ENMU football team hopeful for better season

Shortly before being picked to finish seventh in the 10-team Lone Star Conference, members of Eastern New Mexico University sat center stage at the LSC football media day to discuss the difficulty of last season and excitement for the upcoming one. 

“We were competitive. Close, but no cigar,” said ENMU head coach Kelley Lee of last season. 

Lee, who’s entering year two of his second head coaching stint at ENMU, mentioned how seven of the games were decided by a touchdown. This meant ENMU, which finished 5-6, could’ve been “9-2 or 2-9.”

A key reason for that 5-6 season was a lacking defense. ENMU allowed the third-most points per game (28.9) in the conference. In their six losses, the Greyhounds allowed 34.5 points per game. 

Sixth-year defensive back Zerrian Meander, who missed all of 2023 because of an injury, remains confident, but cautious. 

“I would say the margin for error is very minimal when you play in the LSC conference,” Meander said. “I feel like any given Saturday, a team can win or lose no matter who it is.”

He added that the key for ENMU will be, “staying who we are.”

What could be advantageous for ENMU is the return of redshirt junior quarterback, Mario Sanchez. Last year, Sanchez was a pivotal part in the Greyhounds, scoring the second-most points (32.1) in the LSC. Sanchez was an all-LSC honorable mention in 2023 after leading the conference with 12 rushing touchdowns. 

“I’m really excited,” Sanchez said. “I’m looking forward to being a better field general for the team.”

Lee said that he feels ENMU’s primed for improvement because of the number of players who stayed over the summer instead of returning home. 

“It takes a sacrifice to be in Division II football and stay around the summer. Especially in a town like Portales where there’s not a lot of things going on,” Lee said.

The Greyhounds kick their season off on Thursday, Aug. 29 at 6 p.m. at New Mexico Highlands. 

Last year, ENMU started 3-0 for the first time since 2007, but endured a five-game losing streak before winning two of their final three games.