Hayden Kelly's 55-yard interception and return for a touchdown sealed UT Permian Basin Football's 27-24 win over Western Oregon on Saturday.  The interception came with 40 seconds left in the Falcons' first Lone Star Conference win of the 2022 campaign. 
 
The Wolves drove down the field on the opening drive but despite getting the ball into the red zone, missed the field goal.  After exchanging punts, the Wolves got on the board on the first play of the second quarter with a 35-yard field goal. 
 
After the Wolves went up 10-0 the Falcons answered on the next drive.  Penalties on back-to-back plays by the Wolves set the Falcons up just outside the red zone.  A few plays later, Dylan Graham found Gunnar Abseck on a fade route in the corner of the end zone to make it 10-7.  Special teams played their part on the next drive when Jaquez Tyler blocked a 42-yard field goal attempt, the 11^th blocked kick of his career.
 
Later in the second quarter, the Falcon special teams did it again.  After forcing a punt, the rush got to the punter and Jamil Pittman scooped up the loose ball and returned 26 yards for the touchdown and a 14-10 lead heading into the half.
 
The offense came out cooking in the second half completing short passes to four different receivers.  They picked up a big chunk of yards on a 17-yard catch-and-run by Marcus Molina to get just outside the redzone.  Another catch for 11 yards by Molina and a 9-yard run by Kory Harris set up a 13-yard touchdown strike to MJ Link to take a 21-10 lead.
 
After the Wolves cut the lead to 21-17 heading into the fourth quarter where both defenses took a stand.  The Falcons thought they had it wrapped up, but a pass interference call against the Falcons kept the Wolves alive.  The very next play Kelly got his hands on a pass over the middle for the touchdown clinch the game.  The Wolves responded with a touchdown with three seconds to go, but it was a little too late.
 
Graham was 34-for-52 for 238 yards and a pair of scores.  The 34 completions were the second most by a player in a game in program history.  Abseck led the receivers with nine catches for 50 yards.  Link added six catches for 49 yards.  D'Ondre Robinson had a game high 12 tackles while Derrian Forge and Kelly each had 10.  Kelly also added a sack in the win. 
 
The Falcons travel to Canyon, Texas next week to take on West Texas A&M.  Download the UTPB Athletics App to follow the team all season long.