Too little, much too late for the UTPB football team.
Visiting Texas A&M-Kingsville controlled the scoreboard from the start and the Javelinas were able to hang on at the end for a 29-22 victory in Lone Star Conference play Saturday at Ratliff Stadium.
The loss dropped the Falcons to 5-4 on the seconds, 3-3 in conference, and snapped an eight-game home winning streak.
Texas A&M-Kingsville improved to 5-4, 3-3.
Gilbert Garza kicked five fields on the day for the Javelinas, the final one from 47 yards out late in the fourth quarter to give his team some breathing room as the Falcons were trying to close the gap.
“We started too slow and had too many turnovers,” UTPB coach Justin Carrigan said. “It was nice that we had a chance at the end to be in the game, but we didn’t play well enough to win this game.”
One bright spot for the Falcons was the play of quarterback Suddin Sapien.
The Midland High grad started the second half in place of starter Clayton Roberts and toss his first two college touchdown passes, both to Jordan Smart, to try and engineer a victory.
“I thought he (Sapien) did a nice job,” Carrigan said. “We were trying to get a spark there to start the second half.”
Sapien finished 12-of-24 passing for 186 yards and the two touchdowns.
Running back Nate Tilford had 13 carries for 57 yards, while wide receiver Kobe Robinson finished with six receptions for 94 yards.
The Falcons tried to get on track with the opening drive of the game, moving from their own 25 to the 47 before Roberts was hit and fumbled the ball, with the Javelinas recovering at the UTPB 37 less than two minutes into the game.
Texas A&M-Kingsville quarterback Wade Freeman was sacked on first down, but then found wide receiver Darrian Hambrick for 28 yards on second down to put the ball at the Falcons’ 13.
Freeman was dropped for a loss on first down and then, on second down, the Javelinas were called for a personal foul penalty to negate a Freeman to Ryan Martinez touchdown pass.
UTPB’s defense stepped up at that point and Garza connected on his first field goal of the game, from 40 yards out, with 10:20 remaining in the first quarter.
Freeman finished 13-of-20 passing for 218 yards and one touchdown, with 174 yards coming before halftime as the Javelinas built a 23-6 advantage after 30 minutes. He connected with eight different receivers.
His favorite target on the day was wide receiver Ty Chisum, who had four catches for 88 yards and one touchdown. Chisum also had a touchdown reception nullified by a penalty in the fourth quarter.
UTPB closes out its season next week against Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls.
“Have to forget this and get ready for Midwestern,” co-defensive coordinator Jacob Martin said. “We didn’t play well today, I don’t know why, but we need to fix that.”
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Texas A&M-Kingsville 29, UTPB 22
TAM-Kingsville……… 6.. 17 3 3 — 29
UTPB……………………. 0…. 6 7 9 — 22
SCORING SUMMARY
First Quarter
Texas A&M-Kingsville: FG Gilbert Garza 40, 10:20. Drive: 7 plays, 37 yards, 3:15.
Texas A&M-Kingsville: FG Gilbert Garza 32, 3:53. Drive: 9 plays, 57 yards, 5:11.
Second Quarter
UTPB: FG Michael Mayfield 31, 14:13.
Texas A&M-Kingsville: Ryan Martinez 10 run (Gilbert Garza kick), 6:50. Drive: 5 plays, 66 yards, 2:37.
Texas A&M-Kingville: Ty Chisum 13 pass from Wade Freeman (Gilber Garza kick), 2:05. Drive: 5 plays, 53 yards, 2:54.
UTPB: FG Michael Mayfield 38, :24. Drive: 10 plays, 52 yards, 1:41.
Texas A&M-Kingsville: FG Gilbert Garza 27, :00. Drive: 3 plays, 22 yards, :12
Third Quarter
Texas A&M-Kingsville: FG Gilbert Garza 32, 11:59.
UTPB: Jordan Smart 31 pass from Suddin Sapien (Carson Roberts kick), 5:36.
Fourth Quarter
Texas A&M-Kingsville: FG Gilbert Garza 47, 3:12.
UTPB: Jordan Smart 10 pass from Suddin Sapien (Carson Roberts kick), 1:10.
UTPB: FG Carson Roberts 27, :46.
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TEAM STATISTICS
TAMK UTPB
First Downs…………………… 18……………….. 21
Total Yards…………………. 370……………… 368
Rushes-Yards………… 41-125…………… 30-86
Passing……………………… 245……………… 282
Comp-Att-Int…………. 15-23-0……….. 25-50-1
Fumbles-Lost………………. 0-0………………. 0-0
Punts-Avg……………….. 4-39.8………….. 5-40.4
Penalties-Yards…………. 8-85…………….. 7-85
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INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
Texas A&M-Kingsville: Bowen 7-57, McGowen 5-39, Freeman, 10-18, Martinez 1-11, Anderson 13-9, Cavazos 2-5..
UTPB: TIlford 13-57, Young 8-54, Roberts 4-(-5), Smart 1-(-6), Sapien 4-(-14).
Passing
Texas A&M-Kingsville: Freeman 13-20-0—218, Cavazos 2-3-0—27.
UTPB: Roberts 13-25-1—96, Sapien 12-12-0—186.
Receiving
Texas A&M-Kingsville: Chisum 4-88, Clemons 1-28, Anderson 1-33, Hambrick 1-30, Martinez 3-21, Bowens 3-17, Arclies 1-15, Johnson 1-3..
UTPB: Robinson 6-94, Molina 7-72, Smart 6-60, Link 5-40, Zubiate 1-6.
