UTPB Athletics

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. (October 3, 2026) – The UT Permian Basin defense came to play and totaled five interceptions, including at one point four interceptions on four straight drives as the Falcons topped No. T-21 Northeastern State University 38-27 on Saturday at Doc Wadley Stadium.

It was the first-ever matchup between the two squads.

After NSU marched down to the UTPB 19-yard line on its first drive of the game (10 plays, 50 yards), an interception by Nicholas Butler stopped the drive in its track. However, a turnover-on-downs when a run on fourth-and-four by the Falcons from their own 39-yard line gave the ball back to the RiverHawks in plus-territory. This time, NSU would not be denied, and after reaching first-and-goal from the six-yard line, the RiverHawks leaned on their offensive line with three straight running plays to punch it in and take a 7-0 lead in the final five minutes of the first quarter.

On the ensuing Falcons' drive, UTPB picked up three first downs on just three plays, and then the fourth play of the drive finished with a long 41-yard sprint into the endzone by quarterback Nate TenBarge to knot it up at 7-7 in the final 2:30 still in the first quarter.

UTPB totaled 75 rushing yards on nine attempts (8.3 avg.) during the first quarter, including 51 yards on two attempts from TenBarge.

After a 20-yard completion by Donnie Smith to Deuce Roberson on third-and-10 to move the chains for NSU on the second play of the second quarter, two plays later the RiverHawks went play action and Smith went deep for Cam Jackson as NSU struck back with a 48-yard touchdown pass to retake the lead (14-7).

On the next UTPB drive, it was the Falcons converting with a pass on third-and-long as TenBarge found Heston Kelly for a 16-yard gain on third-and-14. Then after the Falcons caught a break with a facemask on the RiverHawks during a punt to extended the drive, a 32-yard field goal by Diego Chavarria made it 14-10 halfway through the second quarter.

After a roughing the kicker penalty on the Falcons on the next NSU drive, the RiverHawks decided to roll the dice and go for it on fourth-and-six, and Smith somehow drove the pass in to Jackson for an 11-yard completion to keep the drive going. It was a sloppy second quarter in terms of penalties as a pass interference on the Falcons when Smith again went deep looking for Jackson put the RiverHawks near the redzone. In all, there were a combined six penalties for 60 yards between the two teams in the quarter. Fortunately, the UTPB defense stepped up with a tackle for loss on first down followed by a stuff on a run on second down to put the RiverHawks behind the sticks, and then after a missed 35-yard field goal attempt by the RiverHawks, the Falcons had all three timeouts with time winding down in the first half (1:11 left).

The Falcons' final drive of the half started with a 25-yard completion to Tre Brown, who got out of bounds to pause the clock at 1:03 at the UTPB 45-yard line. Two plays later, an insane catch by Malachi Wright getting one foot in down the sideline with his defender wrapped all around him went for 23 more yards to move the ball to the NSU 32-yard line. The drive continued with an 11-yard catch and run to Traylen Suel, and then on the very next play, Wright somehow made an even better catch competing for the ball down the sideline with NSU's best cornerback, Marvelous Owens, and coming down with a 21-yard touchdown catch. It was a five-play, 80-yard touchdown drive lasting just 45 seconds for the explosive Falcons' offense, giving UTPB a 17-14 lead at the intermission.

The opening drive of the second half saw NSU surging down to the UTPB 32-yard line before a coverage sack on second down by McKyle So'oto, and then the UTPB secondary stepped up as the RiverHawks ended up a yard short on fourth-and-11, turning the ball over to the UTPB offense.

The next NSU drive again saw the UTPB defense step up and make some big plays, first with a six-yard sack by Nicholas Elko to push the Riverhawks back over the 50-yard line, and then one play later Dwayne Wingfield intercepted Smith going for his receiver on an out-route on second-and-16. It was the second interception of the game thrown by Smith, who had just two interceptions all season (both against FCS competition) coming in. In addition, it was the fourth game in a row with at least two interceptions by the UTPB defense (all against NCAA Division II competition).

