# 2024 UT Permian Basin Falcons football team

The 2024 UT Permian Basin Falcons football team represented the University of Texas Permian Basin (UTPB) in the 2024 NCAA Division II football season as a member of the Lone Star Conference (LSC). They were led by second-year head coach Kris McCullough. The Falcons played most of their home games at Astound Broadband Stadium in Midland, Texas while Ratliff Stadium in Odessa, Texas hosted one game. UTPB entered the 2024 season as the defending LSC champion.
The Falcons finished the regular season with an overall record of 7–4 with an LSC record of 6–3 to finish tied for third place. UTPB averaged 428.9 yards of offense per game while scoring an average of 34.5 points per game, both first in the LSC. The team received the conference's bid for the Heritage Bowl, which was the program's second bowl appearance.

## Offseason
### Coaching changes

In June 2024, offensive coordinator Ryan Lusby was hired to be the head football coach for Dodge City Community College. Quarterbacks' coach Kenny Hrncir was promoted to co-offensive coordinator, sharing offensive play calling duties with incumbent co-offensive coordinator Blake Crandall.

## Preseason
### LSC media poll

The LSC media poll was released on July 25, 2024. The Falcons were predicted to finish third in the conference.
LSC media poll :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | Central Washington | 286 (20) |
| 2 | Angelo State | 260 (6) |
| 3 | UT Permian Basin | 244 (4) |
| 4 | Texas A&M–Kingsville | 202 |
| 5 | Midwestern State | 153 |
| 6 | West Texas A&M | 149 |
| 7 | Eastern New Mexico | 128 |
| 8 | Western Oregon | 118 |
| 9 | Western New Mexico | 68 |
| 10 | Sul Ross | 42 |

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| August 31 | 6:00 p.m. | Western New Mexico | No. 21 | Ratliff StadiumOdessa, TX | FloSports | W 41–3 | 2,573 |
| September 7 | 7:00 p.m. | at CSU Pueblo* | No. 21 | ThunderBowlPueblo, CO | RMAC Network | L 23–40 | 6,447 |
| September 14 | 6:00 p.m. | Adams State* | | Astound Broadband StadiumMidland, TX | FloSports | W 67–14 | 7,749 |
| September 21 | 6:00 p.m. | Texas A&M–Kingsville | | Astound Broadband StadiumMidland, TX | FloSports | L 14–20 | 5,825 |
| September 28 | 7:00 p.m. | at Midwestern State | | Memorial StadiumWichita Falls, TX | FloSports | W 27–3 | 6,127 |
| October 5 | 6:00 p.m. | Angelo State | | Astound Broadband StadiumMidland, TX | FloSports | L 7–36 | 5,629 |
| October 12 | 8:00 p.m. | at No. 9 Central Washington | | Tomlinson StadiumEllensburg, WA | FloSports | W 14–13 | 5,112 |
| October 19 | 6:00 p.m. | Western Oregon | | Astound Broadband StadiumMidland, TX | FloSports | L 27–30 $^{OT}$ | 3,515 |
| October 26 | 7:00 p.m. | at West Texas A&M | | Bain–Schaeffer Buffalo StadiumCanyon, TX | FloSports | W 21–7 | 6,131 |
| November 9 | 1:00 p.m. | at Eastern New Mexico | | Greyhound StadiumPortales, NM | FloSports | W 66–14 | 2,208 |
| November 16 | 12:00 p.m. | at Sul Ross | | Jackson FieldAlpine, TX | FloSports | W 75–7 | 200 |
| December 7 | 12:00 p.m. | vs. No. 25 Central Missouri* | | Tiger StadiumCorsicana, TX (Heritage Bowl) | YouTube | L 37–39 $^{2OT}$ | N/A |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AFCA Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Central time ||||||||

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
| AFCA | 21 | 21* | RV | RV | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| D2 Football | 16 | 15 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
* A new poll was not released for this week, so for comparison purposes, the previous week's ranking is inserted in this week's slot.

