Hounds to take on Adams State

PORTALES — About 360 miles separate the campuses of Adams State College and Eastern New Mexico University, who are on tap to face each other in their second game of the 2021 season on Saturday.

Geographically, that’s much closer than the Central Washington team that dealt the Greyhounds a dominant 62-24 season-opening loss.

Situation-wise, the Grizzlies and Greyhounds are much closer to each other as well heading into the 6 pm. kickoff.

“Looking at Adams State, they’re probably suffering the same things as we are. I think they’re going to get things fixed and be ready to go, Greyhound coach Tye Hiatt said. “I think they have some youth on offense. Adams State is going through a coaching change as well. They’re figuring out their identity on who they’re going to be.”

The Grizzlies are coming off a 35-17 loss to Western New Mexico in a game that was full of opening-season miscues on both sides, with 10 fumbles between the two teams.

“There were a lot of first-game mistakes and a lot of corrections,” Hiatt said. “I think they’re going to clean some things up, and they’re going to come down angry to get their first win.”

For whatever drawback a Thursday season opener provided, Hiatt said there are dividends in the week after. The Greyhounds have an extra two days of rest, and the team has time to look separately at film from Adams State and themselves.

“We’re just focused on us getting better every day,” Hiatt said. “We’ve spent the last few days watching the film as a staff. We need to make sure we’re sound assignment wise. We knew that Thursday as we were making corrections on the sideline.”

Both teams had difficulties stopping the pass in their openers, with Adams State allowing 301 yards in the air and the Greyhounds giving up 322 yards and a Central Washington record five touchdown passes by J.J. Lemming.

The game will be the final non-conference tune-up for each squad. The Greyhounds host Texas A&M-Kingsville Sept. 18, while Adams State will open Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play that day against Western Colorado.