2023 UT Permian Basin Falcons football team explained
The 2023 UT Permian Basin Falcons football team represented the University of Texas of the Permian Basin (UTPB) in the 2023 NCAA Division II football season as a member of the Lone Star Conference (LSC). They were led by first-year head coach Kris McCullough.[2] [3] [4] The Falcons finished the regular season 10–1, going 8–0 in LSC play to win the conference title for the first time in program history.[5] The Falcons received a bid for the NCAA Division II playoffs for the first time in program history, being selected as the third seed in Super Region 4.
The Falcons played most of their home games at Astound Broadband Stadium in Midland, Texas while Ratliff Stadium in Odessa, Texas only hosted one home game.[6]
Offseason
Coaching changes
On November 28, 2022, head coach Justin Carrigan announced that he would be stepping down as the program's head coach. The following day it was announced he would be stepping into an administrative role, being named the university's deputy athletic director.[7]
Preseason
LSC media poll
The LSC media preseason poll was released on July 27, 2023. The Falcons were predicted to finish seventh.[8]
| LSC media poll |
| 1 | Angelo State | 241 (25) |
| 2 | Central Washington | 198 (1) |
| 3 | Texas A&M–Kingsville | 174 |
| 4 | Midwestern State | 147 |
| 5 | West Texas A&M | 123 |
| 6 | Western Oregon | 118 (1) |
| 7 | UT Permian Basin | 98 |
| 8 | Eastern New Mexico | 59 |
| 9 | Western New Mexico | 57 |
|
Season summary
The Falcons opened the season on September 2, hosting NAIA from the Sooner Athletic Conference. In McCullough's debut, UTPB won 96–0, breaking the program record for most points scored in a single game.[9] Two weeks later, against of the Great Lakes Valley Conference, the Falcons defeated the Bearcats 86–7, the second-most points scored in a single game in program history.[10] On September 30, the Falcons defeated no. 16, 29–17, for the program's first win over a ranked opponent.[11]
On October 14, the Falcons defeated, 52–29, improving to 6–1 overall, breaking the program record for most wins in a single season. In the D2 Football poll released the following Monday, October 16, the Falcons were ranked no. 25, marking the first time in program history that the Falcons were ranked in a national poll.[12] In the next game, on October 21, the Falcons defeated no. 19 to improve to 5–0 in LSC play, breaking the program record for most conference wins in a season. The Falcons would be ranked in the AFCA poll released the following Monday, on October 23, at no. 22, marking the first time in program history that the Falcons were ranked in the AFCA poll.[13] In the regular season finale the Falcons hosted the no. 23 with both teams entering the game with a 7–0 record in LSC play, meaning the winner of the game would win the conference title.[14] UTPB won the game 42–14 to win the LSC title for the first time in program history.[15] Head coach Kris McCullough was named LSC Coach of the Year while quarterback Kenny Hrncir was named LSC Offensive Player of the Year.[16] Additionally, Jeremiah Cooley won Receiver of the Year, Dominique Varela won Defensive Lineman of the Year, and Hayden Kelly won Linebacker of the Year.[17]
UT Permian Basin was selected for the Division II playoffs, marking the program's first appearance in the playoffs.[18] The Falcons faced Bemidji State from the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference in the first round of the playoffs.[19]
Schedule
Schedule Source:[20]
Rankings
See also: 2023 NCAA Division II football rankings.
