Playing in the first bowl game in UT Permian Basin Football history, it was the young receivers who stole the show on the big stage. Freshmen
Jordan Smart and
Marcus Molina combined for 13 catches, 235 yards, and a pair of scores as the Falcons nearly completed the largest comeback in program history in the fourth quarter of the Fun Town RV Heritage Bowl against Oklahoma Baptist.
Trailing 24-7 in the fourth quarter,
Clayton Roberts and the offense found their form and got things going. Roberts got things going with a nine-yard completion to Smart before
Kevin Young Jr. rumbled for eight to get just outside the red zone. Three plays later the Falcons faced fourth down from the Bison 25. Roberts found Smart in the corner of the end zone for the score.
After a defensive stop, the Falcons struck again quickly on their next drive. With the ball at midfield, Roberts once again connected with Smart for a 39-yard pass. The very next play Roberts found Molina in the same corner of the end zone and cut what was a 24-7 deficit down to just a score. The defense gave the offense an opportunity to complete the comeback, but they fell just short in the 24-21 final.
Suddin Sapien started under center and got the Falcons on the board in the first quarter with a nine-yard touchdown pass to
Matt Zubiate. He finished with 119 yards passing and the touchdown. Roberts threw for 161 and two scores.
Smart led all receivers with 138 yards on six catches while Molina led the way in catches with seven for 97 yards.
Miquon Mayes led the defense with 10 tackles, 1.5 for a loss, and a sack.
John O'Kelley and
Hayden Kelly had a sack each.
The Falcons held Great American Offensive Player of the Year to his third lowest game in terms of yardage with 181 passing yards and just one touchdown through the air. Keilahn Harris, a First Team All-Super Region Four selection, was held to just 17 yards on five catches. The 24 points the Falcons allowed was the second fewest the Bison scored all season and came into Saturday averaging nearly 38 a game.
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