MIDLAND The UTPB football team was able to get back on track with a 44-21 win over Eastern New Mexico Saturday at Grande Communications Stadium.
The Falcons had gotten up to a 10-0 lead before the Greyhounds scored 14 unanswered points to take their first lead of the game in the second quarter.
UTPB (5-2 overall, 3-1 Lone Star Conference) responded with a touchdown run from Jayvon Davis, but a 57-yard rushing score from Howard Russell put Eastern New Mexico up again.
The Falcon defense responded throughout the entire second half to hold off any other scoring opportunities from Eastern New Mexico, with Derrian Forge returning a 35-yard interception for a touchdown to seal the win in the fourth quarter.
MJ Link caught two touchdown passes from Clayton Roberts to bring his season total up to eight, breaking the single-season record for touchdown receptions in UTPB program history after scoring for the second time in the fourth quarter.
UTPB 44, Eastern New Mexico 21
Eastern New Mexico. 0.. 21 0 0 — 21
UTPB……………………. 7.. 10 6 21 — 44
SCORING SUMMARY
First Quarter
UTPB: MJ Link 6 pass from Clayton Roberts (Michael Mayfield kick) 10:11. Drive: 12 plays 75 yards, 4:49.
Second Quarter
UTPB: Michael Mayfield 31 field goal 14:02. Drive: 7 plays 22 yards, 2:14.
Eastern New Mexico: Isaiah Tate 18 run (Cooper Hamilton kick) 8:09. Drive: 9 plays 75 yards, 5:53.
Eastern New Mexico: Sateki Wolfgramm 88 fumble return (Cooper Hamilton kick) 5:39.
UTPB: Jayvon Davis 15 run (Michael Mayfield kick) 3:24. Drive: 7 plays 43 yards, 2:15.
Eastern New Mexico: Howard Russell 57 run (Cooper Hamilton kick) 1:25. Drive: 4 plays 75 yards, 1:59.
Third Quarter
UTPB: Nathan Tilford 25 run (kick failed) 3:29. Drive: 5 plays 69 yards, 2:14.
Fourth Quarter
UTPB: Marcus Molina 59 pass from Clayton Roberts (Michael Mayfield kick) 12:12. Drive: 3 plays 66 yards, 1:17.
UTPB: MJ Link 46 pass from Clayton Roberts (Michael Mayfield kick) 10:07. Drive: 3 plays 61 yards, 1:01.
UTPB: Derrian Forge 35 interception return (Michael Mayfield kick) 8:37.
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TEAM STATISTICS
Eastern New Mexico UTPB
First Downs…………………… 15……………….. 24
Total Yards…………………. 290……………… 397
Rushes-Yards………… 37-195…………. 35-166
Passing……………………….. 95……………… 231
Comp-Att-Int…………. 12-26-3…………… 19-36
Fumbles-Lost………………. 2-1………………. 2-2
Punts-Avg……………….. 4-23.5…………….. 3-47
Penalties-Yards…………. 7-79…………….. 4-28
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INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
Eastern New Mexico: Howard Russell 26-168, Isaiah Tate 4-26, Nathan Valencia 7-1.
UTPB: Jayvon Davis 15-91, Nathan Tilford 8-40, Kevin Young Jr. 5-26, Clayton Roberts 6-6, Suddin Sapien 1-3.
Passing
Eastern New Mexico: Nathan Valencia 12-26—95.
UTPB: Clayton Roberts 19-36—231.
Receiving
Eastern New Mexico: Martavius Dill 5-44, Justin Manyweather 5-35, Bryzai White 1-12, Howard Russell 1-4.
UTPB: Marcus Molina 5-90, MJ Link 4-61, Matt Zubiate 2-37, Kobe Robinson 2-23, Jordan Smart 6-20.
Interceptions
UTPB: Derrian Forge 2-35, Jaques Tyler 1-(-1).