Game summaries
Texas College
| Statistics | TC | TPB |
|---|
| First downs | 18 | 31 |
| Total yards | 2 | 564 |
| Rushing yards | -36 | 254 |
| Passing yards | 38 | 310 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 27:45 | 32:15 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Texas College | Passing | Isiah Saddler | 8/28, 38 yards, 3 INT |
| Rushing | Tamauge Sloan | 12 rushes, 18 yards |
| Receiving | Terrell Hookfin | 2 receptions, 19 yards |
| UT Permian Basin | Passing | | 19/25, 284 yards, 6 TD |
| Rushing | Kory Harris | 8 rushes, 75 yards, TD |
| Receiving | Brock Johnson | 2 receptions, 70 yards 2 TD | |
At Western Colorado
| Statistics | UTP | WCU |
|---|
| First downs | 24 | 15 |
| Total yards | 472 | 175 |
| Rushing yards | 178 | 112 |
| Passing yards | 294 | 63 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 35:33 | 24:27 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| UT Permian Basin | Passing | Kenny Hrncir | 20/52, 294 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Rushing | Kenny Hrncir | 12 rushes, 105 yards |
| Receiving | Ben Patterson | 3 receptions, 70 yards, TD |
| Western Colorado | Passing | Drew Nash | 14/27, 63 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
| Rushing | Deyvon Butler | 15 rushes, 81 yards |
| Receiving | Andrew Montez | 4 receptions, 30 yards, TD | |
At Southwest Baptist
| Statistics | TPB | SBU |
|---|
| First downs | 27 | 8 |
| Total yards | 574 | 197 |
| Rushing yards | 219 | 21 |
| Passing yards | 355 | 176 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 5 |
| Time of possession | 31:58 | 28:02 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| UT Permian Basin | Passing | Kenny Hrncir | 15/20, 291 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| Rushing | Kory Harris | 18 rushes, 80 yards, 2 TD |
| Receiving | Deon Cook | 2 receptions, 116 yards |
| Southwest Baptist | Passing | Collin Sutton | 10/21, 139 yards, INT |
| Rushing | Abel Carter | 10 rushes, 25 yards |
| Receiving | Kylan Herrera | 1 reception, 67 yards | |
West Texas A&M
| Statistics | WT | TPB |
|---|
| First downs | 20 | 25 |
| Total yards | 380 | 498 |
| Rushing yards | 183 | 179 |
| Passing yards | 197 | 319 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 33:40 | 26:20 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| West Texas A&M | Passing | Kanon Gibson | 23/26, 197 yards, 3 TD |
| Rushing | Kanon Gibson | 14 rushes, 123 yards, TD |
| Receiving | Isai Smallwood | 5 receptions, 64 yards, TD |
| UT Permian Basin | Passing | Kenny Hrncir | 19/40, 319 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| Rushing | Kenny Hrncir | 20 rushes, 105 yards, 2 TD |
| Receiving | Jeremiah Cooley | 5 receptions, 120 yards, TD | |
The Falcons trailed 10–24 entering the 4th quarter but outscored the Buffaloes 24–10 in the final quarter of regulation to tie the game 34–34 and force overtime. UTPB's final drive started with Rafael Vargas recovering his own onside kick. The Falcons converted twice on fourth down, converting a 4-and-1 and a 4-and-10, capping the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run by quarterback Kenny Hrncir. UTPB received the ball first in overtime. Facing a 4th-and-4 at the West Texas A&M 19-yard line, the Falcons went for it, gaining 18 yards, then scored a touchdown to go up 41–34. The Buffaloes would respond with a touchdown on the ensuing drive and opted to try a two-point conversion to win the game. Kanon Gibson attempted a pass on the conversion but the ball was batted out of the end zone, securing the 41–40 win for the Falcons.
[21] No. 16 Texas A&M–Kingsville
| Statistics | TAK | TPB |
|---|
| First downs | 14 | 16 |
| Total yards | 241 | 342 |
| Rushing yards | 97 | 222 |
| Passing yards | 144 | 120 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 23:25 | 36:35 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Texas A&M–Kingsville | Passing | Kannon Williams | 10/16, 130 yards, INT |
| Rushing | Christian Anderson | 16 rushes, 59 yards, TD |
| Receiving | Jason Gaines | 2 receptions, 71 yards |
| UT Permian Basin | Passing | Kenny Hrncir | 10/24, 120 yards, INT |
| Rushing | Kory Harris | 19 rushes, 104 yards, TD |
| Receiving | Jeremiah Cooley | 3 receptions, 61 yards | |
At Midwestern State
| Statistics | TPB | MSU |
|---|
| First downs | 19 | 19 |
| Total yards | 381 | 334 |
| Rushing yards | 149 | 249 |
| Passing yards | 232 | 85 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 26:15 | 33:45 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| UT Permian Basin | Passing | Kenny Hrncir | 14/27, 232 yards |
| Rushing | Nemier Herod | 14 rushes, 81 yards, 2 TD |
| Receiving | Ben Patterson | 4 receptions, 100 yards |
| Midwestern State | Passing | James Cooper Jr. | 7/11, 47 yards |
| Rushing | Devin Cross | 19 rushes, 131 yards |
| Receiving | Jalen Austin | 2 receptions, 17 yards | |
Eastern New Mexico
| Statistics | ENM | TPB |
|---|
| First downs | 14 | 29 |
| Total yards | 345 | 677 |
| Rushing yards | 181 | 458 |
| Passing yards | 164 | 219 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 26:45 | 33:15 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Eastern New Mexico | Passing | Mario Sanchez | 7/16, 164 yards, 3 TD |
| Rushing | Ja'Calvin Newsom | 3 rushes, 62 yards |
| Receiving | Andre Jones | 3 receptions, 87 yards, 2 TD |
| UT Permian Basin | Passing | Kenny Hrncir | 13/21, 194 yards, 2 TD |
| Rushing | Kory Harris | 13 rushes, 159 yards, TD |
| Receiving | Matt Zubiate | 2 receptions, 86 yards, TD | |
With the win, the Falcons improved to 6–1 overall, breaking the record for most wins in a single season, and improved to 4–0 in LSC play, tying the record for most conference wins in a single season.
