Date: November 6, 2021
Time: 2 PM
Where: Ratliff Stadium, Odessa, Texas
Weather: 70 degrees and sunny, wind 9 mph
Watch: Lone Star Conference Digital Network
Listen: Rock 95.1 FM
Follow Along: Live Stats
Tickets

Only two games remain in the 2021 regular season for UT Permian Basin Football.  It's been a different year than normal after the Falcons played in the spring in the wake of the COVID pandemic. This calendar year the Falcons have gone 10-3 and dating back to 2019 have won eight in a row at home.  On senior day the Falcons will go for their third straight win over Texas A&M – Kingsville. 
 
Scouting the Opponent
The Javelinas are 4-4 in head coach Mike Salinas' first full season.  They've been a streaky team all year, with a pair of two-game winning streaks.  Offensively, they do the majority of their damage on the ground. 
 
Leading their rushing attack is Christian Anderson and his 463 yards and seven scores.  The Javelinas have averaged 171.0 yards per game as a team.  Five players have over 100 yards rushing on the season and seven players have found the end zone on the ground.
 
Zadock Dinklemann starts under center where he's thrown for just 452 yards and a pair of scores on the year.  The biggest receiving threat for the Javelinas is Ryan Martinez.  Martinez leads the team with 320 yards and 36 catches along with three scores.  Darrian Hambrick is the only other Javelina with more than 20 receptions on the season. 
 
Their defense has forced 14 turnovers on the year and sacked the quarterback 12 times.  It's a balanced defense with seven guys with 30 or tackles.
 
Hot at Home
A real strength of the Falcons' recent success is their play at home dating back to 2019.  They have won eight straight and are 10-2 dating back to 2019.  During their eight-game winning streak, the Falcons have outscored their opponents 388-159, and only once scored less than 30 points in a game.  All-time the Falcons host a .500 record in the Permian Basin.
 
First in Class
Since stepping onto the field in the spring, MJ Link has been one of the best players in Division II football.  The junior broke the single season record for receiving touchdowns with a pair against Eastern New Mexico.  The junior has eight touchdowns on the season and has been held out of the end zone only twice.  He is just one behind Kristian Brown and Mitchell Leonard who hold the career record with 14 each.  Link is just 133 yards away from breaking the single season yards record.
 
Getting Defensive
Jaques Tyler has been one of the best defensive backs in the nation.  The sophomore leads the nation with 2.1 passes defended per game and is tied for the lead with 17 total passes defended.  Not only has he locked down opposing receivers, Tyler has two blocked kicks this season, one off the national lead.  Thanks to Tyler the Falcons lead the Lone Star Conference as a team with 13 interceptions and have the fourth best passing defense.
 
Closing Time
Give the Falcons a lead and they won't look back.  All-time the Falcons are 16-2 with a halftime lead and 19-3 with a lead after three quarters.  
 
Download the UTPB Athletics App to follow the team all season long.