The Sul Ross State football team hosted Eastern New Mexico on Saturday, Nov. 2 at Jackson Field. (Photo by Alexandra Nava-Elizondo)
Alexandra Nava-Elizondo

Football

GAME 11 PREVIEW: Lobos host Falcons for season finale

And just like that, the Sul Ross State football team's inaugural season in Division II wraps up this weekend with a home contest against 432 area code rival UT Permian Basin on Saturday afternoon at Jackson Field.

>> HEAD TO HEAD:

>> First meeting: 2016 (UT Permian Basin won, 27-6).

>> All-time record: UT Permian Basin is 1-1 against the Lobos.

>> Last meeting: Lobo quarterback James Davis threw three touchdowns and had 316 passing yards to help fuel a 47-22 win over the Falcons on Sept. 27, 2017 at Ratliff Stadium in Odessa.

>> SCOUTING THE FALCONS:
  • UT Permian Basin is led by Kris McCullough who was hired as the second head coach in program history on Dec. 22, 2022.
  • McCullough, last seasons Lone Star Conference Coach of the Year, guided the Falcons to their first conference title in 2023 after finishing 10-1 and going 8-0 in league play.
  • UT Permian Basin also hosted the first round of the NCAA playoffs last season for the first time in program history.
  • UT Permian Basin is 6-4 overall and 5-3 in LSC play.
  • Aside from Angelo State, UT Permian Basin is the only other team in the LSC to have beaten Central Washington.
  • The Falcons are riding a two-game winning streak after beating West Texas A&M (21-7) and Eastern New Mexico (64-14).
  • UT Permian Basin had 575 total yards of offense in the win over ENMU.
  • Freshman quarterback Isaac Mooring threw for 222 yards and three touchdowns against the Greyhounds.
  • Redshirt senior running back Tyler Cleveland had eight carries for 115 yards with two touchdowns against ENMU.
  • Redshirt senior wide receiver Jeremiah Cooley led the way with 106 yards on four catches with two touchdowns against ENMU.
  • Mooring has played in six games completing 71 of 126 passes for 883 yards with seven touchdowns.
  • Junior running back Kory Harris leads the rushing attack with 192 carries for 808 yards and seven touchdowns.
  • Harris ranks fifth in the conference in rushing.
  • Cooley leads the receivers with 33 catches for 474 yards and six touchdowns.
  • Sophomore linebacker Tristan Exline leads the defense with 82 total tackles and 51 solo tackles.
  • UT Permian Basin has the second-best scoring offense in the LSC averaging 30.5 points a game.
  • The Falcons defense has allowed 18 points a game, making it the third-best unit in the LSC.
  • UT Permian Basin also leads the conference in passing offense (2,401 yards) and total offense (4,007 yards).
  • Exline is tied for third in the LSC in tackles for loss (13) with teammate and graduate student defensive lineman Yemi Oyesanya (13).
  • Oyesanya is also fifth in the LSC in sacks (6).
  • Junior defensive back Jalani Jefferson is fifth in the conference in passes defended (10).
>> THE LOBOS:
  • The Lobos are trying to finish their third-straight season with a winning record at home.
  • Quincy Blair etched his name into the record book after setting the new career tackle record (286).
  • Blair was only two tackles away from tying the record set by Ronin Williams in 2022. Blair had nine total tackles last week against Central Washington to accomplish the feat.
  • Blair leads the LSC in solo tackles (72) and total tackles (110).
  • On the national spectrum, Blair would be tied for fifth in Division II in total tackles while he would be tied for second in solo tackles.
  • Brendon Martin ranks ninth in the LSC with 81 total tackles and fifth with three interceptions.
  • By a margin of five yards, Austin Ogunmakin leads the LSC in receiving yards (685).
  • Yamil Oaxaca is sixth in the conference with 487 receiving yards.
  • Oaxaca is also sixth in the LSC in all-purpose yards (931).
  • The Lobos have the third-best passing offense in the LSC (2,105 yards).
  • SRSU also currently has the sixth-best scoring offense in the LSC, averaging 22.6 points a game.
  • Carlos Arreola ranks sixth in the conference with six made field goals. His 57-yard field goal against ENMU is still the longest of the season in the conference.
>> GETTING MORE RECOGNITION:

Blair was recognized by Dave Campbell's Texas Football last week as an All-Texas Non-FBS Player of the Week after tallying 17 total tackles, 14 solo tackles, three assists, one pass breakup and 1.5 tackles for loss in the win over ENMU.

>> NEWS AROUND THE LSC:

>> In the top 25: Angelo State (No. 21 in the AFCA Division II coaches poll / No. 19 in D2Football.com top 25)

>> Angelo State claimed the LSC title last week after downing Western Oregon on the road. The Rams won their second conference title in three years.

>> Sul Ross State proved the critics wrong after being picked to finish dead last in the LSC preseason poll that came out five months ago.

>> LSC STANDINGS:
  • Angelo State (8-2, 8-0)
  • Central Washington (7-3, 6-2)
  • Western Oregon (6-4, 6-2)
  • Texas A&M-Kingsville (6-4, 5-3)
  • UT Permian Basin (6-4, 5-3)
  • West Texas A&M (5-5, 5-3)
  • Midwestern State (3-7, 2-6)
  • Sul Ross State (3-7, 2-6)
  • Eastern New Mexico (3-7, 1-7)
  • Western New Mexico (2-8, 0-8)
GAME INFO
WHO: UT Permian Basin at Sul Ross State
WHEN: 12 p.m. CT (Saturday, Nov. 16)
WHERE: Jackson Field
HOW TO WATCH: FloSports ($)
RADIO: KVLF 98.7 FM (SRSU feed) | KQRX 95.1 FM (UTPB feed)
LIVE STATS: https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=536818
TICKETS: https://srlobos.com/sports/2021/8/27/hometown-tickets-page.aspx
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Players Mentioned

Carlos Arreola

#7 Carlos Arreola

K
5' 10"
Sophomore
Quincy Blair

#2 Quincy Blair

ATH
6' 0"
Senior
Yamil Oaxaca

#0 Yamil Oaxaca

WR
6' 1"
Redshirt Sophomore
Brendon Martin

#1 Brendon Martin

DB
5' 11"
Junior
Austin Ogunmakin

#3 Austin Ogunmakin

WR
6' 4"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Carlos Arreola

#7 Carlos Arreola

5' 10"
Sophomore
K
Quincy Blair

#2 Quincy Blair

6' 0"
Senior
ATH
Yamil Oaxaca

#0 Yamil Oaxaca

6' 1"
Redshirt Sophomore
WR
Brendon Martin

#1 Brendon Martin

5' 11"
Junior
DB
Austin Ogunmakin

#3 Austin Ogunmakin

6' 4"
Senior
WR