Sunday, September 2, 2018

UTPB Falcons Comeback Runs Out of Time in 26-16 Loss at Texas Southern

O'KelleyHOUSTON, Texas -- UT Permian Basin scored a pair of second half touchdowns and outscored Texas Southern 14-10 in the second half, but its comeback in their season opener ran out of time Saturday night as the Falcons fell against FCS D-I Texas Southern 26-16 at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, Texas.

PHOTO GALLERY

BOX SCORE

Saturday's game started at 9:35 p.m. after a 2:30 delay due to severe weather and heavy rains in the downtown Houston area.

The Falcons first possession of the night stalled out in the red zone after Kameron Mathis picked up a first down on a QB keeper and Marquis Simmons broke out for a 44 yard run down the UTPB sideline.

Texas Southern put together a six play drive to find the end zone with their first possession, scoring on a 39 yard pass as Glen Cuiellette found Bobby Hartzog despite John O'Kelley providing the pressure from the blind side.

The Tigers took advantage of a short field on their second drive, needing to go just 40 yards for a touchdown by Tren'Davian Dickson on a 14-yard diving catch in the corner of the end zone. The Falcons got on the scoreboard on the PAT when they blocked the attempt up the middle and Diameon Brewer scooped it and took it down the field unimpeded to the end zone for two points.

La'Daidreain Glasker provided a big spark for the Falcons in the early moments of the second quarter, recovering a fumble out of Cuiellette's hands on a deep sack to give the Falcons the ball on the TSU 37-yard line.

A 14-yard Adrian Walker rush down to the 3-yard line following a 3rd-down conversion pass to Ben Galaviz put the Falcons in sight of the goal line, but a missed FG turned possession back over to the Tigers.


After Texas Southern scored the first points of the second half on a pass to the back right corner of the end zone from two yards out, the Falcons got their first TD of the night when Sam Allen entered at QB and ran the team down the field, rushing six times for 46 yards, including a two-yard run into the end zone for the touchdown.

Allen scored his second touchdown of the night, connecting with Ben Galaviz down the sideline in single coverage for a 64-yard touchdown. Allen found Kyle McBride wide open in the flat on the ensuing two-point conversion attempt to close within 26-16.

Justin Nicholls forced the defense's second turnover of the game, coming up with a deep jump ball inside of Falcon territory with under seven minutes remaining.

O'Kelley spent his night in the TSU backfield, ending the game with three sacks and 3.5 tackles-for-loss with seven total tackles.

Simmons was the team's leading rusher, carrying the ball 10 times for 78 yards, averaging 7.8 per carry as the Falcons out-rushed Texas Southern 182 to 128 as a team. Allen added 58 yards on nine rushes and Adrian Walker carried the ball five times for 40 yards.

Allen ended the game the Falcons leading passer, throwing for 84 yards on four completions, the bulk coming on his TD to Galaviz. Galaviz ended the night with 78 yards on three receptions and a touchdown.

Quinn Tinley, Chris Hoad and Marquee Allison each ended the game with six tackles for the UTPB defense.

UT Permian Basin is back in action next week, traveling to Marquette, Mich. for a non-conference contest at Northern Michigan. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. local time (noon CT).

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS OF THE PERMIAN BASIN ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

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