Four Hounds Named to 2019 Don Hansen All-Super Region Four Team
The post-season accolades for the Eastern New Mexico football team continue to pile up as four players were named to the 2019 Don Hansen All-Super Region Four Team, announced by the Don Hansen Football Committee Tuesday morning.
Senior Paul Terry earned First Team Offense honors for the second straight season after setting the ENMU single-season record and finishing second in all of Division II football with 1,888 rushing yards. Junior Vili Fisiiahi was named Second Team Offense as he anchored one of the premier offensive lines in the nation. Senior Tyler Vargas garnered Third Team Offense recognition for the third time in his illustrious collegiate career while LSC sacks leader freshman Mazin Richards was named Third Team Defense.
Terry rushed for 100 yards or more in every game except one where he finished with 97 yards and a career-high four touchdowns in a win over Western Oregon in the team’s regular season finale. The Amarillo, Texas native averaged an outstanding 5.4 yards per carry and 157.3 yards per game on his way to the LSC rushing title. He showed a knack for finding the endzone and carried the ball past the goalline 17 times, finishing second in the conference in scoring with 102 points. Terry ran for 233 yards on the ground and gashed the defense for a 47-yard run that set up the game-tying touchdown in a 20-17 overtime victory over Angelo State on Nov. 9.
Fisiiahi proved to be a dominant force all season long from the guard position and constantly opened truck-size holes for the Greyhounds’ rushing attack. The 285 pound, Honolulu native highlights an offensive line that led the nation in average time of possession (35 mins/game) and ranked second with 348.4 rushing yards per game. The Hounds were extremely effective on fourth down, converting on 71.9 percent of their attempts, the fourth-best mark in the country.
Vargas has been named to his third consecutive Hansen All-Super Region Four Third Team and has proven that he is one of the most reliable place kickers in the nation. He booted 41 of his 42 extra point attempts through the uprights and went 13 for 17 on field goals as he finished sixth in the LSC with 82 total points. The San Diego native connected on a season-long 47-yard field goal against Western New Mexico on Oct. 19 and nailed a pair of field goals, including the game-winner, in the Hounds OT win over Angelo. Vargas was a dual-threat special teams standout and also handled punting duties for the Hounds, averaging 39.7 yards and placing eight punts inside the 20-yard line.
Richards established himself as one of the most explosive defensive players in league, leading the LSC and ranking seventh amongst NCAA DII competitors with 12.5 sacks. The defensive end out of Burleson, Texas finished with 36 total tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, two passes defended and an interception. He turned in his best game against Angelo following a six tackle, 3.5 sack performance and was named LSC Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts.
