UT Permian Basin Football had their ground attack working Saturday night at Astound Broadband Stadium in Midland.  The Falcons rushed for a season high 187 yards lead by Taj Crenshaw's 100 yards on 13 carries.
 
The Falcons struck the first blow after forcing a three-and-out.  The Falcons utilized a balanced attack before Dylan Graham found Brock Johnson on a two-yard touchdown reception.  The Mustangs muffed the ensuing kickoff and it was recovered by Layne Horak at the 27.  On the very next play, Graham found Timothy Wiggins on a 27-yard touchdown pass to take a 14-0 lead. 
 
The Mustangs scored their first touchdown of the night on the first play of the second quarter to cut the Falcon lead in half.  Neither side had much offensive momentum the remainder of the half, but the Michael Mayfield banged home a pair of field goals to go into the half up 20-7. 
 
The Falcons added to their lead in the third quarter on a 45-yard field goal by Mayfield but the Mustangs wouldn't go away.  Late in the third quarter they scored a touchdown and got the two-point conversion to make it 23-15.
 
The Mustangs scored another touchdown in the fourth quarter, but the Falcons stopped the two-point try making it 23-21.  Dominique Varela had a strip sack recovered by Hayden Kelly to give the Falcons back the ball with less than two minutes to go.  The Falcons were stopped giving the ball back to the Mustangs who drove down the field to kick a 42-yard field goal, taking the 24-23 lead with nine seconds to go. 
 
Graham went 14-for-25 for 97 yards and two scores.  Caden Cox had 47 yards while Kory Harris added 35 yards on the ground.  Wiggins had a team high 45 receiving yards while Johnson led the team with five catches.  Kelly had a huge night defensively with 14 tackles, a pair of quarterback hits, and a fumble recovery. 
 
The Falcons are back on the road next weekend against Eastern New Mexico.  Download the UTPB Athletics App to follow the team all season long.