Hounds seek to keep Wagon Wheel

It’s time once again for the Wagon Wheel Game.

The ENMU football team will try to extend its four-game winning streak as the Greyhounds face Lone Star Conference rival West Texas A&M in an 11 a.m. start today at Canyon, Texas.

Besides the rivalry, ENMU is looking to accomplish two other feats with a win. The Greyhounds (6-2, 3-2 LSC), are trying to tie the all-time sereies against the Buffaloes WT (3-4, 2-3), as well as lock up the No. 3 seed in next week’s LSC playoffs.

Because of the early start time, ENMU coach Josh Lynn scheduled his practices this week earlier than normal, much like when the Hounds faced Midwestern State at the LSC Football Festival in September at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

“We just want to make sure everyone’s ready for the early start,” Lynn said.

Even with a sub-.500 record, Lynn isn’t dismissing the Buffs. They’re the only team to beat fourth-ranked Colorado State-Pueblo this season, edging the Thunderwolves 31-30 at Canyon in September.

“You don’t go and beat a top-ranked team unless you’re also a good team,” Lynn said. “We’re not paying attention to their record because WT is a good football team.”

Key Buffs on offense: Senior running back Geremy Alridge-Mitchell is the top priority for the Hounds’ defense this weekend.

“They’re your typical Lone Star Conference team,” Lynn said. “They’re big up front on both offense and defense, and they have an extremely good back in Alridge-Mitchell.”

Alridge-Mitchell has run the ball 186 times for 923 yards and 10 touchdowns. Last week, in a 24-14 win at Texas A&M-Kingsville, he carried a school-record 45 times for 149 yards and one score.

WT has two quarterbacks, sophomore Ethan Brinkley and senior Preston Rabb, who have shared time this season.

“It looks like the last two games they’ve been going with Brinkley, so that’s who we’re preparing for,” Lynn said.

Brinkley has thrown for 1,237 yards and seven touchdowns with six interceptions in his six games, while Rabb has just thrown for 167 yards with one TD and one INT in two games. However, Rabb was the starting quarterback last season.

Key Buffs on defense: As in last week’s game against Angelo State, controlling WT’s defensive line is the key to who comes away with the Wagon Wheel, notably Alex Tucci and Iosia Iosia.

“Defensively they have the biggest and probably the best defensive line we’ve seen all year,” Lynn said. “They’re very comparable to Angelo State’s defense. Both Lynn and Iosia are extremely big. We have to do a good job of blocking them.”

Blueprint for ENMU victory: Once again, running the option to perfection. After setting a new team-record with 583 rushing yards last week with three different Hounds each getting 100-plus rushing yards, Lynn hopes to do the same thing against WT.

“We play so many running backs we just try to distribute the load to all of them,” Lynn said. “I think you’re much better when you distribute the ball rather than giving it all to just one player.”

ENMU sophomore Kamal Cass, named LSC offensive player of the Week for the second time this season for his play against Angelo State, leads the team with 894 yards and 13 rushing touchdowns. But a total of six Hounds have played in all eight games and all have at least 250 rushing yards and two touchdowns apiece.

Angelo State at ENMU

1 p.m. at Blackwater Draw

Records: ENMU 6-2 (3-2 Lone Star Conference), West Texas A&M 3-4 (2-3)

On the air: KSEL-FM 105.9 FM.

Coaches: ENMU, Josh Lynn, 4th season, 23-16. West Texas A&M, Mike Nesbitt, 3rd season, 20-12.

Last week: ENMU beat Angelo State 46-28 at Blackwater Draw. The Buffaloes won at Texas A&M-Kingsville 24-14.

Last meeting: 2014, ENMU defeated WT twice at Blackwater Draw — 31-21 in a regular-season game, and 55-45 in the LSC playoffs. WT leads the all-time series 15-14, including 14-13 for the Wagon Wheel.

— Compiled by Matthew Asher