a 52-29 victory, staying right behind Central Washington in the league race while sending the Greyhounds (3-4, 1-4 LSC) to their fourth consecutive loss.

“The first half was all right; I felt pretty good at halftime (down 21-14),” ENMU coach Kelley Lee said. “We weren’t able to stop them, but we made them work and we were moving the ball.”

After receiving the opening kickoff, the Hounds chewed up nearly eight minutes, going 80 yards in 17 plays with sophomore quarterback Mario Sanchez finding freshman D’Andre Fillmore on a third-and-14, 31-yard touchdown pass for the first of his three scoring tosses and a 7-0 lead. The Hounds converted a pair of fourth downs on the drive.

It didn’t take long for UTPB (6-1, 4-0) to counter, getting a 12-yard TD pass from senior quarterback Kenny Hrncir to freshman wide receiver Traylen Suel. A missed PAT kick kept the Hounds in front for the moment, but after forcing a punt the Falcons went up 14-7 early in the second stanza with a 37-yard run by junior running back Nemier Herod and a 2-point conversion.

ENMU tied it on the first play following the kickoff when junior running back Ja’Calvin Newsom sprinted 55 yards to the end zone, making it 14-14. However, that would be the Hounds’ last score until Sanchez threw TD passes of 8 and 40 yards to sophomore Andre Jones in the final period.

“We threw the ball well, but we started the second half with two 3-and-outs,” Lee said. “That kind of let the game get away from us.”

Three players broke the century mark in rushing for the Falcons – sophomore running back Kory Harris (13 for 159 yards), Herod (12 for 154) and Hrncir (12 for 107), with Herod scoring three touchdowns. Hrncir, who also ran for a TD, went 13-for-21 passing to seven receivers for 194 yards and two scores.

Lee said if the Falcons aren’t the best team in the league, they’re close.

“I think Central Washington, Angelo State (4-2, 3-1) and them are definitely the best,” he said. “That quarterback is really special, and he makes them go. Without him, they’re probably not better than those other teams; with him, they’re probably better.”

For the Hounds, who finished with 345 total yards, Sanchez went 7-of-16 passing for 164 yards, including three catches for 87 yards by Jones. Newsom led the team in rushing with just three carries for 62 yards.

Sophomore defensive back Jamarri Price led everyone with 13 total tackles for ENMU, including four solo stops. Senior defensive lineman Kevin McCraken had two of the Hounds’ four sacks.

UTPB trails only CWU (5-2, 5-0) in conference standings. The Falcons, who reached six wins for the first time in the eight-year history of the program, are averaging just over 50 ppg and have already broken single-season school records for touchdowns (47), rushing TDs (25), extra points (43) and points (352).

Permian Basin visits Angelo State in a key matchup this week. Central Washington, which owns a 27-24 win at home over the Rams, is slated to play at UTPB in the Nov. 11 regular-season finale.

ENMU returns to Greyhound Stadium for its 6 p.m. Homecoming clash on Saturday against Texas A&M-Kingsville (4-2, 2-2), which absorbed a 38-16 home shellacking against No. 20 Angelo State on Saturday.

“It might be a pretty good matchup,” Lee said. “They were picked pretty high (fourth) in preseason. They have a senior ballclub; I think they had 17 starters returning.

“Both of their running backs – (seniors Christian) Anderson and (C.J.) Odom – run hard, and defensively they’ve got several good guys. We’re going to have to play really good football on offense.”