## Game summaries
### Western New Mexico

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Mustangs | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| No. 21 Falcons | 3 | 11 | 10 | 17 | 41 |
at Ratliff Stadium, Odessa, Texas
* Date: August 31
* Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Cloudy
* Game attendance: 2,573
* Referee: Daniel Mena
* TV announcers (FloSports): Monty Montgomery and Ben Farmer
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | WNM | UTPB |
| First downs | 5 | 29 |
| Total yards | 118 | 557 |
| Rushing yards | 51 | 137 |
| Passing yards | 67 | 420 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 21:33 | 38:27 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Western New Mexico | Passing | Josh Magana | 11/19, 60 yards |
| Western New Mexico | Rushing | Gabe Levy | 7 rushes, 25 yards |
| Western New Mexico | Receiving | Deuce Zimmerman | 2 receptions, 46 yards |
| UT Permian Basin | Passing | Dylan Graham | 31/50, 404 yards, 3 TD |
| UT Permian Basin | Rushing | Kory Harris | 21 rushes, 82 yards, TD |
| UT Permian Basin | Receiving | Jeremiah Cooley | 8 receptions, 116 yards, TD |

### At CSU Pueblo

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 21 Falcons | 9 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 23 |
| ThunderWolves | 20 | 9 | 0 | 11 | 40 |
at ThunderBowl, Pueblo, Colorado
* Date: September 7
* Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT/6:00 p.m. MDT
* Game weather: Sunny, 86 °F (30 °C)
* Game attendance: 6,447
* Referee: Charles Flinn
* TV announcers (RMAC Network): Tony Wright and Tracy Renck
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | UTPB | CSUP |
| First downs | 26 | 15 |
| Total yards | 331 | 413 |
| Rushing yards | 128 | 126 |
| Passing yards | 203 | 287 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 36:01 | 23:59 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| UT Permian Basin | Passing | Dylan Graham | 16/37, 203 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
| UT Permian Basin | Rushing | Kory Harris | 28 rushes, 96 yards, TD |
| UT Permian Basin | Receiving | Jeremiah Cooley | 5 receptions, 89 yards, 2 TD |
| CSU Pueblo | Passing | Devin Larsen | 21/35, 287 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| CSU Pueblo | Rushing | Howard Russell V | 15 rushes, 102 yards, TD |
| CSU Pueblo | Receiving | Reggie Retzlaff | 7 receptions, 164 yards, 2 TD |

### Adams State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Grizzlies | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| Falcons | 22 | 10 | 21 | 14 | 67 |
at Astound Broadband Stadium, Midland, Texas
* Date: September 14
* Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Cloudy
* Game attendance: 7,749
* Referee: Xavier Velazquez
* TV: FloSports
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | ASU | UTPB |
| First downs | 17 | 31 |
| Total yards | 225 | 612 |
| Rushing yards | 92 | 306 |
| Passing yards | 133 | 306 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 29:28 | 30:32 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Adams State | Passing | Chase Nelson | 9/20, 84 yards, TD, INT |
| Adams State | Rushing | Ahmare Merrida | 18 rushes, 55 yards |
| Adams State | Receiving | Ahmare Merrida | 3 receptions, 48 yards, TD |
| UT Permian Basin | Passing | Dylan Graham | 15/24, 272 yards, 4 TD |
| UT Permian Basin | Rushing | Kory Harris | 24 rushes, 155 yards, 2 TD |
| UT Permian Basin | Receiving | Ja'Juan Mason | 3 receptions, 72 yards |

### Texas A&M–Kingsville

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Javelinas | 10 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 20 |
| Falcons | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
at Astound Broadband Stadium, Midland, Texas
* Date: September 21
* Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Sunny
* Game attendance: 5,825
* Referee: Kenny Kelarek
* TV: FloSports
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | AMK | UTPB |
| First downs | 19 | 19 |
| Total yards | 321 | 290 |
| Rushing yards | 125 | 46 |
| Passing yards | 196 | 244 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 35:22 | 24:38 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Texas A&M–Kingsville | Passing | Teague Sedtal | 15/24, 196 yards, TD |
| Texas A&M–Kingsville | Rushing | Roger Hagan | 27 rushes, 116 yards |
| Texas A&M–Kingsville | Receiving | Jackson Allen | 3 receptions, 57 yards |
| UT Permian Basin | Passing | Dylan Graham | 17/37, 244 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| UT Permian Basin | Rushing | Kory Harris | 18 rushes, 41 yards |
| UT Permian Basin | Receiving | Ben Patterson | 3 receptions, 75 yards, TD |

### At Midwestern State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Falcons | 10 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 27 |
| Mustangs | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
at Memorial Stadium, Wichita Falls, Texas
* Date: September 28
* Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Sunny
* Game attendance: 6,127
* Referee: Jason Hickey
* TV: FloSports
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | UTPB | MSU |
| First downs | 28 | 16 |
| Total yards | 441 | 253 |
| Rushing yards | 199 | 89 |
| Passing yards | 242 | 164 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 33:11 | 26:49 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| UT Permian Basin | Passing | Dylan Graham | 23/45, 242 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| UT Permian Basin | Rushing | Kory Harris | 22 rushes, 147 yards |
| UT Permian Basin | Receiving | Ja'Juan Mason | 3 receptions, 104 yards, TD |
| Midwestern State | Passing | Sean Jastrab | 11/20, 94 yards, INT |
| Midwestern State | Rushing | Devin Cross | 12 rushes, 91 yards |
| Midwestern State | Receiving | Justin White | 7 receptions, 55 yards |

