ODESSA, Texas – The third road trip of the season awaits the Western New Mexico University football team in week four of the season when they head to UT Permian Basin to face the Falcons at 7 p.m. Central Standard Time Saturday night.

WNMU is 1-2 overall and 1-1 in the Lone Star Conference following their 44-21 win over Oklahoma Panhandle State this past Saturday. UT Permian Basin on the other hand is in their first season with football and picked up their inaugural win over Sul Ross to start the season. They also added a win against Arizona Christian, before opening LSC play this past Saturday in which they lost to West Texas A&M. The Falcons are 2-1 overall and 0-1 in the LSC, with all of their games so far having been played at home.

The Mustang offense found their groove against the Aggies with senior quarterback being tabbed as the LSC Offensive Player of the Week following his six touchdown performance. On the season he has completed 39-67 for 548 and six touchdowns. On the ground he has rushed for 56 yards on 26 attempts and two scores. Senior Xavier Ayers (Albuquerque, NM/Albuquerque) caught fire as well as he now has 15 catches for 252 yards and two scores, with a long TD of 75 coming against OPSU. Senior Rodney Lawson (Hayward, CA/Patterson) adds eight catches for 125 yards and a TD, while sophomore Henry Norman (Fontana, CA/Henry J. Kaiser) has caught eight balls for 97 yards. In addition to what Hall has done in the rushing game, senior Preston Blincoe (El Centro, CA/Imperial) adds 86 yards on 22 carries and freshman DeAndre Williams (Tucson, AZ/Tucson Magnet) with 12 attempts for 57 yards. Blincoe got loose multiple times against the Aggies running out of the wildcat formation.

On defense, senior Steven Stewart (Fremont, CA/Irvington) leads the team in tackles with 20, tackles for loss with three, tied for the lead in sacks with 1.5 and also had an interception. Senior Leo Marin (Carlsbad, CA/Carlsbad) is second on the team in tackles with 18 and leads in solo stops with 13. He has 1.5 tackles for loss and a half-sack, along with two forced fumbles. Sophomore Connor Mowat (Lahaina, HI/Lahainaluna) is tied with Stewart for the sack lead at 1.5, as he posted a strip-sack this past weekend. Junior Ian Davis (Grass Valley, CA/Nevada Union) leads the team in interceptions with two.
The kicking game has been a big advantage so far for WNMU, with redshirt freshman Tyler Vargas (Ramona, CA/Ramona) making a big impact. In kickoffs, he has averaged 59.2 on 12 attempts with three for touchbacks. In the punting game, he has switched field position numerous times booting 16 for a 41.4 average with a long of 67, five fair catches, three 50-plus kicks and six that have landed inside the 20.

WNMU ranks high in several categories nationally, the ones included are where the Mustangs stand in the top-50. WNMU is 22^nd and third in the conference in fourth down conversion percentage defense (.167), tied for first nationally and in the conference in blocked punts allowed (0), 19^th and second in the conference in fumbles lost (1), 33^rd and fourth in the conference in fumbles recovered (3), 31^st and first in the conference in kickoff return defense (17.22), 39^th and third in the conference in kickoff returns (24.67), 19^th and first in the conference in net punting (38.81), 47^th and fourth in the conference in passing yards allowed (189.7), 39^th and third in the conference in punt return defense (13.48), 30^th and first in the conference in tackles for loss allowed (4.67), 38^th and fourth in the conference in turnover margin (.67), 37^th and third in the conference in turnovers lost (4).

Individually, several are ranked in the top-five in the Lone Star including redshirt junior Treydonte Hill (Nashville, TN/Cane Ridge) is fourth in the LSC and 97^th nationally in combined kick returns (147), Hall is fifth in the LSC and 75^th in completion percentage (.582), Marin is first in the LSC and ninth (0.67), while both Mowat and sophomore Joe Tito (Las Vegas, NV/Cimarron-Memorial) are fifth in the LSC and 38^th in forced fumbles per game (.33), sophomore Collin Grady (Glendora, CA/Glendora) and Mowat are third in the LSC and 21^st in fumbles recovered (1), Davis is first in the LSC and 15^th in interceptions per game (.7), Hill is first in the LSC and fifth (36.8), while freshman Nolan Grigsby (Los Angeles, CA/Crenshaw) is fourth in the LSC and 78^th nationally in kickoff returns (23.5). Davis and senior Alfonso Wilson (San Diego, CA/Morse) are second in the LSC and 60^th in passes defended (1.3), Hall is third in the LSC and 38^th in passing efficiency (147.5), third in the LSC and 36^th in passing TDs (6) and fifth in the LSC and 95^th in passing yards (548). Hall is also ranked high in three other categories including second in the LSC and 38^th in passing yards per completion (14.05), second in the LSC and 33^rd in points responsible for (48) and fourth in the LSC and 40^th in points responsible for per game (16.0). Vargas is second in the LSC and 24^th in punting (41.4), Ayers and Hill are both fourth in the LSC and 86^th nationally in receiving TDs (2), while Ayers is second in the LSC and 64^th nationally in receiving yards (252), third in the LSC and 69^th in receiving yards per game (84).

UTPB is led on the ground by Brandon Infiesto who has carried the ball 49 times for 249 yards and two scores. Kameron Mathis has completed 55-105 for 605 yards and five touchdowns to four interceptions. Terrell Davidson has been his main target brining down 11 passes for 187 yards and two scores. Kristian Brown has 16 catches for 143 yards and three scores.

On defense, Chris Hoad leads with 35 tackles, with 21 coming solo. He also has 2.5 tackles for loss, a sack and fumble recovery. Diego Assad has added 3.5 sacks and both Andrague Jones and Christian Weaver have tallied an interception.

Live stats and audio will be available for the game with Mike Rowse on the call for KSCQ 92.9 and streamed live.