CMI sports writer

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BLACKWATER DRAW — Second-year Eastern New Mexico University football coach Josh Lynn got a good early look at his squad in semi-game conditions on Saturday.

ENMU wrapped up its first week of drills with an intrasquad scrimmage at Greyhound Stadium, running just over two hours in length.

“This is only our third day in pads,” Lynn said. “But I think we’re way ahead of where we were last year. All in all, I feel we look like a lot better team.”

Lynn said about 120 players took part in the scrimmage. He said both sides of the ball had good moments.

link CMI photo: Tony Bullocks

Clovis High grad Marshall Winn fights off a defender during Eastern New Mexico University’s intrasquad football scrimmage on Saturday morning at Blackwater Draw. The Greyhounds open the 2013 season at home on Sept. 7 against New Mexico Highlands.

“I thought Jeremy Buurma played well (at quarterback),” Lynn said. “He’s looking like he’s going to be our starter.”

Buurma, a redshirt sophomore from Las Cruces, is competing for the starting spot with Roswell Goddard grad Ryan Greene, also a sophomore. After two seasons playing behind the graduated Wes Wood, Burma said he’s ready to step up.

“That was my thought,” said Buurma, a Las Cruces High grad. “I’ve worked hard and I knew Wes was going to graduate after two years.

“Now you’re the guy, and you want to take that role. I want to be that guy.”

Buurma said the Greyhounds are still making the transition after switching from a wide-open passing game back to the triple option last year.

“It was a huge shift,” he said. “We weren’t real successful at it last year, but if we’re successful in our triple game, we’re not going to stray from that.”

Lynn said the Hounds showed pretty well in their ground game.

“Our running back play this year is a lot better,” he said. “Guys like Jordan Wells, E’lon Spight, Dmajeric Tucker and Christian Long played well.

“Defensively, we started slow, but the No. 1 defense picked it up late.”

link CMI photo: Tony Bullocks

ENMU freshman running back D’ Maujeric Tucker of Lubbock turns the corner and looks for running room during Saturday’s intrasquad scrimmage game at Blackwater Draw.

Even with the limited contact so far, Buurma said he enjoyed getting in the work.

“Scrimmages are good,” he said. “You get a lot of live reps. It’s about as realistic a look as you can get.

“We had some lulls, but when we did that, the defense was playing well.”

Lynn said the Hounds came through the scrimmage without any significant injuries.

ENMU will be back at Greyhound Stadium for a 6 p.m. scrimmage on Wednesday, and has another set for 10 a.m. on Aug. 31.

The 11-game schedule begins with a 7 p.m. contest at the stadium on Sept. 7 against New Mexico Highlands, the first of five non-conference games on the slate.