### Angelo State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Rams | 0 | 15 | 7 | 14 | 36 |
| Falcons | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
at Astound Broadband Stadium, Midland, Texas
* Date: October 5
* Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Sunny
* Game attendance: 5,629
* Referee: Joshua Bannerman
* TV: FloSports
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | ASU | UTPB |
| First downs | 14 | 14 |
| Total yards | 280 | 277 |
| Rushing yards | 168 | 108 |
| Passing yards | 112 | 169 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 28:05 | 31:55 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Angelo State | Passing | Braeden Fuller | 9/15, 112 yards, TD |
| Angelo State | Rushing | Braeden Fuller | 15 rushes, 146 yards, 3 TD |
| Angelo State | Receiving | Corey Sandolph | 2 receptions, 43 yards |
| UT Permian Basin | Passing | Issac Mooring | 7/17, 113 yards, TD |
| UT Permian Basin | Rushing | Kory Harris | 18 rushes, 61 yards |
| UT Permian Basin | Receiving | Deon Cook | 4 receptions, 53 yards |
Starting quarterback Dylan Graham was injured early in the game, with Christian Kaopua coming in before he was replaced by Issac Mooring. At a press conference the following Monday, head coach Kris McCulloch announced that Graham would be out for the rest of the season with a lower body injury.

### At No. 9 Central Washington

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Falcons | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
| No. 9 Wildcats | 7 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 13 |
at Tomlinson Stadium, Ellensburg, Washington
* Date: October 12
* Game time: 8:00 p.m. CDT/6:00 p.m. PDT
* Game weather: Sunny, 65 °F (18 °C)
* Game attendance: 5,112
* Referee: Tracy Hernandez
* TV: FloSports
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | UTPB | CWU |
| First downs | 18 | 16 |
| Total yards | 227 | 285 |
| Rushing yards | 120 | 225 |
| Passing yards | 107 | 60 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 27:40 | 32:20 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| UT Permian Basin | Passing | Issac Mooring | 12/24, 107 yards, INT |
| UT Permian Basin | Rushing | Issac Mooring | 16 rushes, 55 yards, 2 TD |
| UT Permian Basin | Receiving | Deon Cook | 5 receptions, 41 yards |
| Central Washington | Passing | Kennedy McGill | 5/13, 51 yards, INT |
| Central Washington | Rushing | Kennedy McGill | 19 rushes, 138 yards, 2 TD |
| Central Washington | Receiving | Darius Morrison | 2 receptions, 30 yards |

### Western Oregon

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
| Wolves | 0 | 20 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 30 |
| Falcons | 14 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 27 |
at Astound Broadband Stadium, Midland, Texas
* Date: October 19
* Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Cloudy
* Game attendance: 3,515
* Referee: Eric Stern
* TV: FloSports
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | WOU | UTPB |
| First downs | 24 | 14 |
| Total yards | 342 | 302 |
| Rushing yards | 212 | 105 |
| Passing yards | 130 | 197 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 40:59 | 19:01 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Western Oregon | Passing | Jordan McCarty | 8/12, 71 yards, TD |
| Western Oregon | Rushing | Dominique Loggins | 25 rushes, 137 yards |
| Western Oregon | Receiving | Damon Hickok | 5 receptions, 72 yards, TD |
| UT Permian Basin | Passing | Issac Mooring | 15/31, 197 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| UT Permian Basin | Rushing | Kory Harris | 11 rushes, 45 yards, TD |
| UT Permian Basin | Receiving | Gunnar Abseck | 4 receptions, 80 yards, TD |

