The Eastern New Mexico football team wrapped up the opening two weeks of spring practice with the first scrimmage of the 2019 calendar year last Friday night.
The Hounds showcased a full crop of explosive new offensive weapons and also found production from familiar names that have continued to find new ways to grow within the program during their time at Eastern. The scrimmage featured a strictly offensive versus defensive format, meaning the team didn’t separate into two separate teams, but merely played the offensive players against the defensive players for the entirety of the game.
“I feel like we had some productive up-tempo practices that have been really physical and that showed on the field last Friday in the scrimmage,” head coach Kelley Lee said, “There was definitely some back and forth swings between the offense and defense which is what you like to see as a head coach.”
The offense totaled six scores against the Greyhound defensive unit, totaling 742 yards and turned the ball over just one time in the 115 offensive snaps that they ran. Those new offensive weapons that have been added by way of junior college transfers as well as players that redshirted last season helped illustrate an expanded offensive attack for the Greyhounds early and often throughout the game, leading to a total of 265 yards through the air and two scores.
A majority of those yards through the air came from three players that did not see playing time in a Greyhound uniform last season in Zach Fields, Tafari Gomillion and Cameron Seabrook, which helped spread out the defense and create lanes for a rushing attack that totaled 477 yards on the ground. Fields scored twice through the air while junior Paul Terry and fellow tailback Cameron Smith each found the end zone on the ground.
Seabrook broke loose for a 70-yard touchdown reception while Fields provided a solid red-zone threat with scores from 29 and 16 yards out. The Eastern quarterback group finished the night going 18-for-28 through the air for a total of 265 yards and three touchdowns.
Despite the offensive firepower that was on full display throughout the night, a much-improved Hound defense last season showed glimpses of domination despite lacking the majority of their core producers from last season for Friday night’s scrimmage. That defense continually made stops on fourth down throughout the game to keep the offense from posting points on multiple drives.
“I thought the offense was able to move the ball really well, but the defense hung in there and did a fantastic job on fourth down to stop several drives, which is always a good thing to see,” coach Lee said. “I felt like our defensive line did a good job of getting pressure without blitzing and they were able to sack the quarterback numerous times throughout the game.”
Eastern New Mexico football will continue to get reps in with one more scrimmage scheduled for March 7th at 6:30 p.m. before the official Spring Game on March 29th at 6:00 p.m. For a full schedule of practices see the graphic below!
