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Sunday, October 31, 1999

A&M-K handles 'Hounds
Javelinas win war with ENMU, 42-7
By Javier Becerra
Caller-Times

George Tuley/Caller-Times

A&M-Kingsville defender Mack Pitman (left) sacks New Mexico quarterback Bobby Rodriguez in the first quarter.

KINGSVILLE - In a game marred by vicious trash-talking and swinging fists, Texas A&M-Kingsville used a potent rushing attack to overcome enraged tempers and post a 42-7 win over Eastern New Mexico University Saturday night at Javelina Stadium.
   The teams combined for six unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in the first two quarters and continued their dirty play in the second half, which resulted in the ejection of Greyhounds offensive lineman Deryk Miller.
   A&M-Kingsville tailback Derrick Foster carried 18 times for 213 yards and two touchdowns, but his performance was overshadowed by four quarters of late hits and taunts.
   "We did have more than the usual amount of unsportsmanlike penalties," said A&M-Kingsville coach Ron Harms. "We didn't expect any of that to happen."
   What Harms did expect was the Javelinas' offensive eruption.
   A&M-Kingsville finished with 452 total yards - all rushing - and missed on all three of its pass attempts. Foster and six other Javelinas finished in double figures in rushing, led by a 92-yard effort by fullback Mack Pittman.
   Harms said the combination of healthy runners and last week's 21-point win over West Texas A&M fueled his players.
   "Its hard to put a finger on it," said Harms, whose Javelinas improved to 3-4 in the Lone Star Conference and 3-6 overall.
   "The last two weeks, we had everybody healthy," he said. "We've been playing with a lot more confidence. Everybody's doing a better job."
   Foster said the team hasn't had many options.
   "We didn't have any choice but to go out there and hurt somebody," said Foster, who rushed for 188 yards and one score last week. "We just got tired of walking around with our heads down. We didn't want to end the season 1-10."
   Lamar Amos started at quarterback for A&M-Kingsville in place of Abel Gonzalez, who missed last week's game against West Texas A&M for personal reasons. Pittman, who scored twice for the Javelinas, alternated with Amos on two series in the first half.
   With Amos, A&M-Kingsville rushed for 247 yards in the first two quarters and staked a 14-0 halftime lead.
   Harm said starting Amos would help the Javelinas retain their consistency from a week ago.
   "It's certainly not that we lost confidence in Abel," Harms said. "He was gone last week and Lamar was put in to help carry the load. Once you get going with one guy, it hurts to mess with it."
   Eastern New Mexico never disrupted A&M-Kingsville's domination.
   The Greyhounds entered the game with the second-ranked scoring defense and rushing offense in the LSC, but neither provided any substantial help.
   A&M-Kingsville's defense held the Greyhounds to 241 total yards (136 rushing, 105 passing).
   The Javelinas scored 27 unanswered points before Eastern New Mexico's second-team quarterback, James Williams, scored on a 2-yard run early in the fourth quarter.



Staff writer Javier Becerra can be reached at 886-3734 or at becerraj@caller.com

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