Hounds continue to build program

PORTALES —Despite a 45-12 drumming at the hands of Fort Hays State in Saturday’s C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl of the 2016 season, the Eastern New Mexico University football team is continuing its steady march toward to the ultimate goal of NCAA Division II postseason playoffs.

“I think the standard needs to go up a little bit,” fourth-year ENMU coach Josh Lynn said on Monday. “You talk about narrowing the gap to get to the playoffs, and we have to narrow that gap. We have to work harder and get a few more players to get to where we want to be.”

Since 2013, when Lynn became the head coach, the Greyhounds have posted three seven-win seasons, finishing 6-6 in 2015. They shared the Lone Star Conference championship with Tarleton State, and have played in the C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl in each of the last two seasons.

As for this years C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl matchup with Fort Hays State, the Greyhounds once again failed to get over the postseason hump. Having lost last year 51-35 to Arkansas Tech, Lynn and his team are still hopeful of the progress Eastern has made.

“I think we are going in the right direction. Even with the loss it helps our program, our tradition. It’s the second year in a row we got to play past the regular season, in regard to the bowl game.”

In regard to this year’s bowl appearance, the box score can be misleading, showing Eastern standing toe-to-toe with the Tigers in categories like overall yardage, first downs and time of possession.

Where Eastern had it’s legs taken out from under it by yellow flags, earning themselves an astounding 226 penalty yards on 21 penalties. This, combined with a handful of turnovers and going 6-for-17 on third down conversions, would create the deficit for the Hounds.

While the loss was one of the worst the Greyhound suffered all season, according to Lynn there is light at the end of the tunnel.

“The great thing about this year, we were really young,” said Lynn. “We had 18 new starters, a new quarterback in Wyatt Strand. To do what we did this year, I was extremely pleased. Its not the ultimate goal obviously, but it’s a situation where you have to be happy with where the Greyhounds are going.”