Box Score

BLACKWATER DRAW, N.M. — It wasn't exactly perfect conditions, but perfect couldn't be too far away if the college football season has begun. In what was expected to be a shootout, Southern Nazarene and Eastern New Mexico were certainly on that path in the first half before the Greyhounds pulled away in the second half to take a 59-21 win.

After a two and a half hour rain delay pushed back kickoff to 9 p.m. (CDT) and other rain delays that eventually led to a game that ended early Sunday morning, ENMU (1-0) outscored the Crimson Storm (1-0) 24-0 in the second half and washed out the season opener.

Brady Wardlaw had a hand in all three touchdowns for the Crimson Storm, rushing for two and throwing for the final one. The junior rushed for eight yards and threw for 119 on 14-for-38 passing with four interceptions. SNU totaled 161 yards through the air and rushed for 122 yards on 40 attempts.

The Greyhounds also aired it out, throwing for 396 yards and also posted 117 yards rushing on 27 carries.

Derick Perkins rushed for 69 yards on 14 carries to led the rushing attack while David Balenseifen caught four passes for 56 yards. Jarod Martin had 42 yards receiving on five catches. Matt Pruitt led the way on the defensive side of the ball with 11 tackles. Adrian Valdez posted nine tackles, including one of three sacks by the Crimson Storm.

ENMU took the first lead of the game on a 21-yard touchdown pass to jump out 7-0 with 7:53 left in the first quarter. Southern Nazarene answered on the ensuing kickoff when Fafa Alce returned the kick 84 yards down to the ENMU four-yard line. After a false start, the Crimson Storm tied the game on a nine-yard run by Brady Wardlaw.

SNU took a 14-7 lead with 2:26 left in the first on an 11-play, 74-yard drive that was capped by a Wardlaw 3-yard run. Wardlaw kept the drive going with an 11-yard pass on a third down and 11 to give SNU a first down at the ENMU 32-yard line. Four plays later Wardlaw scored his second touchdown of the game to give the Crimson Storm the 7-point lead.

The Greyhounds answered with just 52 seconds left in the period to tie it at 14. The Crimson Storm ended the first with a three-and-out and ENMU took just three plays to drive 40 yards, capped by a 25-yard touchdown pass, to retake the lead at 21-14.

SNU then put together a 65-yard drive over seven plays that ended with a 31-yard touchdown pass from Wardlaw to Garrett Barnes to tie it at 21, but that was it for the Crimson Storm offense.

ENMU put together back-to-back touchdown drives to close out the first half with a 35-21 lead and then added another touchdown and a field goal in the third quarter before adding another pair of touchdowns in the fourth to put it away.

The Crimson Storm now get set for their home opener Sept. 4 when they host St. Mary's (Kan.) at 6 p.m. inside the SNU Football Stadium.