Eastern New Mexico upset #21 Angelo State by a 20-17 final in overtime after the Rams missed a field goal try on their first possession in overtime.
The Greyhounds never led in the contest until senior Tyler Vargas drilled a 39-yard field goal on the opening possession of the overtime period in what would prove to be the game-winner as Angelo State missed a 29-yard field goal of their own. Senior Paul Terry matched the school record he set earlier in the season with 40 carries and totaled a season-high 233 yards to lead the way offensively for Eastern New Mexico.
No run proved as vital as his lone score of the game on a 14-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter that tied the game up at 10-10 and put Terry’s name in the record books as he now holds the single season rushing record with 1,681 yards on the season. That total eclipses E’lon Speight’s previous record of 1,611 yards in a season set back in 2014.
That 14-yard score capped off an incredible 23-yard, 90-play drive that lasted 12:04 and allowed Angelo State just a single possession in the third quarter after receiving the kick coming out of the halftime break. The Rams were able to gain just 13 yards after receiving the kick to open the second half of action and punted the ball away to the Greyhounds with 11:00 remaining on the clock in the third quarter.
#21 Angelo State didn’t get a chance to run another offensive play until the 13:56 mark of the fourth quarter as the Hounds converted on four different fourth-down conversion attempts on that drive alone. Eastern New Mexico finished the night 7-of-8 on fourth down while completing just a single pass throughout the entirety of the ball game.
The Rams couldn’t overcome the game-changing drive and quickly went three-and-out before punting the ball back to the Hounds with 12:14 remaining in the contest with the game tied at 10-10. Eastern New Mexico couldn’t manage to capitalize and stalled out on offense before the Rams regained the lead with a 7-play, 69-yard drive that pushed the score to 17-10.
Terry went back to work and took the first carry of the ensuing drive 47 yards all the way down inside the Angelo State 20-yard line to flip the momentum once again back into the hands of the Greyhounds. Senior Wyatt Strand punched in the game-tying score seven plays later from the one-yard line with 3:17 remaining on the clock.
A squib kick by Eastern New Mexico on the following kickoff gave the Rams possession of the ball at the 50-yard line and a quick 12 yards in two plays moved the ball to the Greyhound 38-yard with less than four minutes remaining on the clock. A key sack by the combination of Daniel Garces and Mazin Richards on the ensuing first down proved key as it put Angelo State behind the chains and negated the chances of the Rams moving into field goal range.
The Hound defense stood strong on a fourth-down attempt two plays later and gave the ball back to the Hounds with 1:41 remaining on the clock. Eastern New Mexico was unable to get the two-minute offense going and produced what looked to be a disaster punt attempt as the snap was bobbled and turned over to the Rams at the Greyhound 35-yard line with just 1:07 left on the clock.
The heroic Hound defense stepped up yet again and sacked Ram quarterback Payne Sullins twice on the ensuing drive to once again force the Rams out of field goal range and allowed the Greyhounds to end regular time with a quarterback kneel to force overtime.
Eastern New Mexico was unable to pick up a first down on the opening possession of overtime, leading to the game-winning Vargas field goal make. Angelo State picked up one first down before settling for what looked to be the tying field goal, only to push the attempt wide right and give the Hounds their first win over a nationally-ranked opponent of the season.
The Hounds limited the Lone Star Conference’s second-best offense entering the weekend to just 265 total yards on 60 plays. Junior Vicen’te Walker led the effort with 13 total tackles while the defense racked up seven total sacks on the evening to consistently throw the Ram offense off pace throughout the evening.
Eastern New Mexico totaled 327 yards rushing to finish the evening with 325 total yards of offense as Strand’s lone completed pass of the night went for a loss of two yards. Strand finished the evening with 22 carries for 29 yards and a touchdown.
Eastern New Mexico’s win keeps their bowl chances alive as they have now officially become bowl eligible with their sixth win of the season. The Hounds will have one more chance to add to their win total next week on the road at Western Oregon.
