Taylor Null threw for 303 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and the Falcons stepped up in the second half, out-scoring Northern Michigan 20-3 over the final 22 minutes with a huge goal-line stand as UTPB improved to 2-0 for the first time since 2016 in a 40-24 victory over Northern Michigan.

Trailing 21-20 early in the third quarter after an 82-yard drive capped by a Tyshon King 11-yard scramble into the end zone gave the Wildcats their first lead of the night, UTPB marched down the field for points of its own. Null found Ben Galaviz twice in a row for a first down, hit El-Amin Greer for a 26-yard pass on third and long for a first down, and completed a 13-yard strike to Kyle McBride for a first down to the NMU 14-yard line. Hayden Decossas connected on a 25-yard field goal to give UTPB back the 23-21 lead. 

The UTPB defense held strong over the next two drives when Quinn Tinley intercepted Ryan Johnson on 2nd and 18, and the Falcons forced a three and out on the Wildcats next possession late in the third quarter. 

The UTPB offense moved its way down the field as Null hit McBride for a 17-yard pass and later threw 18 yards to Kobe Robinson. A Null eight yard scramble for a first down took the Falcons to the Wildcat 14, and Marquis Simmons rushed for seven yards on back-to-back carries for the 30-21 lead.

Two possessions later, King broke off a 75-yard run down the sideline after the Wildcats were pinned at their own two-yard line to five the Wildcats life inside Falcon territory. A 13-yard pass took Northern Michigan to the Falcon three, and King ran to the UTPB one yard line on first down, but he and Johnson were stopped without gain on back-to-back carries, and the Wildcats kicked an 18-yard field goal to pull within a possession at 30-24 with 9:20 remaining in the game.

"That was a huge goal line stand by our guys," said Head Coach Justin Carrigan. "Our defense played really well against a powerful run-oriented offense. We've had a handful of young guys step up and play big roles this year. Hayden Decossas has been great and played well again tonight. Our guys showed a lot of growth and maturity the way we played in the third and fourth quarters, and I was really proud of them."

Gabe Nelson helped the Falcons march back down the field, rushing five times for 33 yards, and Decossas made it a two-possession game again with a field goal from 35-yards out with 5:30 left in regulation.

The UTPB defense held strong near midfield after the ensuing kickoff and got the Falcons the ball back when Diego Assad sacked Johnson on fourth down with five minutes remaining. 

Nelson added his third touchdown of the season, breaking three tackles and refusing to go down from 11 yards away for the final points of the night.

Kameron Mathis had UTPB's first points of the night, rushing in from under center for a 12-yard run and a 7-0 lead three minutes into the game. 

Null added a pair of scores in the second quarter, connecting with Robinson after he beat his defender down the sideline on Null's first pass attempt of the night. Null later added a 19-yard touchdown with Kyle McBride to put UTP ahead 20-7 eight minutes before halftime.

Null completed 18-24 passing for 303 yards and two touchdowns on the night. Nelson ended up the team's leading ballcarrier, rushing for 44 yards on nine carries. Null added 38 yards of rushing while Mathis ran for 37 yards and a touchdown.

Robinson and McBride had big nights for the Falcons. Robinson caught five passes for 120 yards and a score, while McBride had 118 yards and a touchdown on nine catches.

Chris Hoad had a big night for the Falcon defense, recording 16 tackles, 1.5 tackles-for-loss and a pass break up. Tinley and Clifton Holmes had interceptions while Keegan Gray recovered a fumble forced by D'Ondre Robinson.

The Falcons begin Lone Star Conference play next week, traveling to Wichita Falls for a Saturday night contest at Midwestern State. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.