The Eastern New Mexico football team had its three-game win streak snapped on Saturday afternoon as the Hounds dropped a tough 34-17 decision at Angelo State in their final regular season road game and final Lone Star Conference game of 2018.
Eastern (4-6, 4-4 LSC) ran into some issues early with turnovers. After the Hounds fumbled the football on their opening possession, the Rams (6-4, 5-3 LSC) went eight plays and 61 yards for the opening score of the game to make it an early 7-0 ASU lead with 7:19 to go in the first quarter.
Trailing by the same score early in the second quarter, the Hounds were finally able to crack open the scoring on a big special teams play. On fourth-and-one on the ASU 29-yard-line, junior defensive lineman Uhi Mikaele broke through the line and blocked the Rams punt. Hayden Hill picked up the loose ball and ran it 20-yards for the touchdown, knotting the game up at 7-all with 13:08 left to play in the quarter.
However, on the ensuing possession, Angelo State put together a 12-play, 75-yard drive that ended on a Tyrese Nathan one-yard touchdown run, putting the Rams back in-front 14-7 at the 9:21 mark.
The Greyhounds once again had an answer for the Rams scoring drive, as Eastern methodically drove down the field, picking up four first downs before junior running back Paul Terry broke free for a 22-yard touchdown scamper to the tie the game back up at 14 with 4:07 to go until the halftime break.
The Rams put together one more scoring drive before the end of the first half, driving 83-yards on 11 plays, capped off on a 19-yard touchdown pass to give Angelo State the 21-14 edge at halftime.
The second half did not get off to a good start for the Greyhounds. After forcing the Rams to punt on their opening drive of the half, the Hounds fumbled away the football on the ensuing punt, giving ASU the ball back at the ENMU 12-yard line. The Eastern defense was able to keep the Rams out of the endzone, holding ASU to just a 23-yard field goal to make it a 24-14.
On ENMU’s next offensive possession, the Hounds managed to sustain an 11-play, 43-yard drive that setup junior kicker Tyler Vargas, who connected on a career-long 52-yard field goal to make it a one possession game once again at 24-17 with 6:42 to go in the third quarter.
That would be the closest the Hounds could cut into the deficit as the Rams scored 10 unanswered points to hand Eastern a bitter 34-17 defeat.
Terry led the rushing efforts with 77 yards on 15 carries and his ninth rushing touchdown of the season.
Junior quarterback Wyatt Strand completed a season-high 12-of-16 pass attempts for 82 yards and an interception while Sanchez Lofton had three receptions for 27 yards.
Sophomore linebacker Noah Sweitzer once again led the defensive efforts with a season-high 13 tackles and two tackles for loss. It was the fourth consecutive game that Sweitzer recorded 10 or more tackles.
The Hounds will look to end the season on a high note next week as ENMU will host Western Oregon for Senior Day on Saturday, Nov. 10 at 1 p.m. inside Greyhound Stadium.
