From the opening kickoff, the UT Permian Basin Falcons made it clear they meant business. Scoring on their first two possessions and never trailing, the Falcons rode an early offensive surge and a resilient defensive effort to a convincing 22-6 win over West Texas A&M on Saturday night at Astound Broadband Stadium.
This Lone Star Conference showdown showcased a tale of two halves — one where UT Permian Basin (UTPB) built their lead with precision and poise, and another where their defense slammed the door shut on any Buffs comeback hopes.
Fast Start Fuels the Falcons
The game couldn’t have started more perfectly for UTPB. After a touchback set them up at their own 25, quarterback Kanon Gibson led a crisp opening drive that ended with a five-yard touchdown pass to Traylen Suel at the 9:47 mark of the first quarter. Angel Diaz nailed the extra point, and the Falcons were off and running.
Meanwhile, West Texas A&M’s offense sputtered out of the gate. Quarterback RJ Martinez struggled to find a rhythm, with an early completion to Jayden Hibbler actually resulting in a six-yard loss. A few plays later, Martinez showed flashes of mobility with an eight-yard scramble and connected on a 20-yard strike to Trevin Edwards, but consistency was hard to come by.
UTPB’s offense continued to capitalize, adding a 43-yard field goal from Diaz with 2:56 left in the quarter, giving the Falcons a 10-0 cushion after the opening frame.
Buffs Show Life Before the Half
West Texas A&M finally broke through midway through the second quarter. Martinez connected on a deep 44-yard bomb to Jamir Roberts, setting up a 5-yard touchdown pass to Sean Johnson with just under five minutes to play. However, a missed extra point by Preston Gregg left valuable points on the table, trimming the deficit to 10-6.
That was as close as the Buffs would get. UTPB immediately responded, marching down the field and capping the drive with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Jace Wyatt. The Falcons entered halftime in control, 17-6.
Defensive Battle Defines the Second Half
If the first half belonged to the offenses, the second half was a showcase for both defenses — particularly UTPB’s. The Buffs’ defense did find its footing at times, with Johnny Taylor III and Jahmek Armstrong recording key sacks, but the early deficit proved too much to overcome.
West Texas A&M opened the third quarter with promise, as Hibbler’s 34-yard kickoff return gave them solid field position. Yet penalties and stalled drives remained their undoing. False starts and an illegal shift erased potential momentum, and the Buffs were forced to punt yet again.
UTPB’s defense remained relentless, forcing a safety late in the third after a costly holding penalty by the Buffs in their own end zone. That play extended the Falcons’ lead to 19-6 and effectively sealed West Texas A&M’s fate.
Falcons Close It Out
In the fourth quarter, the Buffs tried to claw back. Martinez connected with Cristian Dixon for a 41-yard gain, moving into Falcon territory. But a series of incompletions and a failed fourth-down attempt ended the drive — and with it, any remaining hope for a comeback.
Diaz added a 42-yard field goal late in the quarter to make it 22-6, capping off a near-perfect night for the Falcons’ special teams. From there, UTPB’s offense played it smart, controlling the clock and forcing WT to burn their timeouts before kneeling it out for the win.
Stat Leaders
Martinez finished 11-of-32 for 169 yards and one touchdown, also adding 17 yards on five rushes. Sean Johnson hauled in the team’s only score, while Roberts’ 44-yard catch was the offensive highlight of the night.
Defensively, Andre Johnson was a force with 2.5 sacks and four tackles. David deMenezes and Miles Hill tied for the team lead with 12 tackles each, with Hill also contributing a key tackle for loss.
Final Thoughts
For UT Permian Basin, this was a statement win — a complete performance built on early execution and sustained defensive dominance. The Falcons’ ability to control the tempo, win the field position battle, and limit WT’s explosive plays proved decisive.
For West Texas A&M, it was another frustrating night of missed opportunities. Despite flashes of brilliance from Martinez and the defense’s occasional stands, penalties, protection issues, and red-zone inefficiency spelled doom.
