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BLACKWATER DRAW, N.M., Oct. 9 -- Eastern New Mexico University issued the following news release:
Senior wide receiver Jessie Poku (Murphy, Texas/Richardson HS) registered the third three-touchdown day of his career, hauling in nine passes for 94 yards to lead the Eastern New Mexico University football team (3-3; LSC North 2-1) to a 49-31 victory over Central Oklahoma (2-4; LSC North 1-1) in Lone Star Conference North Division action, Saturday afternoon at Greyhound Stadium.
Poku entered the contest with 21 touchdown receptions, tied with Derrick Hunter for the ENMU career record. The Greyhounds 229-yards rushing was their highest total since gaining 357 on the ground at Oklahoma Panhandle on November 10, 2007. That game was the final time Eastern utilized the triple option, before switching to the spread offense in the 2008 opener.
Chris Robbs got the Bronchos on the board first, hitting a 36-yard field goal, 3:24 in the game, as UCO built a 17-7 lead early in the second quarter. The Hounds put back-to-back scoring drives together late in the half, with Poku making a five-yard touchdown catch and Darian Dale (Jr., WR, Bay City, Texas/Bay City HS) capping a nine-play drive by hauling in a 41-yard touchdown pass to give ENMU a 21-17 lead. Tucker Holland's seven-yard touchdown grab with 35 seconds on the clock gave Central Oklahoma a 24-21 halftime lead.
Troy Harris' (So., RB, Rio Rancho, N.M./Rio Rancho HS) touchdown run 4:43 into the second half gave the lead back to Eastern, but Tony Birmingham, the leading rusher in the LSC, answered with a 58-yard sprint, giving the Bronchos a 31-28 advantage. With 5:30 left in the third quarter, Poku scored his third touchdown of the game, coming on a 10-yard strike from Wesley Wood (So., QB, Muleshoe, Texas/Muleshoe HS), giving the Hounds a 35-31 edge they would not relinquish. Tony Valenzuela (Sr., RB, Seagraves, Texas/Seagraves HS) added a two-yard plunge in the fourth quarter and Tillman Stevens(Sr., DB, Baytown, Texas/Sterling HS) returned an interception 62 yards for a 49-31 lead.
Eastern held a 229-141 yards edge in the ground game, but UCO enjoyed a 310-194 advantage in passing yards. Stevens intercepted a career-high three passes for 81 return yards, made 10 tackles and broke up two passes. Curtis Jackson (Jr. DB, College Station, Texas/A&M-Consolidated HS) made a game-high 13 tackles. Wood hit 20 of his 31 pass attempts, with four touchdowns and one interception. Harris rushed for 81 yards, while Wood and Valenzuela followed with 67 rushing yards apiece. UCO's Birmingham ran for 148 yards and two touchdowns and caught three passes for 36 yards, while Daniel Morrell caught seven passes for 114 yards.
The Eastern New Mexico University football team will visit East Central next Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. MST. For any query with respect to this article or any other content requirement, please contact Editor at htsyndication@hindustantimes.com
