SAN ANGELO, Texas (October 4, 2025) – In a battle between two undefeated, top-10 nationally ranked teams from the Lone Star Conference and in what was dubbed as the ESPN NCAA Division II Game of the Week, the No. 9 nationally-ranked University of Texas Permian Basin football team scored on three straight drives to end the first half and then sealed the game with a scoring drive on its final possession of the game to clinch a monumental 28-14 victory at No. 5-ranked Angelo State University on Saturday night at LeGrand Stadium.

In addition to improving upon the best start in program history at 5-0 overall and 3-0 in the Lone Star Conference, UTPB earned its second win against a team ranked in the top-5 of the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II Coaches' Poll this season. It was also the second straight win for UTPB at Angelo State (4-1, 2-1), which saw its 14-game conference winning streak (dating back to 2023) and its 13-game regular-season winning streak both come to an abrupt end.

It was the first time in program history the Falcons played in a matchup where both teams were ranked in the top-10. The Falcons are now 3-4 all-time against top-10 opponents. Under Head Coach Kris McCullough, the Falcons boast a 3-0 record against top-10 opponents, with a win last year against then-ranked No. 9 Central Washington University and this year's season opener against No. 5 the University of Central Oklahoma. Coach McCullough is also now 2-1 against Angelo State and is 2-0 inside LeGrand Stadium.

"I am so proud of this #FAMILLY," spoke Coach McCullough. "What a performance by the defense, and the offense found ways to make big time plays at the most crucial moments. This was a big time win for Falcon nation, and we couldn't do it without all of the support that showed up in San Angelo wearing orange."

UTPB junior quarterback Kanon Gibson would finish 27-for-41 passing for 293 yards and the game-sealing touchdown pass, and ran the ball 23 times for 39 yards and three first-half rushing touchdowns.

After trailing 10-0 in their meeting two years ago and 29-0 in their matchup last year, UTPB never trailed in this one and instead jumped out to a 14-0 lead.

The first ASU drive ended with a three-and-out on a six-yard sack by Malik Allen on third down, and then its next drive ended with a three-yard tackle for loss by Anthony Cunningham on fourth-and-one from the UTPB 30-yard line.

From there, UTPB scored a touchdown on each of its final three drives of the first half, all ending with short touchdown rushes by Gibson.

The first touchdown drive of the game was a huge 16-play, 67-yard drive that ate up six and a half minutes of clock time in the first quarter. The drive was extended on an illegal substitution penalty on the Rams during a Falcons' punt attempt. After the drive was given new life, Gibson completed back-to-back 11-yard passes, picked up a first down with a seven-yard run on third-and-one, and then three plays later punched it in for the first score of the game on third-and-goal from the one-yard line and with less than 1:30 remaining in the opening period.

After a turnover on downs on an incomplete pass at the UTPB 35-yard line on the next ASU drive, the second play of the ensuing Falcons' drive saw a 40-yard pass from Gibson to Caleb Sedegan to get UTPB near the redzone. Gibson followed with a 12-yard completion to Camden Tyler on third-and-nine, and then two plays after a pass interference call on the Rams on third-and-goal from the 18-yard line gave the Falcons an automatic first down, Gibson took it in from two yards out to cap a nine-play, 65-yard scoring drive that made it 14-0 Falcons halfway through the second quarter.

The third straight Falcon scoring drive in the first half featured an 18-yard pass to Jace Wyatt to get into ASU territory, saw a 16-yard pass to Heston Kelly, and later ended with another two-yard touchdown run for Gibson to make it 21-7. That nine-play, 75-yard drive essentially put an end to the first half.

Gibson was 12-for-18 for 145 yards in the first half, but more importantly, had 13 runs for 30 yards and three scores.

However, the third quarter did not go the Falcons' way as they were constantly playing behind the sticks and were unable to get receivers open in the middle of the field like they did in the first half. Then after a 32-yard touchdown pass from Rams' quarterback Braden Fuller in the final minute and a half of the third quarter, UTPB had just a one-score lead (21-14) heading into the fourth quarter, and ASU was driving for more. Fortunately, a stop by the Falcons on third-and-six from the UTPB 38-yard line helped set up a punt and give the ball back to the UTPB offense just a minute and a half into the fourth quarter.

UTPB had just 17 yards of offense on four drives in the third quarter, but facing third-and-nine from his own 10-yard line on the first Falcons' possession of the fourth quarter, Gibson scrambled for 13 yards and a first down, ending a stretch of three straight three-and-outs by UTPB.

Facing third down again on third-and-10 from the UTPB 23-yard line, Gibson fired a dart to TJ McKenzie for a 20-yard completion to move the chains.

The ASU defense stepped up with its second interception of the half at the ASU 30-yard line to stop what was a 12-play, 61-yard UTPB drive that ate up nearly six and a half minutes of clock time in its tracks. Fortunately, the UTPB defense was up to the task as well, forcing a three-and-out by Fuller and the Rams' offense.

Following a short 23-yard punt by ASU, UTPB started its next possession at its own 45-yard line with 4:50 left on the clock.

On third-and-six, ASU took a timeout with exactly four minutes remaining, and the UTPB offense took advantage with a great play call as a quick outlet pass went for seven yards and a first down. Then on third-and-five, ASU took its second timeout of the drive, and Gibson and the UTPB offense again took advantage with a pass downfield for a 31-yard completion to get the Falcons down to the eight-yard line at the two-minute warning.

With 1:12 to go and still eight yards between the Falcons and the endzone on third down, a shuffle pass to Sedegan at tight end was snuffed out by the Rams' defense for a one-yard loss. However, the play successfully drained the clock down to 24 seconds.

Then instead of opting for the field goal and risking a blocked kick and a potential return, Coach McCullough went for the kill shot on fourth-and-goal from the nine as Gibson sent a fade pass to the back, right-corner of the endzone where a leaping McKenzie was there for the catch.

UTPB's final drive of the game went for 10 plays, 55 yards and 4:32 of clock time.

UTPB totaled 141 yards of offense in the fourth quarter, its most of any quarter in the game and including 118 passing yards from Gibson. ASU had exactly zero yards on five plays in the period until the final drive with the game out of reach.

UTPB led 351-252 on total yardage, 293-183 on passing yards and 22-12 on first downs. UTPB was 4-for-4 in the redzone while ASU was just 1-for-1. Lastly, UTPB was 10-for-18 on third down and 3-for-3 on fourth down while ASU was 2-for-10 on third down and was 0-for-2 on fourth down.

As well as the offense played, the UTPB defense came into the contest as the Lone Star Conference's top-rated defense so far this season, allowing just 324.8 yards per game and 16.5 points per game. The UTPB defense limited Fuller, who was selected as the Lone Star Conference's 2025 Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, was a 2024 Harlon Hill Award Finalist and was the 2024 LSC Offensive Player of the Year, to just 13-for-25 passing for 183 yards and two touchdowns to go along with negative yardage on the ground. On defense for UTPB, Euvoski Cunningham led the way with eight tackles while Allen had a pair of sacks. In addition, Tristan Exline, Jalani Jefferson and Tre Yanez each had three total tackles and one tackle for loss.

Next up, the Falcons look to keep it going in their annual game at Ratliff Stadium. It will also be UTPB's third matchup this season and second in a row against a nationally-ranked team. Looking for their third win in a row in the series, the Falcons will host the Wildcats of No. 16 Central Washington University starting at 6 p.m. on Saturday, October 11.