Odessa, Texas: The UT Permian Basin football team kicked off the season wanting to accomplish two goals this season – win the Lone Star Conference (LSC) Championship and win a National Championship. The first goal was accomplished last week, when the Falcons defeated Central Washington 42-14 in the LSC championship game. Now, the road to the National Championship begins.

The Falcons found out on Sunday (Nov. 12), that the first team they would have to take down in order to keep their hopes of winning a National Championship alive would be Bemidji State – located in Bemidji, Minn.

The Beavers are in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) and finished the regular season 8-2 overall – playing all ten games against NSIC opponents, which resulted in them finishing the season tied for second place. Their two losses of the season came against Minnesota State Mankato (24-27) and Augustana (19-38) – who won the conference title with a 9-1 conference record.
  The Beavers finished the regular season – looking at conference only stats - with the third best scoring offense in the NSIC, scoring 33.9 points and had the second-best defense only giving up 18.3 points. They had a middle of the pack – seventh overall - rushing attack averaging 146.3 yards and finished fifth in rushing touchdowns with 18. In the air they were second best in yards and touchdowns, averaging 276.2 yards and recorded 27 touchdowns.

Transitioning to the defensive side of the ball, the Beavers were tied for second in the NSIC in sacks, getting to the quarterback 32 times. They also were third in interceptions with 15.

Individually, Ali Mohamed led the Beavers on the ground with 454 yards (12th in NSIC) and seven touchdowns (tied for 4th NSIC). Brandon Alt was also a key player for them at quarterback, throwing for 2,609 yards (2nd in NSIC) and 24 touchdowns (2nd NSIC). The main recipient of those passing yards was Dhel Duncan-Busby who had 712 yards (5th NSIC) and a conference high 10 touchdowns.

Defensively, Marcus Hansen was is of their better defenders racking up a league leading 17.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks. Max Buduris led the team in tackles with 52 (22nd NSIC) and was followed closely by Jarrett Klein who had 46 (23rd NSIC).  Buduris also led the team in passes defended with nine (tied 4th NSIC). Princeten Harris leads the team in interceptions with two (tied 4th NSIC).
  The Falcons will look to extended their winning streak to 10 games – finishing the regular season with the best scoring offense in the LSC averaging 46 points (fifth in Div. II). The ground attack was consistent all season leading to the Falcons having the second-best rush attack in the LSC (8th in Div. II), averaging 236.5 yards.

The Falcons also had success in the passing game, averaging an LSC best of 258.8 yards. As a whole, the Falcons average 495.3 yards on offense, which is the best in the LSC and fifth in Div. II. 

Quarterback Kenny Hrncir has done it all on offense – recording his 100th career touchdown last week - currently ranked first in the LSC in passing yards (2,727) and first in the LSC and tied for seventh in Div. II in passing touchdowns (30). Hrncir also has 610 yards rushing and eight touchdowns (tied for 5th LSC), which is third best on the team.

The explosive duo of Kory Harris and Nemier Herod have been hard to stop on the ground. Harris is currently second in the LSC in rushing yards (843) and is followed by Herod who has 724 yards (7th in LSC). Herod is second in the LSC in rushing touchdowns with 11 and close behind is Harris with eight (tied for 5th LSC).

If your vertical is under three feet, I'd recommend playing the hands when defending the Falcons electrifying quartet – Ben Patterson, Deon Cook, Jeremiah Cooley, Laquan Wells – of weapons that have proven they will win 50-50 balls and head tap even the best defensive backs in college football.

Patterson, Cook, Cooley, and Wells are ranked seventh (504), eighth (501), ninth (484) and 11th (447) in the LSC in receiving yards. Additionally, Cooley led the LSC in receiving touchdowns with eight. Right behind him was Patterson with six (3rd in LSC), Wells with five (4th LSC) and Cook with four (tied for 5th LSC).

Defensively, the Falcons proved once again last week that when needed, they can shutdown an offense and set their offense up with opportunities to score – leading to the Falcons currently have the second ranked defense only giving up 17.9 points, which is second best in the LSC. The Falcons are also tied for second in the LSC in sacks (21), have recorded 14 interceptions (2nd LSC).

Hayden Kelly has been running down defenders all season and is currently third in the LSC in tackles with 107 and has a league high 12.5 tackles for loss. Dominique Varela and Elden Titania are leading the team in sacks, recording 4.5 sacks (tied for 3rd LSC) and four sacks (tied for 3rd LSC). Kamren Amao and Jalon Rocquemore are leading the team in interceptions each having two apiece (tied for 3rd LSC).  

10 other Falcons are behind them with one apiece. Rocquemore also leads the team in forced fumble with two and Ashton Hamby, Kelly, Champ Mathis, and Tristan Exline have also been a factor causing turnovers, each forcing one fumble.

2023 NCAA Division II Championship Bracket