Advertisement East Central bounced back from a tough opener with a solid win last week at Angelo State. Now it’s Eastern New Mexico University’s turn to see if it can accomplish the same feat. Drubbed by Northeastern State 42-7 on Sept. 7, the Greyhounds face East Central today in Ada, Okla. Pittsburg State, ranked seventh in NCAA Division II, handed East Central a 52-12 loss two weeks ago, so the Tigers’ 20-6 win at Angelo last week left ENMU coach Mark Ribaudo suitably impressed. “It wasn’t a fluke,” he said of the Angelo contest. “I’m really super-impressed with them. To come back and do what they did at Angelo is pretty good.” Meantime, the Hounds are trying to shake off the effects of their disappointing loss at Northeastern. “We’re trying to bounce back,” Ribaudo said. “That game’s in the past for me. We’re kind of trying to focus on this game.” East Central has struggled to get much above the .500 mark in recent seasons. The Tigers beat ENMU in Ada two years ago, but have lost to their Hounds in each of their last two trips to Blackwater Draw, including 30-13 last year. Tigers coach Kurt Thomas came from the Texas junior college ranks this season and said he’s trying to instill more discipline in the program. Thomas said he knew his team was better than what the score showed against Pitt State, noting that turnovers played a role in the lopsided outcome. “We moved the ball well, but we gave up some big plays,” he said. “The biggest thing (coming into the season) was that the work ethic (in the program) was not where it needed to be.” ENMU, making its second trip deep into Oklahoma in two weeks to start the season, gave up its share of big plays last week against Northeastern, including touchdown strikes of 82 and 65 yards from quarterback Joe Hogan to wide receiver Jarrett Byers. Ribaudo knows his squad will be challenged again against an East Central squad which has combined a short passing game with a solid running attack. “They’re not the same team they were last year,” he said of the Tigers. “Kurt’s done a (heck) of a job to come in and get them pointed in the right direction. “They can throw the ball pretty well, and we had a little trouble with pass coverage, so that’s a major concern.”