No. 17/16 UT Permian Basin (9-1, 7-0 LSC) vs No. 23/22 Central Washington (7-2, 7-0 LSC) 
Senior Day / First Responders & Military Day 
2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11 | Astound Broadband Stadium | Midland, Texas 
Watch | Live Stats | Tickets 
2023 Football Statistics

If you like action packed and edge of your seat football games, then you need to be in Midland at the Astound Broadband Stadium this Saturday (Nov. 11), to watch the most highly anticipated matchup in Division II - UT Permian Basin versus Central Washington. 

It will be a battle of undefeated teams in the Lone Star Conference (LSC). UTPB will be looking to not only punch our ticket to the playoffs – but win our first ever LSC title in school history. 

Currently, The Falcons are No. 4 in the Super Region Four rankings, and the Wildcats are No. 3.  

Tale of The Tape 

UT Permian Basin 

The Falcons enter this weekend's championship game with the best scoring offense in the LSC averaging 46.4-points (fifth in Div. II). They also have the second-best rush attack in the LSC (tenth in Div. II), averaging 227.8 yards. The Falcons have been soaring in the passing game, averaging an LSC best of 266.8 yards. As a whole, the Falcons average 494.4 yards on offense, which is the best in the LSC and fifth in Div. II.   

Quarterback Kenny Hrncir has been the driving force behind the offense, currently ranked first in the LSC and tenth in Div. II in passing yards (2,548) and first in the LSC and seventh in Div. II in passing touchdowns (28). Hrncir also has 536 yards rushing and five touchdowns, which is third best on the team. 

Leading the ground game is the dynamic duo of Kory Harris and Nemier Herod. Harris is currently fifth in the LSC in rushing yards (746) and is followed by Herod who has 636 yards (eighth in LSC). Herod is tied for first in the LSC in rushing touchdowns with 11 and close behind is Harris with seven (fifth in LSC).  

In the air, the Falcons have a quartet –Ben Patterson, Deon Cook, Laquan Wells, Jeremiah Cooley – of weapons that makes it near impossible to slow down the air attack. Patterson, Cook, Wells and Cooley are ranked fifth (492), sixth (464), ninth (432) and 11th (390) in the LSC in receiving yards. Additionally, Patterson and Cooley are tied for second in the LSC in receiving touchdowns with six apiece and are followed by Wells with five (tied for third in LSC) and Cook with four (tied for fourth in LSC). 

While the offense lights up the scoreboard on a weekly basis, the defense has made it hard for opposing teams to find the endzone, as the Falcons currently have the second ranked defense only giving up 18.3 points, which is second best in the LSC. The Falcons are also tied for second in the LSC in sacks (19), have recorded 13 interceptions (tied for second in LSC). 

Hayden Kelly has been running down defenders all season and is currently third in the LSC in tackles with 94 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 (second in LSC) and four sacks (tied for third in LSC). Kamren Amao is leading the team in interceptions with two (tied for fourth in LSC) and has 11 other Falcons behind him with one apiece. Ashton Hamby, Kelly, Jalon Rocquemore, Champ Mathis, and Tristan Exline have also been a factor causing turnovers, each forcing one fumble.  

Central Washington 

The Wildcats currently have the fourth ranked scoring offense and rushing attack in the LSC averaging 26.3-points and 202.3 yards. They also have the seventh best passing attack recording 145.8 yards. As a whole they average 348.1 yards on offense, which is fifth in the LSC.  

Tyler Flanagan leads the Wildcats and the LSC on ground, rushing for 953 yards and is tied for first in the LSC with 11 rushing touchdowns. Flanagan also has two receiving touchdowns and one 87-yard kickoff return that he took to the house. JJ Lemming is sixth in the LSC in passing yards and touchdowns with 881 yards and four touchdowns. The leading recipient of those passing yards is Darius Morrison who has 299 receiving yards and two touchdowns.  

On the defensive end, the Wildcats have the fifth best defense in terms of allowing opposing teams to score giving up 21.4-points. They have sacked opposing quarterbacks 11 times (eighth in LSC) and are tied for second in the LSC in interceptions with 13. 

Tanner Volk is the leading tackler for the Wildcats racking up 90 tackles (fourth in LSC) and leads the LSC by a landslide in interceptions with nine. Clark Isaac has excelled in bringing down defenders behind the line of scrimmage, leading the team with 6.5 tackles for loss (12th in LSC) and has 2.5 sacks (tenth in LSC). Bridger Feldmann, Volk and Matulino Masunu have also each forced one fumble apiece.  

History Behind The Programs 

UT Permian Basin 

The Falcons enter their eight years of having football and prior to this season have not had the success they have expected – recording a 25-45, 11-38 LSC overall record from 2016-22. Their best season – during the 2016-22 time frame - was during Covid-19 Pandemic season (2020) where they went 5-0, beating Southern Nazarene (33-14), Lincoln, MO (54-20), Western New Mexico (37-6), Texas A&M-Kingsville (17-2), and Midwestern State (22-21). Unfortunately, that team never got to compete for an LSC title or get a chance to make the playoffs since no champions were crowned in Div. II or LSC due to the pandemic.  

Central Washington 

The Wildcats have a storied history of success in football, having 11 conference titles, six NCAA Division II playoff appearances, and one National Title (1995), over the 122 years they have had football – their first year of football being in 1901.  

While they have 11 conference titles – all 11 coming in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference -  the Wildcats are only in their second year in the LSC, previously being in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (2008-21), North Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (2006-07), Great Northwest Athletic Conference (2001-05), Columbia Football Association (1987-00), Columbia Football League (1985-86), Evergreen Conference (1939-85), Independent (1938), Tri-Normal League (1923-1937) and Independent (1901-1922). 

The Wildcats had to join the LSC after the Great Northwest Athletic Conference dropped football after the 2021 season.