KINGSVILLE, Texas – The Texas A&M-Kingsville football team is on the road this week, preparing for their upcoming Saturday contest against Eastern New Mexico, with kickoff set for 7 p.m. CT.
The Javelinas (4-2, LSC 2-2) aim to bounce back after a 38-16 loss to #20 Angelo State last week. Meanwhile, the Greyhounds (3-4, 2-4) look to end a four-game losing streak during their homecoming matchup against TAMUK.
The Greyhounds' most recent loss came against UT Permian Basin, a team receiving votes, where they fell 52-29 on the road.
TAMUK boasts the top rushing defense in the Lone Star Conference, limiting opponents to just 84.7 yards per game on the ground. They also possess the second-best team passing efficiency rating for defenses in the LSC.
The "Junkyard Hogs" have forced a total of 14 turnovers this season, with at least one in each game of the 2023 campaign, including a conference-high of 10 interceptions.
Kicker Gilbert Garza was perfect last week, going three-for-three on field goals, with two of those kicks coming from 40 yards or further. Garza currently averages the second-most field goals per game in Division II this season.
Wade Freeman III is set to be the starting quarterback for TAMUK, marking his third start of the season with a record of 1-1 as a starter.
The Blue and Gold have won the last two meetings against ENMU.
Scouting the Greyhounds:
In a stark contrast of styles, the Greyhounds have the second-fewest turnovers lost this season while also boasting the best rushing offense in the Lone Star Conference and the 10th best in Division II, with 240 yards per game on the ground.
Overall, the ENMU offense ranks third best in the conference with 352.3 total yards per game.
Running back Mario Sanchez is third in the entire league in total touchdowns this season for a single player, with seven.
Despite ranking eighth in passing offense in the LSC, ENMU has the highest passing yards per completion, with 16.7 yards per catch.
Greyhounds' coach Kelley Lee remains undefeated against TAMUK in his three meetings with the Hogs, the last one occurring in 2019 during his first stint as the head coach in Portales.
Last Meeting:
The Javelinas convincingly defeated the Greyhounds last season, securing a 43-10 victory in Kingsville in September.
TAMUK achieved a season-high 489 yards of total offense. Quarterback Jacob Cavazos threw for 207 yards and added a touchdown both through the air and on the ground.
The rushing attack was lethal for the Hogs, accumulating 269 yards on the ground, with Christian Anderson and Toneil Carter combining for 148 of those yards along with three touchdowns.
The defense recorded three sacks as a unit and managed nine total tackles for a loss.
