Hounds thump Adams State

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BLACKWATER DRAW — At halftime, Adams State found itself well within striking distance of Eastern New Mexico University, thanks to a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown just before the intermission by sophomore Addie Brown.

link Staff photo: Joshua Lucero

Senior running back E’lon Spight hurdles over offensive lineman Maanaima Lang (61) and through a hole during Saturday’s game against Adams State at Greyhound Stadium. Spight rushed for 138 yards and a touchdown in ENMU’s 42-14 victory.

Unfortunately for the Grizzlies, Brown’s TD return accounted for more yards than their offense did until well into the final period.

Senior E’lon Spight rushed posted his second consecutive 100-yard rushing game and senior wide receiver Aaron Johnson caught two first-half touchdown passes from junior quarterback Jeremy Buurma as the Greyhounds rolled to a 42-14 win in their home opener at Greyhound Stadium.

The Hounds (2-0) finished with 608 total yards, including 442 on the ground. Meantime, their defense held the Grizzlies (1-1) to six first downs and 156 total yards.

“The defense played great,” ENMU coach Josh Lynn said. “They flew around and got after it. We had to control the line of scrimmage, and I believe we did that.”

Did they ever. The Hounds ran 87 plays from scrimmage to 47 for ASU, harassing sophomore quarterback Auston Hillman and his backup, Lamar McKnight, all night long even though they managed only two sacks.

“We had three-and-outs left and right,” said sophomore linebacker Elliot Peters, who led the team with seven tackles, including two for loss and one of the sacks. “It was awesome.”

Buurma led the Hounds on an 11-play, 81-yard scoring drive following the opening kickoff. He found Johnson for a 24-yard score on a fourth-and-13 play.

Sophomore kicker Mitchell Cox then executed a fake PAT kick, tossing it to tight end Evan Tooley for an 8-0 lead.

Cox finished the game with a pair of field goals, including a 47-yarder with the wind in the third quarter.

“It was good to see Mitchell hit a couple of field goals,” Lynn said. “It’s good to see him kicking with confidence.”

link Staff photo: Joshua Lucero

ENMU sophomore wide receiver Aaron Johnson scores one of his two first-half touchdowns during Saturday’s game against Adams State at Greyhound Stadium. The Greyhounds posted a 42-14 victory.

Spight, meantime, carried 29 times for 138 yards after a 114-yard performance in the opener at New Mexico Highlands. Only five carries came in the second half, but he scored on a 1-yard run early in the final period.

Spight, a 5-foot-10, 200-pounder from St. Louis, has replaced the graduated Christian Long, known more for his blocking and short power runs, at fullback.

“I’m a physical running back,” Spight said. “I like to run the ball. Our O-line did a good job. We schemed it up pretty good and I just hit the holes.”

Buurma didn’t throw all that much, but he was effective, going 6-for-13 for 166 yards. He’s averaging nearly 30 yards a completion through two games.

“We’re really efficient with the pass,” Spight said. “With play-action, (opponents) bite on the run, and the receivers are making plays.”

ENMU expects a stiff test on Saturday when it opens Lone Star Conference play in the LSC Football Festival at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, against Midwestern State, a team the Hounds thumped 40-21 at Blackwater Draw last season.

“I’m not sure what they’re going to bring, but we’ll be ready for them,” said Peters, one of several players on the roster from American Samoa.

Lynn knows the Hounds will be tested, pointing out that the Mustangs referred back to last year’s game several times during the LSC’s preseason press conference.

“I think that (game) kind of sticks in their craw,” he said. “It’s a premier game — 8 o’clock (CDT) on Saturday night at Cowboys Stadium. “We’ve got a tall order ahead of us.”

Spight said he’s confident the Hounds are up to the challenge.

“I think it’ll be a good game,” he said. “If we continue to play hard and focus, I think we should be able to get them.”