ODESSA, TX — Western NM lost to UT Permian Basin 69-14 on Saturday. The Mustangs lost three fumbles and threw two interceptions while finishing with 55 rushing yards and 121 passing yards.
UT Permian Basin totaled 554 yards at 7.6 per play, with 330 on the ground and 224 through the air. The Mustangs' defense recorded two sacks and recovered two fumbles, but UT Permian Basin generated 25 first downs to the Mustangs' 11.
The Mustangs were held scoreless and to one first down in the first quarter as UT Permian Basin built a 27-0 lead.
Brandon Catalan's (Surprise, AZ/Canyon View High School) 9-yard run produced the Mustangs' lone first down on the opening drive, but a blocked punt and two lost fumbles gave UT Permian Basin short-field chances. The quarter ended with the Mustangs trailing 27-0.
The Mustangs turned a UT Permian Basin fumble into their lone score of the second quarter, with
Jase Ashley (Phoenix, AZ/Horizon High School) hitting
Jaylen Rushing (Phoenix, AZ/Mountain Pointe High School) for 15 yards before finding
Demarion Postell (Tolleson, AZ/Tolleson Union High School) for a 23-yard touchdown to make it 34-7. The Mustangs later drove 52 yards and reached the UT Permian Basin 21, but the possession ended with a 95-yard interception return for a touchdown. The Mustangs finished the quarter trailing 41-7.
The Mustangs' biggest play of the third quarter came on defense, when
Clayton Zentner (Corona, CA/Norco High School) recovered a Solomon James fumble at the UT Permian Basin 40 and returned it for a touchdown with 8:25 left;
Nathan Flores (Albuquerque, NM/La Cueva High School) added the PAT to make it 55-14. The offense managed one first down in the quarter, with its three possessions ending on downs, an interception and a punt. UT Permian Basin scored four touchdowns in the quarter and finished it ahead 69-14.
The Mustangs held UT Permian Basin scoreless in the fourth quarter, including a late series that reached the Mustangs' 15-yard line before time expired. Earlier, the Mustangs' lone drive covered 35 yards from their own 5, with
Rene Huerta (El Paso, TX/Canutillo High School) Jr. converting fourth-and-2 and
Kainan Manna (Phoenix, AZ/Centennial High School) completing passes to
Gavin Placencio (Silver City, NM/Cobre High School),
Jaden Burrell (Chandler, AZ/Basha High School) and
Ian Luna (San Antonio, TX/Brandeis High School). UT Permian Basin finished with a 69-14 win.
Zentner recorded nine tackles and returned a fumble recovery 40 yards for a touchdown. Postell caught three passes for 31 yards and a touchdown and added an 11-yard rush. Ashley completed 11 of 21 passes for 99 yards and a touchdown.
Anthony Coleman (Destrehan, LA) finished with eight tackles and one sack.
Nate TenBarge completed 7 of 16 passes for 143 yards and three touchdowns and added 57 rushing yards. JT Seagreaves caught three passes for 72 yards and two touchdowns. Layne Horak recorded four tackles, forced a fumble and returned an interception 95 yards for a touchdown. Diego Chavarria converted both field-goal attempts, including a 42-yarder, and made all nine PATs.
The Mustangs are 1-2 overall and 0-1 in conference play. UT Permian Basin is 1-1 overall and 1-0 in conference play.
Up next, the Mustangs travel to Wichita Falls, Texas, to face Midwestern State on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, at 5 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.
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Western New Mexico University is a member of the NCAA Division II, and the Lone Star Conference (LSC). For additional information regarding Mustang Athletics, visit
www.wnmumustangs.com; visit wnmu.edu for more information about Western New Mexico University. Follow the Mustangs on social media: @WNMUathletics (X, TikTok & Instagram).
