KINGSVILLE, Texas – On Saturday night, Texas A&M-Kingsville's football team will travel to Odessa, Texas and put its No. 16 national ranking and undefeated record on the line against the Falcons of UT Permian Basin.
The game features the top two teams in the Lone Star Conference with the Javelinas entering the matchup coming off a bye week at 3-0 on the year and 1-0 in LSC play following a, 30-9 win over Western New Mexico two weeks ago.
UTPB sits at 3-1 overall, with their only loss coming in week two to now No. 17 Western Colorado, and 1-0 in the conference after a narrow, 41-40 overtime win against rival West Texas A&M last week.
Last Time Out
The Javelina offense found its stride last time out as quarterback Jacob Cavazos played his first full game of the season against the Mustangs recording two passing touchdowns and a rushing one, as kicker Gilbert Garza recorded three field goals, all from 45-yards and beyond including a career-best 53-yard boot.
Junkyard Hogs
TAMUK will lean on its highly nationally ranked defense that has only allowed 12 points per game, good enough to be fourth best in all of Division II.
The Javelina defense has also been tenacious in getting after the ball forcing the 10th most turnovers in the country with 10, and the third most interceptions with eight.
Senior defensive back Amos Coleman III and transfer Caden Ochoa have led the way defensively with both recording two interceptions individually this season. Coleman also sits fifth in the nation in total passes defended.
Up front, the Hogs have been just as aggressive, leading the conference in sacks recorded while also holding the best red zone defense in the league.
Scouting the Falcons
The Hogs' formidable pass defense, which holds the third-best defensive passing efficiency in the country, will face the Falcons' high-flying offense quarterbacked by transfer Kenny Hrncir.
Hrncir has led the Falcons to a nation's best 62.5 points per game while currently sitting third himself in the country in total points responsible with 102.
The East Central transfer also sits seventh nationally in total passing with 1,119 yards passing on the season, many of which have come from throwing to wide receivers Jeremiah Cooley and Deon Cook who rank in the top-10 in Division II in receiving touchdowns (8) and yards per reception (24.5) separately.
Defensively, UTPB leads the nation in defensive touchdowns with four on the season and is nationally ranked in total defense, passing yards allowed, and rushing yards allowed.
UTPB's head coach Kris McCullough is in his first season in charge of the Falcons, he was previously the head coach of the East Central Tigers who defeated TAMUK in the FunTown RV Heritage Bowl last December.