It was a battle of the defenses to start the second with half with two turnovers forced by the Falcons' defense and two punts forced by the RiverHawks' defense. After a 46-yard punt by Matthew Sebade and a fair catch to put the RiverHawks at their own 14-yard line to start their third drive of the second half, the UTPB defense intercepted Smith for his second throw in a row. This time it was Butler taking it 26 yards to the house to make it a two-score lead (24-14) for UTPB late in the third quarter. It was Butler's second interception of the game, and was one of the biggest plays of the game.

Now with the RiverHawks' offense needing to stay on the field and make some big plays to get back into the game, NSU went for it again on fourth down, this time on fourth-and-13 from the UTPB 48-yard line, and it resulted in an interception by So'oto. It was the third straight drive for the RiverHawks ending with an interception to all but wrap up the third quarter.

An interception by the RiverHawks' defense just two plays into the fourth quarter gave NSU life. However, four plays into the next drive, Leonard Adams took the ball away from Roberson, resulting in the fifth interception of the game and the fourth in as many drives by the UTPB defense to give the Falcons' offense a short porch with only 25 yards to go. It was fourth-and-goal from within the one-yard line, and UTPB went with the direct snap to Khalil Eichelberger and NSU did not recognize it as he easily went into the endzone to make it 31-14 with seven and a half minutes left to play.

It was a three-score game at that point, and a 10-play, 68-yard scoring drive for NSU that took three minutes off the game clock left only 4:21 remaining. After two high bounces, the onside kick by the RiverHawks was recovered by Chris Lewis. Two plays into the final UTPB drive, an 18-yard run by Cheno Navarrette kept the clock moving, and then after a big push by TenBarge and his blockers moved the ball for 10 yards and another first down, the UTPB run game took its final toll on the NSU defense as Navarrette spun out of a tackle on his way into the endzone for a 14-yard score to make it 38-20. The final onside kick by the RiverHawks with one minute remaining was recovered by Kelly.

NSU led UTPB 28-19 on first downs, 337-224 on passing yards, and 460-338 on total yards, but the difference in this one was defense. UTPB limited the RiverHawks to just 13 points over the final 43 minutes.

After breaking the program record with eight sacks in one game last week, the five interceptions this week were a new UTPB single-game record, breaking the previous record of four interceptions set on March 6, 2021, vs. Lincoln. In addition, with 13 interceptions on the season, the Falcons are just three away from tying the program's season record (16).

The UTPB defensive effort was led by So'oto with 15 total tackles, 10 solo tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss and an interception. Reigning Lone Star Conference Defensive Player of the Week, Eli Leiataua, totaled 12 tackles, eight solo tackles, a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry. Butler was next with seven tackles, two interceptions and a pick-six, UTPB's fourth pick-six of the season. In addition, the sack by Elko was his team-leading fifth sack of the season.

On offense, TenBarge was 10-for-15 for 157 yards and a touchdown through the air in the first half. He finished 17-for-25 for 224 yards and ran it 12 times for a team-high 52 yards and another score. Suel paced the receiving corps with six catches, his third game this season with at least five catches. Lastly, Navarrette rushed six times for 49 yards (8.2 avg.).

With its fourth win in a row, UTPB improves to 4-1 overall while NSU, with its first loss of the season against a fellow NCAA Division II opponent, falls to 3-3.

UTPB Head Coach Chris Softley said, "It was a great game environment and road test in Tahlequah, and our team responded with a fantastic travel trip and a consistent four-quarter effort. Our focus this week was on 'life is not about me', and you see the infinite examples of sacrificial leadership and role fulfillment from our players and coaches. We have taken tangible steps of selflessness, discipline and toughness each week, and we put ourselves in position to earn a big win against a top opponent. It was another great night to be a Falcon."

Next up, UTPB returns to LSC action and finishes off a four-game road swing by playing at West Texas A&M University during "Week 6". The action will begin at 7 p.m. on Saturday, October 10, as the Falcons look to keep their streak of three straight conference wins going.