UTPB Athletics

ODESSA, Texas (September 12, 2026) – The University of Texas Permian Basin football team exploded into a 27-0 lead after one quarter and continued onward in a 69-14 win over Western New Mexico University at Astound Broadband Stadium. It was the first home game and first Lone Star Conference game of the Chris Softley era, and was also the first win of the Coach Softley era.

UTPB (1-1 overall, 1-0 LSC) scored on all five of its drives in the first quarter.

The big plays started with a 55-yard run on fourth-and-one by quarterback Nate TenBarge, getting the Falcons all the way down to the five-yard line on their first drive of the game and setting up a 22-yard field goal by Diego Chavarria to open the scoring.

The ensuing drive for WNMU (1-2, 0-1) ended with a blocked punted by Leonard Adams, giving UTPB the ball back at the one-yard line and setting up just two plays later, a five-yard touchdown pass from TenBarge to tight end JT Seagreaves. Then on just the second play of the next Falcons' drive, a 67-yard touchdown pass from TenBarge to Seagreaves made it a 17-0 lead. It was the second touchdown catch in three offensive plays for Seagraves, who got behind the defense, was wide open in the middle of the field, and ran the final 50 yards into the endzone.

The highlight plays continued in the first quarter as Chavarria drilled a 42-yard field goal to make it 20-0. Then with only 34 seconds on the clock when the Falcons started their final drive of the quarter, a 45-yard rushing touchdown up the middle by Cheno Navarrette on the third play of the drive wrapped up the first-quarter scoring with just two seconds remaining. The quarter was not completely done, however, as a pooch kick by Chavarria on the next kickoff led to a fumble on the return by the Mustangs, and Messiah Boulieu recovered it at the 28-yard line to set up UTPB again in scoring position heading into the second quarter.

Just three plays into the second quarter, TenBarge found the team's senior leader, Trayeln Suel, breaking a tackle and running down the sideline for a 25-yard touchdown catch on third down, making it ultimately a 34-0 lead. It was UTPB's sixth-straight scoring drive to open the game, and was its fourth drive that ended in just three plays or fewer. It was also the third touchdown pass in the first 16 minutes of the game by TenBarge, who would only play the first half and finished 7-for-16 for 143 yards passing while adding 57 rushing yards.

With the Mustangs on fourth down (fourth-and-14) in Falcon territory in the final two minutes of the first half, a 95-yard pick-six by Layne Horak made it 41-7 at the break.

The first drive of the second half ended with Khalil Eichelberger stiff-arming his defender and getting past him for a 28-yard touchdown run to make it 48-7. Then on the ensuing kickoff, Horak added a forced fumble to his day, knocking the ball loose before the recovery by Dwayne Wingfield at the 18-yard line. It was the second fumble on a kickoff return of the day by the Mustangs, and it ended with a six-yard Camden Tyler rushing touchdown to make the score 55-7.

Later in the third quarter, Micai Thompson scored UTPB's third rushing touchdown of the game with a 14-yard run in which he broke multiple tackles on his way into the endzone. Thompson became the first freshman to score this season for UTPB.

UTPB finished with 330 rushing yards as a team and totaled 554 yards overall, and averaged 7.6 yards per play. Navarrette led the team with 68 rushing yards on six attempts, and paced a group of seven Falcons to tally at least 30 rushing yards on no more than nine carries.

Leading the defensive effort for UTPB was Devin Green with seven tackles and McKyle So'oto with five tackles. Horak recorded four tackles, forced a fumble and returned an interception 95 yards for a touchdown, and Adams blocked a punt to go along with a 28-yard interception return.

The UTPB defense was able to hold a WNMU offense that came into the game leading the LSC in scoring (47.0 ppg), total yards (578.5 ypg) and rushing yards (375.0 ypg) to only 55 rushing yards and 176 total yards. In all of NCAA Division II, the Mustangs were ranked second in rushing yards per game and third in total yards per game. The Mustangs also lost three fumbles and threw two interceptions.

The Mustangs were held to one first down in the first quarter as UTPB built its 27-0 lead. The blocked punt and two lost fumbles in the opening quarter gave the UTPB offense short-field chances.

On special teams for UTPB, Chavarria made all 11 of his kicks on the night (2-for-2 FG's, 9-for-9 PAT's), and Matthew Sebade sent both of his punts over the 50-yard mark, including a booming 70-yarder tumbling into the endzone in the second quarter.

Coach Softley spoke, "I am grateful for the victory in front of our incredible home crowd as we open LSC competition. We know there is still much to improve, and we will continue to pursue our standard of Max Out in everything we do. A huge thank you to the countless workers, administrators, band, cheer, and everyone behind the scenes who helped create an unforgettable home-field advantage. Their energy, sacrifice and support made a different tonight."

After their home opener on Saturday, UTPB now begins a four-game road swing. The Falcons will begin their long stretch as "Road Warriors" on Saturday, September 19, starting at 7 p.m. at Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas.