BLACKWATER DRAW, N.M. (Football) – In what could very well possibly be the final time the Javelinas travel to Blackwater Draw, Mother Nature definitely made her force felt. Two lightning delays later, Texas A&M University-Kingsville (1-4, 0-2 LSC) nearly overcame a slow start before falling to Eastern New Mexico (3-2, 1-2 LSC), 56-31, on a rainy Saturday evening at Greyhound Stadium.
Eastern New Mexico is building a stadium on campus that is scheduled to open next fall. Currently, the Greyhounds have the lone grass field in the Lone Star Conference.
Myles Carr recorded his second straight 300-plus yard passing game with 309 yards while going 14-for-25 and two touchdowns.
Stevie Joe Dorman came on in relief and finished 5-of-15 for 40 yards and a touchdown that came on his first attempt. He added a team-high 33 yards on five carries as well.
Hauling in 184 yards on only four catches and for a touchdown was
Anthony Autry. Autry continues his sensational debut season for the Hogs, with two 100-plus performances in five games. Also catching touchdowns were
Jordan Thomas and offensive lineman
Aundra Long. Long was behind the line of scrimmage on a designed lateral in goal-line formation and recorded his first career reception in the TD grab.
Daniel Ramirez finished with two receptions for 53 yards as tight ends continue to factor in the offense.
For Eastern, Kamal Cass totaled 164 yards on the ground on 26 carries and scored four times. D'Maujeric Tucker added 86 yards over five carries and a score. Jeremy Buurma completed 8-of-10 passes for 162 yards and a touchdown as well.
ENMU got on the scoreboard first with a one-yard plunge by Cass at the 12:10 mark of the first quarter. The Javelinas drove down to the Greyhounds' 23 after Carr completed a 35 yard pass to Ramirez. On the very next play however, Eastern picked off a screen pass and took it back for another score and a 14-0 lead.
The Hogs responded with a 16-play, 75-yard drive that took 7:31 off the clock and ended with Carr hitting Long for a touchdown from three yard out. During the drive, Carr completed pass of 14 and 19 yards to
Jacob Armstrong and Thomas, respectively, on third downs.
Answering right back was the Greyhounds with a 71-yard drive over seven plays, capped off by Cass with a six yard run.
On the first play from scrimmage on TAMUK's next drive, Carr hit Autry for 44 yards to the Eastern 35. The Javelinas only managed three more yards on a rush by
Shawn Vasquez.
Julio De La Garza nailed a 49 yard field goal that just squeaked over the bar to cut the Blue and Gold's deficit to 21-10 with 13:35 left in the first half. His field goal is the longest made by a Javelina kicker since
Matt Stoll made a 51 yarder on Nov. 16, 2013 against Valdosta State.
After a stalled drive,
Tristan Hernandez pinned Eastern at their 10 following a 43 yard punt. The Hounds though were unfazed as Tucker took a pitch for 56 yards on the sixth play of the drive for another score.
The second play of the next Javelina drive saw Autry catch a quick slant from Carr and take it 61 yards to the house for his team leading fourth touchdown of the season. The made point after attempt brought the score to 28-17 for ENMU.
Eastern closed out the first half with a 59 yard drive that took up the final 6:48.
Zemarcus Green came up big by getting his hand on a field goal attempt on the final play to keep the Hogs within 11 at halftime.
The first drive of the second half by the Greyhounds saw them facing a fourth and one from their own 45. Cass took a pitch and ran 55 yards for his third touchdown of the game.
Facing a third and nine on the next possession, Carr completed a screen pass to
Greg Pitre for 17 yards thanks to a block from
Christian Garcia. Carr then went deep to Autry for 38 yards to the Greyhounds' nine. On third down, Carr scored his first career rushing touchdown to keep TAMUK within 11.
The Hogs' defense came up big forcing a three and out on Eastern's next possession. Autry then hauled in another long pass for 41 yards to set up TAMUK with a first and goal. Two plays later, Carr had to leave the game for a play after his helmet came off. Dorman came up big off the bench with a 15-yard touchdown toss to Thomas, bringing the Blue and Gold to within four.
ENMU responded with a 46 yard touchdown pass to increase their lead to 42-31 with 1:15 left in the third quarter. Their next drive saw them added another touchdown from three yards out to go up by 18 with just over 11 minutes to play in the game.
With the Javelinas driving, the game was stopped with 8:26 to play because of lightning. The delay lasted about an hour and 45 minutes.
Dorman hit Pitre for 15 yards on the first play after the delay. Three plays later, Dorman rumbled 26 yards on a designed quarterback draw to get TAMUK into the red zone at the 19. However, a fumble on the snap backed the Blue and Gold up and then turned the ball over on downs to end the team's hopes of a comeback.
The Hogs return home next weekend when they face Tarleton State at 7 p.m. for the Legends at Kingsville Community Appreciation Weekend. The Texans fell 63-0 to nationally-ranked A&M-Commerce.
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