UTPB Athletics

PORTALES, N.M. (September 26, 2026) – The University of Texas Permian Basin football team improved to a perfect 3-0 start in Lone Star Conference action with a 56-10 win at Eastern New Mexico University. In addition to putting up a season-high 580 yards of offense and totaling a new season-high in passing yards as well, the Falcons added at least two interceptions for the third week in a row and also totaled eight sacks.

UTPB quarterback Nate TenBarge threw for four touchdowns and added a rushing score, helping put the Falcons up 35-10 after three quarters. From there, backup quarterback Solomon James combined for three touchdowns, including two on the ground, in the fourth quarter.

After a 32-yard field goal by ENMU to open the scoring on its second drive of the game (19 plays, 65 yards), the UTPB offense answered with a 52-yard touchdown pass downfield from TenBarge to running back Cheno Navarrette for an over-the-shoulder catch on the very first play of the ensuing drive.

The Falcons then ended the first quarter with a great catch in the corner of the endzone (4 yards) to make it 14-3, the second touchdown catch in as many weeks by Aiden Serrano, a sophomore from Midland, Texas.

In the second quarter, TenBarge ran one in from three yards out, and then in the final minute he connected with Traylen Suel for another toe-tapper in the endzone on a 10-yard touchdown catch to make it a 28-3 lead. It was the first of two touchdown receptions on the day for Suel, who leads the team with four touchdown catches on the season so far.

TenBarge later added a three-yard touchdown pass to JT Seagreaves in the third quarter, Seagreaves' third touchdown catch of the season, making it 35-10.

TenBarge finished by completing 18-of-28 passes for 245 yards, and was one of five Falcons with at least 35 yards rushing. It was TenBarge's third game in a row to open conference play with at least three passing touchdowns. It was also his first rushing touchdown of the season to go along with season-highs in completions, completion percentage (64.3 percent) and passing yards.

In addition to catching a touchdown pass for the first score of his career, Navarrette, a redshirt sophomore from Monahans, Texas, led the running backs group with a career-high 82 yards on only seven carries. In addition, Camden Tyler toted the rock 12 times to the tune of 62 yards.

Leading the receiving corps was Suel with five catches for 95 yards and two scores, Seagreaves with four catches for 52 yards, and Serrano with three catches for 19 yards.

UTPB totaled 580 yards of offense, which despite the plethora of touchdown passes by the Falcons, included 272 yards on the ground to go along with a season-best 308 passing yards.

Not to be outdone, the UTPB defense limited ENMU to just 67 yards on 41 carries (1.6 yards per carry). ENMU entered the weekend averaging 450 yards of offense per game, third-best in the LSC.

Linebacker Eli Leiataua led the way with 11 total tackles and added 1.5 sacks. Nicholas Elko was next with eight tackles (and two sacks on back-to-back plays in the second quarter. Also picking up a full sack was Ephraim Whitaker, Tylinn Lewis and Isaiah Mathews.

Layne Horak added an interception for the third week in a row, and Elijah Robinson did so for the second week in a row. Robinson's pick came just two plays into the game while Horak's came in the endzone for a touchback two plays into the second quarter. Horak's three interceptions are tied for the third most in a single season in program history, and are just one off the school record. As a team, UTPB has totaled eight interceptions in its first three conference games of the year, and has at least two interceptions in each of those games.

In all, the UTPB defense has surrendered just eight touchdowns through its first four contests, the fewest in the LSC.

Last but certainly not least, Diego Chavarria made all eight of his extra-point attempts, his third game in a row without a miss (26-for-26).

UTPB improves to 3-1 overall under first-year Head Coach Chris Softley.

Next up, the Falcons will look to keep it going as they take a break from conference play to battle Northeastern State University in nonconference action. The Falcons will square off against the No. 19 nationally-ranked RiverHawks starting at 5 p.m. on Saturday, October 3, in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.