Hounds' rally shocks Angelo State

CMI staff

SAN ANGELO, Texas — Eastern New Mexico University erased a 28-0 deficit, scoring the go-ahead points on a fourth-and-1, 17-yard touchdown run by fullback Christian Long and a 2-point conversion run by junior Jacob Long with 5:18 left, then blocked a potential 30-yard field goal by Angelo State’s Rhett Peterson with 1:17 to go for a stunning 29-28 Lone Star Conference win over the Rams on Saturday night.

Sophomore quarterback Jeremy Buurma threw a pair of third-quarter touchdown passes to junior running back Jordan Wells, and the Hounds (2-3, 1-1 LSC) pulled to 28-21 on a 28-yard field goal by freshman Mitchell Cox with 9:23 to go, capping a 12-play, 59-yard drive.

Four plays after the kickoff, ENMU senior linebacker Sau Fuahala, who recovered an ASU fumble in the end zone with 1:24 left in the half to get the Hounds on the board, forced another fumble and senior defensive end Malcolm Butters recovered at the ASU 43.

A third-down pass interference penalty on ASU kept the drive alive, and Buurma carried twice for nine yards to the 17. Buurma was stopped for no gain on the next play before long burst through the line to score his third touchdown of the season.

ENMU coach Josh Lynn, whose team had failed twice on 2-point conversions in the third quarter, opted to go for it again and this time Johnson was able to get into the end zone for the lead.

After the blocked field goal, ENMU picked up a third-and-five first down on a 15-yard pass from Buurma to junior running back E’lon Spight. Buurma then twice downed the ball to run out the clock.

The Rams outgained the Hounds 361-321, but 162 of their yards came in the first quarter when they opened a 21-0 lead. Quarterback Kyle Washington ran 40 yards for a touchdown, then threw a 12-yard scoring pass to Brett Rasberry before the Rams Clayton Callicutt recovered a fumble by Buurma in the end zone in the final minute of the period.

Buurma finished 10-of-17 through the air for 167 yards, and also led the Hounds in rushing with 67 yards on 27 attempts, including two sacks.

Washington finished 18-of-29 for 155 yards for the Rams, and also led ASU on the ground with nine carries for 87 yards.

Junior outside linebacker Ben Langford had 13 tackles for ENMU, including eight solo stops and 2 1/2 tackles for loss.