Oklahoma Panhandle State University

Box Score Portales, N.M.— The Aggies, coming off of a home loss against Tarleton State, anticipated another tough matchup on the road this week against a gritty, power run Greyhound team. Despite being prepared for the opposing team's strategy, the Aggies failed to stop the Greyhounds and suffered a 53-10 LSC loss.

The Aggies started the game with a rocky performance as they turned the ball over two times in their first three offensive plays. A fumble and an interception by Shane Truelove ultimately set up the Greyhounds with a 7-0 lead after a 23-yard touchdown run from ENMU running back Paul Terry. Halfway through the first quarter, the Greyhounds picked off Truelove for the second time near midfield. Quarterback Wyatt Strand would increase the lead for the Greyhounds with a 34-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver L. Baker-Bruce to make the score 13-0 after a failed two-point conversion. Strand and Baker-Bruce repeated their chemistry with another touchdown pass from 45 yards to give the Greyhounds a comfortable 20-0 cushion. On the ensuing drive for the Aggies, kicker Sterling Claphan drilled a 32-yard field goal to get the team on the board. However, Strand continued his hot streak with a 47-yard touchdown run just five plays later to make the Greyhound lead 26-3. Before the end of the first half, the Aggies proved to show resilience by stopping the Greyhounds from scoring with an interception by freshman defensive back Marcus Jones.

Four plays into the second half, the Greyhounds fed their running game with a 43-yard touchdown from running back Kamal Cass to put the Aggies in a huge hole, 33-3. Although down big, the Aggies would rally the next drive after a much needed 11-yard touchdown pass from Truelove to running back Rod Moore. Following a 13-yard touchdown run from Cass and a missed Aggie field goal, the Greyhounds were pulling away a fast rate with the score 39-10 and just under a minute remaining in the third quarter. The rout was on after another long connection between Strand and Baker-Bruce gutted the Aggie defense with a 40-yard touchdown pass. The Aggies were unable to produce another score, and the game was all but over after the Greyhounds hammered the last nail in the coffin with a one-yard plunge from running back Ismail Garrett. The clock would eventually run out with the Greyhounds winning 53-10.

The Aggies were put to the test against a physical power run Greyhound team and it showed as ENMU was able to gain 482 yards on the ground with an average of 8.6 yards per carry. On the other hand, the Aggie offense had trouble moving the ball and managed to rack up only 283 total yards compared to the Greyhounds' 645 yards. Quarterback Shane Truelove would finish the day with 117 passing yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Running back Xavier Jones led the team in rushing with five carries for 53 yards, and Rod Moore would add 48 yards with seven carries. Wide receiver Devyn Williams caught eight passes for 64 yards, leading the team in receiving, and Rod Moore would also contribute with three receptions for 16 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, Jawan Purifoy and Dharius Timmons led the team with nine tackles a piece. Olen Brown, Darryn Cain and Brandon Gipe would all follow with five tackles.

Panhandle State head coach Russell Gaskamp knew his team was in trouble after giving the ball up to a team that thrives on time of possession and a power run scheme. "When you play a triple option offense, you have to play from the lead. We got off to a terrible start, not only two immediate turnovers, but then a critical penalty on a third-down conversion in their territory the next possession." Gaskamp felt the defense got out of rhythm, despite starting off well after having prepared for the triple option offense. "We started off sound on assignment but then lost focus. They had a couple of big conversions on 3rd-and-long, which should rarely happen versus normal offenses, especially against a triple option." The Aggies have lost two games in a row and are coming to the end of the season with just one more remaining. Gaskamp commented on what to expect from the Aggies for the season finale. "In the second half, our kids played uninspired football. That's my fault as the head coach, and the staff and I will get the team to our last game ready to compete."

Next week will be the Aggies final game for the 2016 football season against the Texas A&M Kingsville Javelinas; kickoff is set for Saturday, Nov. 12 at 1 p.m. in No Man's Land Stadium at Carl Wooten Field. The Annual Chili Cook-off will take place during the pre-game tailgating and seniors will be recognized prior to the game. Aggie fans are heavily encouraged to come join the home crowd and support the team. WEAR RED! GET ROWDY! REV IT UP!