UT Permian Basin Football's defense flexed their muscle Saturday.  The unit didn't allow a point and carried the Falcons to the best start in program history with a 17-2 win over Texas A&M – Kingsville.  The Falcon defense only allowed 200 total yards, forced four turnovers, and sacked the quarterback six times.  MJ Link had a huge game with two touchdown receptions, including a 99-yard score to seal the game late in the fourth quarter.
 
The two points is the fewest given up in a game in team history and the 200 yards allowed are the second fewest allowed in a game.  The Falcons have now won five straight overall and six of seven, dating back to last season.  On the season the Falcons have allowed just 42 points.
 
Defense was the story early on for both sides, but it was the Falcons that got on the scoreboard first.  After a Javelina punt pinned the Falcons deep in their own territory, Brayden Thomas found Baylon Ware on a 67-yard strike to move into the red zone.  Hayden Decossas finished the drive with a chip-shot 25-yard field for the 3-0 lead.
 
Both defenses didn't let up an inch.  The Javelinas had a chance early in the second quarter, but a sack on third down by Dominique Varela forced another punt.  The Falcons got a break for their second score of the afternoon, as they recovered a bad snap on the Javelina-33.  The next play Thomas found Link in the corner of the end zone for his first career touchdown pass and the 10-0 lead.
 
The special teams caught the Javelinas sleeping, recovering an onside kick after the touchdown.  The Falcons kept the drive alive with a total team effort on an eight-yard carry, as the whole team was involved in pushing the pile across the first-down marker.  The Falcons couldn't capitalize as penalties pushed them back and ended the drive on a missed field goal.  The Javelinas had a chance at the end of the half, but Donta Stuart ended any chances of allowing a score in the first half with an interception at the 10-yard-line.
 
Neither offense could do much in the beginning of the third quarter.  The teams traded punts before the Falcons recovered a fumble.  The offense couldn't get going before turning it over on downs.  The Javelina offense had their best chance of the afternoon on the ensuing possession, getting the ball inside the one-yard-line before the Falcon defense made a goal line stand.  The offense couldn't get out of the shadow of the goal posts and the Javelinas got on the board on a safety. 
 
After trading empty drives, the Falcon defense came up huge again.  With the Javelina offense moving down the field once again, Jaques Tyler picked off a pass at the one-yard-line to snuff out the drive.  The Falcons made history on the following possession when on third down, Thomas found Link again for the 99-yard touchdown to ice the game. 
 
Thomas finished with 292 yards and two scores in his first career start.  Link finished with 156 yards, the third most in a game in program history, on five catches, while Kobe Robinson became the second player in program history with double digit catches in a game with 10 for 65 yards.  Garrett Loudermilk led the charge on the ground with 52 yards on 17 carries.
 
Miquon Mayes and Derrian Forge led the way defensively with nine tackles a piece.  Dominique Varela tied a program record with three sacks.  The Falcons held the Javelinas to 3-of-17 on third downs.
 
The Falcons look to finish the spring undefeated next weekend as they'll welcome Midwestern State to Grande Stadium at 1 p.m.  Download the UTPB Athletics App today to follow the action all season long.