Game Details
Steve Loy Family Foundation Stadium
Kickoff is at 6:00 p.m. Mountain Time
Live on FloCollege
Betting Trends
The Greyhounds are 5–2 against the spread in home openers under Coach Kelley Lee.
Highlands is 2–6 ATS in RMAC road games since 2021.
Key Storylines
New Mexico Highlands looks to bounce back after a narrow 63–37 loss at ENMU in last year’s opener. The Cowboys return nine offensive starters, led by a veteran line aiming to boost their rushing attack.
Eastern New Mexico embarks on Lee’s third season of his second tenure. The Greyhounds finished 3–8 in 2024 but showcased explosive offense behind dual-threat QB Mario Sanchez and a deep backfield.
This in-state RMAC clash carries playoff implications: Highlands seeks its first win at Portales since 2018, while ENMU aims to defend home turf and set a tone for Lone Star Conference play.
Players to Watch
New Mexico Highlands Cowboys
Joe Lopez, QB: Two-year starter who led last season’s offense with 1,200 passing yards and improved mobility on designed runs.
Isaiah Brown, RB: Senior workhorse who churned out 950 rushing yards and six touchdowns in 2024.
Carlos Reyes, OL: Upperclass anchor tasked with opening lanes for both run and pass.
Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds
Mario Sanchez, QB: Senior dual-threat returns after leading the team with 583 rushing yards and 704 passing yards last fall.
Ja’Calvin Newsom, RB: Emerging playmaker who added 476 yards and three scores on the ground in 2024.
Diego Lucero, LB: Defensive captain coming off a 75-tackle, eight-TFL season eager to spark turnovers.
Tactical Breakdown
Offense
Highlands favors a balanced spread-run scheme out of the shotgun, mixing inside zone reads with quick RPOs to stress ENMU’s linebackers. ENMU leans into a pro-I power attack, using motion and play-action off a heavy run base to create seams for Newson and Sanchez.
Defense
The Cowboys will align primarily in a 4-3 front, emphasizing gap integrity and leveraging athletic linebackers to chase RPOs. Greyhounds counter with a 4-2-5 nickel package on early downs, aiming to disguise coverages and limit explosive gains.
X-Factors
Offensive Line Play: Whichever front controls the point-of-attack will dictate time of possession.
Turnover Margin: A takeaway swing could flip field position in a one-possession game.
Special Teams: Wind in Portales can turn a routine punt into a game-defining play.
Game Odds
New Mexico Highlands Cowboys 54.5
Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds – 7.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Wednesday, August 27, 2025
