11/19/2019 | Football
PORTALES, N.M. – Eastern New Mexico has accepted an invitation into the 2019 Heritage Bowl against Southern Arkansas on Dec. 7th at Corsicana ISD’s Tiger Stadium.
Kick-off for that contest is set for noon local time and will mark the third time in program history that Eastern New Mexico will compete in just one of only four NCAA Division II sanctioned bowl games after competing in the C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl in 2015 and 2016. The Greyhounds earned the invitation following two consecutive wins over #21 Angelo State and the Co-Great Northwest Athletic Conference champions Western Oregon in the final two weeks of the regular season.
“We couldn’t be more excited to continue the momentum we have built towards the end of the season and test ourselves against another quality opponent in Southern Arkansas,” head coach Kelley Lee said, “Our guys really wanted to finish the season on a high note and we are honored to get a chance to compete one more time this season.”
Tickets for the game are priced at $10 can be purchased online HERE. More information on the bowl itself can be found by visiting www.heritagebowl.org.
The Greyhounds will have a chance to match the second-highest win total in program history against the Muleriders after finishing the regular season with a 7-4 record and a fifth place finish in the Lone Star Conference standings. Eastern New Mexico has been led all season by a historic offensive effort as the Hounds have averaged the most rushing yards per game (361.8 ypg) in program history through 11 contests and are just 164 yards away from matching the school record for most rushing yards in a single season in program history.
Southern Arkansas will be making their second-consecutive postseason appearance for the first time since playing in back-to-back bowl games in 1947 and 1948. The Muleriders finished with a record of 8-3 this season and finished fourth in the Great American Conference standings despite losing two out of their last three contests to finish out the regular season.
“There’s always a lot to play for in these bowl games and getting back to one is truly special for our kids and coaching staff,” coach Lee said, “We want to continue to improve over these next few weeks and get ready for a good test against Southern Arkansas. Our team understands how big of a deal it is to end the season on a winning note, especially when it is in postseason play, and I know we will be ready.”
