By: Tom Perpetua
UT Permian Basin Football looks to win back-to-back games for the first time this season and will have to do so against No. 20 Texas A&M – Kingsville on the road. It's Homecoming for the Javelinas who are 6-0 on the season and appear to be a contender for a Lone Star Conference title.
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Forecast: 82 degrees and sunny, Wind SE 14 mph
Series History: Javelinas lead 2-4
Scouting the Opponent
The Javelinas have emerged as one of the best teams in the Lone Star Conference this season and started 6-0. They've risen all the way to No. 20 in the country and are 4-0 in LSC play. They've beaten West Texas A&M on the road before knocking off Eastern New Mexico, Simon Fraser, and Western New Mexico in consecutive weeks.
They do most of their damage on the ground, averaging 303 yards per game. Defending LSC Player of the Week Christian Anderson leads the way with 600 yards and nine rushing touchdowns. Toneil Carter adds 75.0 yards per game along with four touchdowns. Quarterback Jacob Cavazos is also a threat on the ground with 107 total yards and three touchdowns. He's thrown for 1,260 yards and nine touchdowns on the year. The receiving corps spreads it out, with five guys over 10 catches and four over 100 yards receiving.
Defensively they cause turnovers and are second in the league with nine. They also lead the conference in 3rd down conversions, time of possession, and stopping the opponent on 3rd down.
Playing From Ahead
For the first time last week the Falcons struck first. The first five games of the season, the other side took the initial lead forcing the Falcons to play from behind.
Record Breaking
MJ Link is good. The senior has three 100-yard receiving games on the season, all within the last four weeks. He's also caught a touchdown in five straight games and has seven total to lead the LSC. He is currently tied for the conference lead in catches (37), is second in yards (528), and his seven touchdowns are more than double second place (3).
Link is closing in on some program records as well. Already owning the touchdown record, Link needs just 15 yards and eight catches to etch his name at the top of all three categories.
Cool Under Center
Dylan Graham has found his grove, becoming the second quarterback in program history with back-to-back 300-yard passing games. He's moved into third in the LSC in yards and touchdowns despite missing a week. Graham has also thrown for two touchdowns and one interception every game this season. Over the last three weeks, he has gone 95-for-138, 68.8 percent, and 845 yards.
Third Down
This game might be decided on third downs and who can stay on the field. The Javelinas are converting 51.1 percent of third downs, tops in the LSC, while the Falcons are ninth at 27.6 percent. The Javelinas are also good at getting opponents off the field, holding them to just 26.0 percent on third downs, the best in the conference. The Falcons are also good at getting the ball back, allowing just a 30.2 percent conversion rate, the third best in the LSC.
Battle Tested
Coming into this week the Falcons have played four one-possession games and a pair of overtime contests. The last three weeks have all come down to the final minute of action and been decided by a total of 11 points. The Falcons have also played arguably the top two teams in the LSC in No. 3 Angelo State and West Texas A&M. Kingsville comes in facing two non-DII opponents, West Texas A&M, and the three schools picked to finish at the bottom of the LSC in the preseason polls.
Leaders
Passing—
Dylan Graham, 1,194 yards, 10 touchdowns, 128 completions, 61.84 completion percentage
Rushing—
Kory Harris, 224 yards, 1 touchdown, 61 attempts, 3.7 yards per carry
Receiving—
MJ Link, 528 yards, 7 touchdowns, 37 catches, 88.0 yards per game, 14.3 yards per catch
Tackles—
D'Ondre Robinson, 39 tackles, 2.5 for loss, 0.5 sacks
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