Greyhounds Shut Out Bulldogs, 28-0

September 10, 2005

Weatherford, Oklahoma - Southwestern Oklahoma State staggered early and were unable to regroup in time losing 28-0 to Eastern New Mexico in a Lone Star Conference football game Saturday at Milam Stadium.

The Bulldogs (1-2) managed a season-high 204 yards of total offense, 146 of which came in the game’s final two quarters. However, they were kept out of the endzone for the second consecutive week as their scoreless streak reached eight straight quarters.

ENMU (1-2) won its first game in three tries on the fleet-foot of quarterback Michael Benton who rushed for 115 yards and one TD and threw for another 113 yards and two more scores.

Benton scored on an 18-yard keeper that ended a 12-play, 71-yard Greyhound drive in the first quarter. He then connected on TD passes of 25 and 11 yards to sure-handed wideout Derrick Hunter who returned to the lineup after missing the first two games.

Hunter ended the game with four catches for 78 yards. ENMU threw only nine passes the entire game.

SWOSU moved the ball better in the second half behind backup quarterback Beau Dodson who replaced starter Steve Day at the break. Dodson moved the Bulldogs into Eastern territory four different times, but none closer than the Greyhound’s 25-yard line.

Dodson, who started last season for SWOSU, completed six-of-13 passes for 68 yards and also added 19 yards on the ground. Day had nearly identical numbers completing six-of-13 passes for 66 yards, but his one interception was returned 58 yards to the SWOSU 7 by lineman Jorge Melendez.

ENMU scored three plays later following Melendez’s interception on Hunter’s juggling 11-yard TD grab to put the ‘Hounds up 21-0 with 6:16 to play in the third period.

SWOSU managed 70 yards on the ground had big offensive plays turned in by Norm Freeman (17-yard run) and Chase Pratt (16-yard run).

SWOSU will next play Saturday at undefeated 3-0 West Texas A&M. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. in Canyon, Texas .