Hounds return home to face Angelo State

PORTALES — If the preseason rankings hold any weight, and last week indicated they do, then the most difficult part of Lone Star Conference play is over for Eastern New Mexico University — while it’s getting a little tougher for visiting Angelo State.

But that doesn’t mean this battle is going to be any type of cakewalk for the Greyhounds, with kickoff slated for 7 p.m. against Angelo State.

Both the Greyhounds and Rams are 2-1, with each coming off a Lone Star Conference loss. Angelo State is coming off a 30-24 loss in its LSC opener against Tarleton State, while Eastern (1-1 LSC) was on the other end of a 51-22 victory by No. 3 Texas A&M-Commerce.

The defending LSC champion Lions retained the No. 3 spot in this week’s AFCA Division II poll, while the Greyhounds remained in the “also receiving points” category.

This is the first time the Greyhounds have played a home game since their Aug. 31 upset of then-No. 18 Southwest Baptist. The game against Commerce is also the last time the Greyhounds are scheduled to face a ranked opponent until their season finale against Midwestern State; the Mustangs are currently 13th in the AFCA poll.

Attempts to contact ENMU coach Kelley Lee were unsuccessful Friday.

For the Rams, this is the first time they’ve been away from the friendly confines of LeGrand Stadium in San Angelo. They began the season with convincing wins over McKendree and Northern Michigan, outscoring the squads 90-22 combined.

So far this season, the Greyhounds are first in the LSC in run defense (71.7 yards allowed per game) and second with 270.7 rushing yards per game on offense. Senior running back Kamal Cass accounts for more than a third of those yards with 102.3 yards per game — good for third in the LSC.

Just ahead of him? Angelo State’s Josh Stevens with 121.7 rushing yards per game. The Rams also have the LSC’s No. 3 passer in quarterback Jake Farber, who has connected on 54 of 88 attempts for 671 yards and five touchdowns. His top two targets, Donavan Thompson and Lawson Ayo, have combined for 35 receptions for 533 yards and three scores. Farber, however, is coming off a game with just 111 yards passing and two interceptions.

Angelo State leads the series 24-16-1 since 1968, including a 12-7-1 mark at the former Greyhound Stadium. This will be the first time the teams have played at the on-campus Greyhound Stadium, where ENMU is 5-2 overall. Though the series lead is held by the Rams, th Greyhounds have won three of the last five games — including a 29-28 win in 2013 where the Greyhounds scored 29 unanswered. That win later helped the Greyhounds claim a share of the LSC title.

Last season, it was the Greyhounds who posted the big lead, scoring all of their points before Angelo got on the board in a 25-14 victory.