At No. 19 Angelo State
| Statistics | TPB | ASU |
|---|
| First downs | 21 | 16 |
| Total yards | 366 | 280 |
| Rushing yards | 163 | 158 |
| Passing yards | 203 | 122 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 35:39 | 24:21 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| UT Permian Basin | Passing | Kenny Hrncir | 21/27, 203 yards, 4 TD |
| Rushing | Kory Harris | 9 rushes, 79 yards |
| Receiving | Deon Cook | 5 receptions, 65 yards, TD |
| Angelo State | Passing | Gerald Gardner | 17/29, 122 yards, 2 INT |
| Rushing | Brayden Wilcox | 10 rushes, 80 yards |
| Receiving | Kel Williams | 4 receptions, 46 yards | |
Western Oregon
| Statistics | WOU | TPB |
|---|
| First downs | 17 | 24 |
| Total yards | 328 | 487 |
| Rushing yards | 113 | 108 |
| Passing yards | 215 | 379 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 29:46 | 30:14 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Western Oregon | Passing | Gannon Winkler | 15/28, 204 yards, TD, INT |
| Rushing | Austin Bacher | 17 rushes, 99 yards, TD |
| Receiving | Brenden Hodge | 7 receptions, 139 yards, TD |
| UT Permian Basin | Passing | Kenny Hrncir | 23/37, 379 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| Rushing | Kenny Hrncir | 11 rushes, 46 yards, TD |
| Receiving | Ben Patterson | 6 receptions, 142 yards, 2 TD | |
At Western New Mexico
| Statistics | TPB | WNM |
|---|
| First downs | 31 | 8 |
| Total yards | 631 | 93 |
| Rushing yards | 407 | 16 |
| Passing yards | 224 | 77 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 31:11 | 28:49 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| UT Permian Basin | Passing | Kenny Hrncir | 14/21, 219 yards, 5 TD |
| Rushing | Nemier Herod | 10 rushes, 121 yards, TD |
| Receiving | Gunnar Abseck | 4 receptions, 53 yards, TD |
| Western New Mexico | Passing | Hunter Davis | 12/21, 77 yards, 2 INT |
| Rushing | Marcus Higgs | 7 rushes, 22 yards |
| Receiving | Deuce Zimmerman | 2 receptions, 35 yards | |
No. 23 Central Washington
| Statistics | CWU | TPB |
|---|
| First downs | 16 | 23 |
| Total yards | 321 | 502 |
| Rushing yards | 140 | 329 |
| Passing yards | 181 | 173 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 27:32 | 32:28 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Central Washington | Passing | Kennedy McGill | 9/16, 148 yards, TD |
| Rushing | Kennedy McGill | 13 rushes, 64 yards |
| Receiving | Zach Matlock | 3 receptions, 62 yards |
| UT Permian Basin | Passing | Kenny Hrncir | 10/20, 173 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
| Rushing | Kory Harris | 16 rushes, 116 yards, TD |
| Receiving | Jeremiah Cooley | 2 receptions, 94 yards, 2 TD | |
With the win, the Falcons finished the regular season going a perfect 8–0 in conference play to win the LSC title for the first time in program history.
No. 21 Bemidji State (NCAA Division II First Round)
| Statistics | BSU | TPB |
|---|
| First downs | 15 | 17 |
| Total yards | 220 | 264 |
| Rushing yards | 69 | 111 |
| Passing yards | 151 | 153 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 28:18 | 31:42 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Bemidji State | Passing | Brandon Alt | 19/24, 151 yards, TD, INT |
| Rushing | Ali Mohamed | 19 rushes, 38 yards |
| Receiving | Dhel Duncan-Busby | 3 receptions, 43 yards |
| UT Permian Basin | Passing | Kenny Hrncir | 15/37, 153 yards, 2 INT |
| Rushing | Kenny Hrncir | 24 rushes, 72 yards |
| Receiving | Jeremiah Cooley | 3 receptions, 38 yards | |
Statistics
Scoring
- Scores against non-conference opponents
- Scores against the Lone Star Conference
- Scores against all opponents
Weekly awards
- LSC Offensive Player of the Week
Kenny Hrncir (week 4 vs. West Texas A&M)<ref>Web site: Lone Star Conference . LSC Football Weekly Release - Week 4 . September 25, 2023 . October 27, 2023.
