The 21st-ranked Eastern New Mexico University football team (6-1; LSC 5-1) will return to Al Whitehead Field at Greyhound Stadium on Saturday evening, to take on Texas A&M-Kingsville. The contest will kick off at 7 p.m. and is sponsored by Wienerschnitzel.

Prior to warmup, the Greyhounds will emerge from the locker room at 5:45 p.m. for the Dawg Walk to the stadium. This is a great opportunity to support the Greyhounds prior to their first contest as a nationally-ranked team since the 2003 season.

How to Follow the Game
For information on how to attend, please visit the ticket page on the ENMU Athletics site. The game will be broadcast by KSEL Country 105.9 FM, with a livestream offered on the station’s website. Live statistics and a video stream will be available on www.GoEasternAthletics.com, and links will be provided on the ENMU football schedule page and main index page.

 

The Eastern New Mexico University football team is 3-0 at home this season and 7-2 overall since opening Al Whitehead Field at Greyhound Stadium, last year. The Greyhounds opened the season with a thrilling last-second win over then 18th-ranked Southwest Baptist and followed with victories over Angelo State and UT Permian Basin.

Nationally, ENMU leads the NCAA Division II in time of possession and is third in rushing offense. Kamal Cass is 16th in the country in rushing. ENMU’s defense is fourth in the country in preventing opponent’s first downs.

The ground game has been a staple of the Greyhound football team and they lead the LSC in that category on both offense and defense. The Hounds also are second in the league in total defense. ENMU leads the conference in time of possession with an incredible average of 37:43 per game. Eastern’s defense has been a key part of their successful start, as the squad ranks second in the league in total defense. ENMU has given up the fewest first downs in the conference, while the offense ranks fourth in that category. Third and fourth down conversions are a key part of that success, as the ENMU leads the league on both sides on fourth down and is near the top on third downs. The Greyhound special teams has been outstanding and rank second in the LSC in punt-return coverage.

Kamal Cass, the LSC Preseason Co-Offensive Player of the Year currently ranks first in rushing. Wyatt Strand ranks seventh in that category, while Tayshaun Gary is 15th. Johnny Smith ranks second in the LSC in yards per reception. Bailey Hale has been extremely reliable and is third in the LSC in kicking points and fourth overall. Cass is leads the LSC in all-purpose yardage, while quarterback Wyatt Strand rates ninth in total offense. Nicolas Little is eighth in punt average. Deion Hart is second in the LSC in passes defended. Entering the sixth week of the season, KeAndre Hall and Zach Johnson are second and third in the league in fumbles recovered, while Johnson is tied for the lead in forced fumbles.

In the Series
Last season, the Javelinas snapped Eastern’s four-game win streak in the series. That streak marked the first time the Greyhounds had posted consecutive victories over Texas A&M-Kingsville. Included in that run was a 31-0 victory in 2014, which marked the first time the Javelinas had been shut out at home since September 14, 1983, against Stephen F. Austin.

Last season, the Javelinas built on a 14-7 halftime lead and pulled away for a 41-28 home victory. Today’s contest marks the first time Texas A&M-Kingsville will play at Al Whitehead Field at Greyhound Stadium.

The last time Eastern hosted the Javelinas, they scored the first 14 points and pulled away for a 56-31 victory at Blackwater Draw. Kamal Cass had 164 of Eastern’s 396 rushing yards and found the endzone four times. D’Maujeric Tucker finished with 86 rushing yards. Fe’ao Vunipola paced the defense with 12 tackles.

 

The Javelinas are 3-5 on the season with a 2-4 record in Lone Star Conference play. Last week, a 41-34 setback against Tarleton State snapped the Javelinas two-game win streak.

Freshman quarterback Cade Dyal leads the Javelinas with 1,628 yards, 15 touchdown passes and just eight interceptions. Nick Pelrean is the top runner, with 594 yards and five scores. The Javelina defense is second in the LSC against the run and led by Trevor Moses (51 tackles) and Peyton Tilley (50 tackles, 1 interception).
Up Next
The Eastern New Mexico University football team will hit the road next Thursday to take on West Liberty University in West Virginia. The contest is scheduled for 4 p.m. MT.