UT Permian Basin out-scored Northern Michigan 15-7 over the final 22 minutes Saturday afternoon, but a pair of first half touchdowns helped Northern Michigan to a 27-22 victory over UTPB at the Superior Dome in Marquette, Mich.

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Northern Michigan started with a four-play drive capped by 23 yard rush from Deandre Caldwell for their first touchdown of the game.

The Falcons held Northern Michigan to a field goal on their second drive, holding the Wildcats out of the end zone on three plays from inside the UTPB 3-yard line.

The Falcons converted a big fourth down on a 14 yard pass to Marquis Simmons down the UTPB sideline to move into the red zone. On the next play, Ben Galaviz beat a pair of NMU defenders off the line for an 18 yard touchdown from Sam Allen to pull within 10-7.

John O'Kelley came up with a pair of big tackles with a 5-yard tackle for loss and QB sack, and Northern Michigan missed a 39 yard FG.

Sergio Landeros got the Falcons first points of the second half, hitting a 32-yard field goal with 5:09 remaining in the third quarter.

The Falcons got deep into Northern Michigan territory early in the fourth quarter behind a 10 yard pass to Kristian Brown, 15 yard run by Simmons and an 18 yard pass again to Brown, but their 39 yard field goal was blocked to give possession back to the Wildcats.

Taking possession back after a three-and-out, a long screen pass to Adrian Walker and a pass interference penalty in the end zone brought the Falcons inside the red zone. Sam Allen found Mitchell Leonard for the first time on the afternoon for a 19 yard touchdown into the middle of the field. The PAT was blocked as the Falcons pulled within a possession 20-16.

Northern Michigan added to its total, rushing in a 24 yard touchdown by Jake Mayon to go ahead 27-16 with 4:50 remaining.

The Falcons marched down the field late in the fourth quarter and found the end zone when Allen connected with Leonard and juked away from a pair of defenders to dive across the goal line for a 31 yard touchdown, his second of the game.

But time wasn't on UTPB's side. Northern Michigan was able to run the clock out after converting a pair of first downs, the second on a long pass on third and long, to end the game.

Simmons led the Falcons with 53 yards on the ground, averaging 6.6 yard on his eight carries. 

Brown paced the receivers with 83 yards on four catches, including a long of 43 yards. Leonard scored on a pair of his four catches, ending the game with 67 yards.

Allen finished the game 18-36 in his first start at QB for UTPB, throwing three touchdowns with no turnovers.

UTPB threw for 261 yards to just 117 in the air for Northern Michigan, but the Wildcats did the bulk of their damage on the ground, running for 337 yards on 61 carries to 66 rushing yards for the Falcons.

O'Kelley ended Saturday with 13 total tackles to lead all players in the game. He had three sacks and five tackles for loss, giving him six sacks and 8.5 TFL on the season after two games. Hoad added 11 tackles with half a sack and 1.5 TFL.

Mayon carried the load for the Wildcats, rushing 35 times for 224 yards and a score as Northern Michigan averaged 5.5 yards per rush.

The Falcons return home for the first time in 2018, hosting MSU Texas Saturday, Sept. 15 at 6 p.m. at Ratliff Stadium in Odessa. The game will be the Lone Star Conference opener for both teams.