The Matchup    
>> Texas A&M-Kingsville returns to Pepsi Field at Javelina Stadium to host Eastern New Mexico for the first home LSC contest of the year
>> The game is part of the Hispanic Heritage Weekend sponsored by IBC Bank
>> Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. CT
>> The game can be seen on the JavelinaAthletics YouTube channel, and heard on KTAI 91.1 with Mark Inserra and Nate Kotisso on the call
>> The Hogs are 24-9 all-time against the Hounds despite ENMU winning five of the last six games
>> Eastern New Mexico took the contest in Portales, N.M., in 2017, 51-34, as Jordan Thomas caught 11 passes for 212 yards and one touchdown
>> Beau Reilly threw for 339 yards and two touchdowns in the loss, while Jeff Carr ran for 64 yards

Scouting the Greyhounds    
>> Eastern New Mexico dropped its first three games of 2018, first with a 31-24 loss to Missouri S&T to open up the year, followed by a 34-21 loss to regional foe Colorado Mesa and a 21-11 loss to [1] A&M-Commerce
>> The Hounds have rushed for 802 yards as a team through three games, with Paul Terry leading the way with 322 yards on 66 carries and three scores
>> Quarterback Wyatt Strand has rushed for 180 yards on 37 carries and two touchdowns, while Johnny Smith owns 147 yards on 21 carries
>> Tayshaun Gary is the other Greyhound on the board with rushing yards as he owns 110 on 19 carries and one score
>> Brad Hardin leads the defensive effort with 24 tackles, two for loss, to go with one QB hurry and one forced fumble
>> Charles Countee has one of three interceptions for ENMU, while Connor Sosa and Dante Urrea each have one

Last Time Out    
>> The Javelinas took on Angelo State in the elements at LeGrand Stadium in San Angelo, Texas, but dropped a 30-14 decision to the Rams to fall to 0-2 in LSC play
>> Koy Detmer Jr. had one touchdown in the game, a 22-yard pass to Tyler Wilson in the second quarter
>> The other Hog score came in the form of a blocked punt recovered in the end zone by TAMUK
>> Keshon Rowe put a stop to the punt and the ball was eventually recovered in the end zone by Jacob Armstrong
>> Luis Lopez had 43 rushing yards for the Javelinas on 11 carries
>> Four Hog defenders had 10+ tackles in the game as Payton Hendrix, Tre'Michael Tutt and Jalen Harrison led the way with 11 apeice
>> Devonte Williams was named the IBC Bank Player of the Week following his performance with 10 tackles, two for loss, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries
>> The Blue and Gold defense had nine tackles for loss in the contest, led by Tutt's 2.5

Check the Rankings    
>> A&M-Commerce remains the No. 1 ranked team in the poll but dropped a few first place votes, while MSU Texas stayed at No. 7
>> Tarleton is the other LSC school in the poll, currently receiving votes

Home Openers under Wilkinson    
>> The Hogs are 3-1 under head coach Daren Wilkinson in home openers following the 52-10 win over TWU
>> TAMUK defeated Missouri S&T in 2015, 38-20, courtesy of 116 yards and two touchdowns from running back Shawn Vasquez
>> The Blue and Gold bested Simon Fraser, 68-7, in 2016 on the heels of a four-touchdown game from Myles Carr
>> The lone loss came in 2017 to Central Washington at 34-10

Early Season Trends    
>> The Hog defense has made its presence felt in the first three games of the season, allowing an average of 273 yards per game, good for 20th in the NCAA
>> The defense has also held opponents to a .213 3rd down conversion and .250 fourth down conversion percentage, good for 11th and 26th in the nation, respectively
>> The Hogs have averaged nine tackles for loss per game, good for 19th in the NCAA
>> The Javelina defense has recovered four fumbles and snagged four interceptions to place in the top-50 in the nation in both categories, including 19 in fumbles recovered and 33rd in interceptions
>> The eight total turnovers gained is good for 20th in the NCAA among all Division-II schools and best in the Lone Star Conference
>> Devonte Williams has been a mainstay in the Hog D, currently best in the nation is forced fumbles and fumbles recovered
>> Williams is also one of three Javelinas ranked in the top 50 in the NCAA in tackles for loss per game, ranked 49th at 1.7
>> Caleb Valentine leads the way with 2.0 TFL per game (22nd), while Brandon Jones averages 1.8 (37th)
>> The Javelinas have also done a good job of holding onto the ball, averaging 32:51 in time of possession through three games in 2018, 28th in the nation and tops in the conference
>> Despite the loss last week to Angelo State, the Javelina offense is 39th in the nation in scoring at 34 points per game

Four Score and Seven Games To Go    
>> The Javelinas will play seven home games in both the 2018 and 2019 seasons
>> TAMUK will face Texas Wesleyan, Eastern New Mexico, New Mexico Highlands, Western Oregon, No. 10 MSU Texas, Western New Mexico and UT Permian Basin in 2018
>> The Hogs will play four straight at home starting on September 22 against ENMU and ending on October 13 against MSU Texas
>> 2019 home opponents include Saginaw Valley State, Sul Ross State, Angelo State, A&M-Commerce, Western Oregon, Tarleton and West Texas A&M

Showcase Showdown    
>> This is the second year in a row where the Hogs have been featured on the NCAA Division-II Showcase
>> TAMUK and Tarleton faced off in Kingsville in 2017 on ESPN3 as the Texans took away a 41-34 decision

The Professional Connection    
>> Assistant coaches Scott Brown and Eddie Moten have had football careers that went beyond the college gridiron
>> Brown coaches in Division-I up until 2012 when he became the scout for the San Francisco 49ers and eventually the defensive line coach
>> Moten had a successful career in the Arena Football League for the Philadelphia Soul, winning the 2008 ArenaBowl XXII