CANYON, Texas – The #23 Falcons of UT Permian Basin scored points on their first two possessions of the game and never looked back on Saturday night, securing a 22-6 Lone Star Conference victory over West Texas A&M at Astound Broadband Stadium in Midland, Texas.
 
The first quarter commenced with WT kicking off, resulting in a touchback that set up UT Permian Basin at their 25-yard line. The Buffs' defense faced an early challenge, allowing a touchdown with 09:47 remaining on a five-yard pass from Kanon Gibson to Traylen Suel, followed by a successful extra point.
 
Offensively, the Buffs struggled to gain momentum, with RJ Martinez completing a pass to Jayden Hibbler that resulted in a six-yard loss before Martinez managed an eight-yard rush. A subsequent drive saw Martinez connect with Trevin Edwards for a 20-yard gain, but the quarter ended with the Buffs trailing 10-0 after a 43-yard field goal by UT Permian Basin's Angel Diaz with 02:56 on the clock.
 
WT managed to narrow the gap in the second quarter with a crucial touchdown pass from Martinez to Sean Johnson, covering 5 yards at the 4:55 mark. The scoring drive was set up by a deep 44-yard completion to Jamir Roberts, advancing the team to the opponent's 5-yard line. Despite the missed extra point by Preston Gregg, the Buffs ended the quarter down 17-6.
 
UT Permian Basin extended their lead with a touchdown following a 14-yard pass to Jace Wyatt. The quarter saw the Buffs' defense contribute with two significant sacks by Johnny Taylor III and Jahmek Armstrong, yet UT Permian Basin's initial scoring push proved to be the decisive factor in maintaining their lead. The game concluded with UT Permian Basin securing a 17-6 victory.
 
The Buffs' third quarter began with a promising 34-yard kickoff return by Hibbler, positioning the team at their own 34-yard line. Martinez completed a short pass to Edwards for a 5-yard gain, but the drive stalled, leading to a punt. Defensive efforts shone as Andre Johnson registered a crucial sack, stalling UT Permian Basin's advance at the Buffs' 41-yard line, forcing a turnover on downs.
 
Later, a promising drive was marred by penalties, including a false start and illegal shift, which hindered progress and resulted in another punt. The period concluded with a safety after a holding penalty against the Buffs, bringing the score to 19-6 in favor of UT Permian Basin. The game ended with this score.
 
The Buffs started the fourth quarter with a 41-yard connection from Martinez to Cristian Dixon, advancing to the UT Permian Basin 35-yard line. However, the drive stalled due to incompletions, and a turnover on downs ensued after a failed fourth-down attempt. Meanwhile, UT Permian Basin added to their lead with a 42-yard field goal by Angel Diaz, extending the score to 22-6.
 
The Buffs' defense managed notable stops, including a tackle for a loss by Miles Hill, but could not prevent UT Permian Basin from controlling the clock and securing a series of first downs. The game concluded with UT Permian Basin kneeling out the clock, sealing a 22-6 victory.
 
Martinez completed 11 of 32 passes for 169 yards and one touchdown, while rushing for 17 yards on five attempts. Johnson made an impact with a five-yard touchdown reception. On defense, Johnson led with 2.5 sacks and added four tackles. David deMenezes and Hill both shared the team lead with 12 total tackles each.
 
The Buffs return to Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium next Saturday as they host the Javelinas of Texas A&M-Kingsville with kickoff set for 4:00 p.m. in Canyon.