ODESSA, Texas (September 19, 2026) – Four interceptions and two pick-sixes in the opening quarter helped pace The University of Texas Permian Basin football team to a 66-7 road win at Sul Ross State University as the Falcons picked up their second straight victory and improved to 2-0 in the Lone Star Conference.
UTPB (2-1 overall) scored on each of its first three drives of the game offensively, and then with the Falcons already leading 17-0 approaching the two-minute mark in the first quarter, a 60-yard interception returned for a touchdown by
Layne Horak made it 24-0. It was the second pick-six in as many weeks for Horak, the reigning LSC Defensive Player of the Week.
Then on the very next Lobos' drive, a 21-yard interception return for a touchdown by
Eli Leiataua, his second interception of the opening period, made it a 31-0 first quarter.
It was four straight drives for SRSU ending with an interception in addition to an opening drive of the game that saw the Lobos go backwards (-10 yards) and finish with a three-and-out after a sack on third down by
Nicholas Elko.
In the second quarter, quarterback
Nate TenBarge connected with sophomore wide receiver
Aiden Serrano on a perfectly-placed a 17-yard fade into the endzone for a touchdown, his first-career touchdown catch. TenBarge later added a 36-yard touchdown pass to senior captain
Traylen Suel, his second touchdown catch in as many weeks, making it 45-0 at halftime.
Freshman
Micai Thompson provided the fireworks to start the second half, retuning the first kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown to make it 52-0.
After opening the scoring with a 24-yard touchdown run on UTPB's first drive of the game,
Camden Tyler was still in there in the fourth quarter and added a 21-yard touchdown run to make it 66-0 with nine minutes left to play.
TenBarge finished by completing 14-of-27 passes for 215 yards and three touchdowns (all in the first half) and Tyler rushed 12 times for 93 yards and two touchdowns.
The UTPB defense was able to contain an SRSU offense that came into the game ranking second in the LSC in scoring (36.5 ppg), total offense (505.5 ypg), and passing (347.5 ypg). In addition, freshman quarterback Will Howell was first in the LSC with six passing touchdowns and was second with 343.0 passing yards per game coming in, but threw three interceptions in the first quarter and was only 13-for-32 for 135 yards overall.
In addition to its four interceptions, the UTPB defense combined for four sacks and 10 tackles for loss.
Jaiden Fike led the way with seven tackles,
Devin Green and
Ephraim Whitaker both had five, and Elko had four tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble.
Lastly, for the second week in a row, kicker
Diego Chavarria made all nine of his extra-point attempts.
"We took another step this week," spoke UTPB Head Coach
Chris Softley. "We must continue to grow in our discipline and our physicality. We are grateful for this team, and if we will commit to the work, then the best will be yet to come."
Next up, UTPB travels to Eastern New Mexico University vying for a 3-0 start in the LSC. The action between the Falcons and the Greyhounds is set for 3 p.m. Central Time / 2 p.m. Mountain Time in Portales, New Mexico.
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