Las Vegas, NM – The Cowboys hosted the Greyhounds of Eastern New Mexico University in the season opener at Sanchez Family Stadium.
Thursday 09.01.22 at The Sanchez Family Stadium
6:00pm — 3,000 fans packed the Sanchez Family stadium for the kickoff of the 2022 season. Both Cowboys and Greyhounds fans from across the state and met in Las Vegas to celebrate football. It was a display for all 505ers to see. Purple and White and Grey and Green as far as the eye could see.
"Community day was a great success. Rosemarie Montoya and State Farm made it possible. She's a true Highlands supporter and has a tremendous heart for the community" –
Shanna Dominguez, the Associate Athletic Director - External Operations
Greyhouds drive to victory -
I thought coming into the game, Eastern New Mexico, historically, has always been a really physical team, and I think their coaching staff has done a great job because they transitioned away from the triple threat. They were more physical than us upfront on both sides of the ball. They executed very well. I thought we competed. I was really proud of how we competed, but I thought they were a more physical football team. They established a running game much better than we did, and that's our goal. That's what we're going to do. So it's a great lesson to learn. We get to go back and practice now and be a little humbled and have some eye opening and realize that we've got a lot of work to do, which, you know what, that's college football. And people come into play, they come in to get after you, and you better bring your A game. So I thought their coaching staff did a great job, I'll be honest with you. I thought they out coached us. I thought their kids were more physical than us, and I saw a great fight in our kids. - Coach Ron Hudson on his thoughts on the team after the game.
The Time is now — The Hudson era has begun in Las Vegas, New Mexico. After leading the Offensive line last year, Coach Hudson has reigns of the entire team now. Its Hudson's first collegiate game as a Head Coach.
When Hudson was asked about half time adjustments and coming out with a scoring drive:
Well, first of all, it ended with a great drive at the end of the first half, we took a sack, which hurt us, but we had a great drive, had a chance to kick a field goal, and Will did a heck of a job, boomed a field goal to take us in a half time with points on the board, which was huge. It was great momentum. So we came in a lock from everybody's. Positive. And I'll be honest with you, I know we were down ten to three. I was smiling ear to ear. It was Christmas Day. I got a chance to be a head football coach. So the first thing I did when I walked in, and our coaches, we go sit down, talk about our adjustments, but the first thing I did was I called the team up and I said, hey, are we having fun yet? Because gosh, Dang, I am. It's a great opportunity. It's a blessing to be the head football coach with these guys. And I want them to know, no matter what's going on, man, we better be having fun. I know it's hard. I know there's some struggles.
Backup steps up —
Michael Jackson stepped in for
Ezekiel Payne in the first half after exiting with an undisclosed injury. Mike lead the Cowboys on an opening drive score in the second half and showed that he has the skills to take snaps.
Coach Hudson when asked about changing the game plan when Mike Jackson entered the game.
It didn't. He doesn't have the maturity. He doesn't have the experience. But you saw that arm. He could spin it. He could throw it. He competes his tail off. He made young mistakes, which we expected, but, man, he was fun to watch. Now, I mean, he competes his tail off, and he scrapped, and he led and was humble as heck. And there were some times there that we allowed some leakage. We allowed him to get hit some. And, man, the maturity, he showed the character, the toughness that he showed really resonated with our team. I honestly believe his toughness carried over. I thought the way he competed in the second half of that game, especially, I thought the way he led teams here in the past would have kind of fallen apart. I thought they rallied around him. I thought they competed because they watched him fight and scrap.
The Cowboys enter their bye week now and play Fort Lewis at home on 09.17.22
IFor more information, contact:
Fred Slow
Assistant Athletic Director of Communications
Cell: 618.670.0001
Email: fred@nmhu.edu