### At West Texas A&M

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Falcons | 14 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
| Buffaloes | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
at Bain–Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium, Canyon, Texas
* Date: October 26
* Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Sunny
* Game attendance: 6,131
* Referee: Royce Smith
* TV: FloSports
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | UTPB | WT |
| First downs | 19 | 18 |
| Total yards | 395 | 316 |
| Rushing yards | 185 | 98 |
| Passing yards | 210 | 218 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 33:48 | 26:12 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| UT Permian Basin | Passing | Issac Mooring | 11/20, 210 yards, TD |
| UT Permian Basin | Rushing | Tyler Cleveland | 16 rushes, 87 yards, TD |
| UT Permian Basin | Receiving | Ben Patterson | 4 receptions, 161 yards, TD |
| West Texas A&M | Passing | Kanon Gibson | 17/28, 218 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing | Tre'Jon Henderson | 13 rushes, 53 yards |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving | Tucker Swoboda | 6 receptions, 115 yards |

### At Eastern New Mexico

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Falcons | 15 | 14 | 14 | 21 | 64 |
| Greyhounds | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
at Greyhound Stadium, Portales, New Mexico
* Date: November 9
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST/12:00 p.m. MST
* Game weather: Sunny, 51 °F (11 °C)
* Game attendance: 2,208
* Referee: Duane Martin
* TV: FloSports
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | UTPB | ENM |
| First downs | 29 | 8 |
| Total yards | 575 | 245 |
| Rushing yards | 271 | 166 |
| Passing yards | 304 | 79 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 29:41 | 30:19 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| UT Permian Basin | Passing | Issac Mooring | 23/31, 222 yards, 3 TD |
| UT Permian Basin | Rushing | Tyler Cleveland | 8 rushes, 115 yards, 2 TD |
| UT Permian Basin | Receiving | Jeremiah Cooley | 4 receptions, 106 yards, 2 TD |
| Eastern New Mexico | Passing | Chad Ragle | 1/1, 60 yards, TD |
| Eastern New Mexico | Rushing | Rashad Carter | 8 rushes, 85 yards |
| Eastern New Mexico | Receiving | Dalton Flowers | 1 reception, 60 yards, TD |

### At Sul Ross

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Falcons | 28 | 20 | 14 | 13 | 75 |
| Lobos | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
at Jackson Field, Alpine, Texas
* Date: November 16
* Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
* Game weather: Sunny, 78 °F (26 °C)
* Game attendance: 200
* Referee: Neil Dilts
* TV: FloSports
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | UTPB | SRS |
| First downs | 34 | 15 |
| Total yards | 711 | 231 |
| Rushing yards | 318 | 70 |
| Passing yards | 393 | 161 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 33:16 | 26:44 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| UT Permian Basin | Passing | Issac Mooring | 26/28, 353 yards, 5 TD |
| UT Permian Basin | Rushing | Kory Harris | 26 rushes, 201 yards, 4 TD |
| UT Permian Basin | Receiving | Deon Cook | 6 receptions, 148 yards, 2 TD |
| Sul Ross | Passing | Tucker Bridwell | 8/21, 123 yards, 2 INT |
| Sul Ross | Rushing | Kye Callicoatte | 9 rushes, 27 yards |
| Sul Ross | Receiving | Nathan Crawford | 3 receptions, 72 yards |

### Vs. No. 25 Central Missouri (Heritage Bowl)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | 2OT | Total |
| No. 25 Mules | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 3 | 8 | 39 |
| Falcons | 7 | 13 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 37 |
at Tiger Stadium, Corsicana, Texas
* Date: December 7
* Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Cloudy, 49 °F (9 °C)
* Referee: Jerry Springer
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | UCM | UTPB |
| First downs | 29 | 24 |
| Total yards | 438 | 431 |
| Rushing yards | 176 | 94 |
| Passing yards | 262 | 337 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 27:55 | 32:05 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Central Missouri | Passing | Zach Zebrowski | 20/47, 262 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT |
| Central Missouri | Rushing | Zach Zebrowski | 29 rushes, 138 yards, 3 TD |
| Central Missouri | Receiving | Derrick Rose | 6 receptions, 129 yards, 2 TD |
| UT Permian Basin | Passing | Issac Mooring | 27/51, 337 yards, 2 TD |
| UT Permian Basin | Rushing | Kory Harris | 19 rushes, 52 yards, 2 TD |
| UT Permian Basin | Receiving | Jeremiah Cooley | 9 receptions, 125 yards |

## Weekly awards

* LSC Offensive Player of the Week
    Dylan Graham (week 2 vs. Adams State)
* LSC Defensive Player of the Week
    Tristan Exline (week 0 vs. Western New Mexico)
    Jalani Jefferson (week 6 vs. Central Washington)
* LSC Special Teams Player of the Week
    Angel Diaz (week 0 vs. Western New Mexico)
    Traylen Suel (week 2 vs. Adams State)
    Rafael Vargas (week 4 vs. Midwestern State)