Nemier Herod (week 7 vs. Eastern New Mexico)[22]
Kenny Hrncir (week 8 vs. Angelo State)[23]
Kenny Hrncir (week 9 vs. Western Oregon)[24]
Kenny Hrncir (week 11 vs. Central Washington)[25]
- LSC Defensive Player of the Week
Hayden Kelly (week 6 vs. Midwestern State)[26]
Hayden Kelly (week 11 vs. Central Washington)[25]
- LSC Special Teams Player of the Week
Sergio Landeros (week 5 vs. Texas A&M–Kingsville)[27]
Notes and References
- Web site: . Young . Jensen . UTPB promotes Kenny Hrncir to Co-Offensive Coordinator, Hrncir played QB for the Falcons in 2023 . June 24, 2024 . June 27, 2024.
- Web site: . Hogue . Cory . Kris McCullough to be named UTPB head football coach . December 22, 2022 . July 18, 2023.
- News: . Hadorn . Christopher . COLLEGE FOOTBALL: McCullough hired as UTPB head coach . December 22, 2022 . July 18, 2023.
- News: . Scheide . Lee . COLLEGE FOOTBALL: McCullough introduced as UTPB's next head coach . January 4, 2023 . July 18, 2023.
- . Hogue . Cory . UTPB wins first LSC title in program history . November 11, 2023 . November 12, 2023.
- News: . Doreen . Stewart . UTPB makes Midland home during historic football season . November 17, 2023 . November 17, 2023 . subscription.
- Web site: . Aaron Gelvin and Jenna Elique . UTPB Head Football Coach Justin Carrigan to become Deputy Athletic Director . November 28, 2022 . October 14, 2023.
- Web site: LSC Football Preseason Poll announced . July 27, 2023 . August 21, 2023.
- News: . Hadron . Christopher . COLLEGE FOOTBALL: UTPB flirts with 100 points in McCullough's debut . subscription . September 2, 2023 . September 3, 2023.
- News: . OA Sports . COLLEGE FOOTBALL: UTPB puts up 86 points in road win at Southwest Baptist . September 16, 2023 . September 17, 2023.
- Web site: Odessa American . Bauer . Michael . COLLEGE FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK: UTPB looking ahead after historic victory . October 2, 2023 . October 4, 2023.
- Web site: Your Basin . Smith . Kayler . UTPB football cracks into Top-25 for first time in school history . October 16, 2023 . October 16, 2023.
- Web site: . Augustana Takes Down Minnesota State . October 23, 2023 . October 25, 2023.
- Web site: Your Basin . Smith . Kayler . UTPB football seeks first conference title in program history . November 10, 2023 . November 11, 2023.
- News: Midland Reporter-Telegram . Hadron . Christopher . COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Cooley's catches lead UTPB to conference title . November 11, 2023 . November 11, 2023 . subscription.
- News: Midland Reporter-Telegram . LeRoy . Oscar . COLLEGE FOOTBALL: UTPB's Hrncir, Cooley lead LSC award winners . November 16, 2023 . November 17, 2023 . subscription.
- Web site: 2023 LSC football all-conference awards revealed . November 16, 2023 . November 17, 2023.
- Web site: Teams announced for 2023 NCAA Division II Football Championship. November 12, 2023. November 12, 2023. NCAA.com. NCAA.
- News: . Bauer . Michael . COLLEGE FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK: UTPB ready for first playoff game . November 17, 2023 . November 17, 2023.
- Web site: UTPB Athletics . 2023 Football Schedule . July 18, 2023.
- News: . Hadron . Christopher . COLLEGE FOOTBALL: UTPB rallies to beat West Texas A&M in OT . September 23, 2023 . September 23, 2023.
- Web site: Lone Star Conference . LSC Football Weekly Release - Week 7 . October 16, 2023 . October 27, 2023.
- Web site: Lone Star Conference . LSC Football Weekly Release - Week 8 . October 23, 2023 . October 27, 2023.
- Web site: Lone Star Conference . LSC Football Weekly Release - Week 9 . October 30, 2023 . November 10, 2023.
- Web site: Lone Star Conference . LSC Football Weekly Release - Week 11 . November 13, 2023 . November 17, 2023.
- Web site: Lone Star Conference . LSC Football Weekly Release - Week 6 . October 9, 2023 . October 27, 2023.
- Web site: Lone Star Conference . LSC Football Weekly Release - Week 5 . October 2, 2023 . October 27, 2023.
