ODESSA, Texas (September 2, 2024) – After both players were named Lone Star Conference Player's of the Week following UT Permian Basin football's 2024 season opener, junior linebacker Tristan Exline and sophomore kicker Angel Diaz repeated to earn the first player of the week awards of the 2025 season.

The previously unranked UT Permian Basin Falcons earned one of the best wins in program history with a 34-14 upset of No. 5/No. 3 Central Oklahoma University on Saturday afternoon. The Bronchos, defending champions of the MIAA, fielded one of the top producing offenses in Division II last season. The Falcons limited the Bronchos to just 14 points and did not allow a point over the final 28 minutes of the play.

Exline was named the LSC Defensive Player of the Week after a dominating season opener. The 2025 Lone Star Conference Preseason Defensive Player of the Year finished with nine tackles, a sack, an interception and two quarterback hurries. After UTPB took a two-touchdown lead in the third quarter, the next UCO possession ended with an interception by Exline in Falcon territory, who returned it 15 yards to help set up a field goal and make it a three-score game going into the fourth quarter.

Diaz was named the LSC Special Teams player of the week after finishing 4-for-5 on field goal attempts and 2-for-2 on PAT's. He also put four of his eight kickoffs through the endzone for a touchback. A big afternoon for Diaz started with a 20-yard field goal to make it a 10-0 lead for UTPB midway through the second quarter, and a 39-yard field goal by Diaz in the final two minutes of the first half helped give the Falcons a 13-7 lead at halftime. Diaz was able to add to his day with a big 44-yard field in the final minute of the third quarter and a 24-yard field goal in the final minute of the game to round out the scoring.

UTPB Head Football Coach Kris McCullough said of Exline and Diaz, "I am proud of these two. They deserve the recognition because we do not win without the play of those two guys. They had great offseasons and it showed up."

Next up for UTPB (1-0) will be its first road game of the season at Adams State University (0-1) at 6 p.m. Mountain Time / 7 p.m. Central Time on Saturday, September 6, in Alamosa, Colorado.