UT Permian Basin Football is coming off another close Lone Star Conference game and looks to get back on track tomorrow at Eastern New Mexico.  The Falcons have won the last two match-ups and head to Portales for the first time since 2018.  In the last two games in the series, the Falcons have scored 40+ points against the Greyhounds.

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Forecast: 62 degrees and sunny at kickoff

Scouting the Opponent
The Greyhounds have struggled under second year Head Coach Tye Hiatt. And sit at 2-6 on the season.  Their lone wins have come against New Mexico Highlands and Simon Fraser.  They are second to last in the Lone Star Conference averaging 17.4 points per game on offense and only 284.0 yards per game.  They Greyhounds are last in the LSC in passing offense at 172.5 yards per game. 

Kason Martin leads them under center with 1,161 passing yards and eight touchdowns.  His top target has been Asa Wondeh who has 622 yards on 30 catches and five touchdowns.  Bryzai White is also a scoring with three touchdown receptions. 
On the ground Isaiah Tate has 504 yards and three touchdowns.  Defensively, Kevin McCracken leads with 2.5 sacks while Beau Burns has 2.0.  Cameron Santa Cruz leads them with 59.0 tackles while adding a sack and an interception. 
 
Close Games
The Falcons have found themselves in a tight game nearly every week this season.  Six of their eight games have been decided by one-score or less and all six saw the game winning score happen in the final 90 seconds of regulation or gone to overtime.  The team's point differential in Lone Star Conference games is –8.  Their last three losses have been by a combined 5 points and held the lead in the final 2 minutes of regulation.
 
Record Breaking
MJ Link has continued his record setting season.  Not only the school's all-time leader in receiving yards and touchdown receptions, Link needs just one catch this week to lead the program in all three categories. 
 
In the Zone
The Falcons have been the best team in the Lone Star Conference this season, scoring on 19-of-21 chances inside the 20.  They have found the end zone 14 times and are 5-of-6 on field goal attempts.  The Falcons and the Greyhounds are the only two teams in the LSC without a turnover in the red zone this season. 
There has not been a turnover on either side of the ball inside the red zone this season for the Falcons. 
 
Applying Pressure
The Falcons are second in the conference in sacks with 25 while the Greyhounds are good at keeping the quarterback upright only allowing
 
Third Downs
Every week third down plays a key role and this week is no different.  The Greyhounds only convert 30.4 percent of third downs while allowing 38.7 percent of third downs to be converted, both the third worst in the LSC.  The Falcons are second to last in third down conversions at 29.2 percent but they are good at getting opponents off the field.  They allow just 33.3 percent of third downs by the opponent, the third best in the LSC.
 
Leading the Defense
Hayden Kelly has turned it up lately and last week recorded a career high 14 tackles.  This came after an 11-tackle performance against Texas A&M—Kingsville.  Kelly has a team high 62 tackles with 3.0 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumbles recovered, and an interception returned for a touchdown.
 
Leaders
Passing—Dylan Graham, 1,470 yards, 13 touchdowns, 158 completions, 60.3 completion percentage
Rushing—Kory Harris, 259 yards, 1 touchdown, 68 attempts, 3.8 yards per carry
Receiving—MJ Link, 612 yards, 7 touchdowns, 44 catches, 76.5 yards per game, 13.9 yards per catch
Tackles—Hayden Kelly, 62 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 1 interception
 
 
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