Watching a second coin flip wasn’t what the UTPB football team was expecting.
Yet, after visiting Simon Fraser University rallied with a late touchdown to tie the game and force overtime, that’s what the Falcons were seeing deep into a West Texas Saturday evening.
The Red Leafs won the toss and chose to be on defense first.
UTPB made them pay for the choice.
Kory Harris scored a 1-yard touchdown for the lead and the Falcons defense did the rest, sacking Simon Fraser quarterback Justin Seiber twice to cement a 31-24 victory in Lone Star Conference play at Ratliff Stadium.
UTPB improved to 3-3 overall, 2-2 in conference with the victory.
It is the Falcons second overtime triumph in 2022.
Simon Fraser, located in Burnaby, British Columbia, dropped to 0-4, 0-4.
The Red Leafs are the only NCAA university in Canada.
“They changed a little bit,” UTPB head coach Justin Carrigan said of the Red Leafs’ defense. “They started in four down and then changed to three down almost the whole rest of the game, starting in the second quarter.
“They did a good job. We ran ball really well at time and then we didn’t; we’ve got to get more consistent.”
Running back Antonio Malone led the Falcons with 21 carries for a game-high 110 yards.
Quarterback Dylan Graham finished 28-of-40 passing for 310 yards and two touchdowns, with one interception.
Wide receivers MJ Link (eight catches, 141 yards, one touchdown) and Gunnar Asbeck (7-104-1) were the top targets for Graham, with Link also adding a touchdown pass to Brock Johnson.
Red Leafs quarterback Justin Seiber was equally effective, finishing 23-of-39 passing for 394 yards and three touchdowns.
His top target was wide receiver Ethan Beselt, who finished with eight catches for 223 yards and one touchdown.
“He’s very good,” Carrigan said of Beselt. “He was balling out there.”
Simon Fraser was forced to throw as the Falcons held its running game in check, allowing just 23 yards on 29 carries.
Robert Meadors and Sam Davenport also caught touchdown passes for the Red Leafs.
After forcing Simon Fraser to turn the ball over on downs on the opening possession of the game, the Falcons’ offense methodically moved down the field, with Graham hitting six straight passes before a Malone run.
Then it was back to the air with back-to-back completions to Asbeck, the second from 19 yards out for a UTPB touchdown with 7:37 remaining in the first quarter.
UTPB led 14-0 when in the second quarter when Davenport, the Red Leafs’ punter, watched a 56-yard punt get downed at the Falcons’ 1.
Finally, on third-and-7 at the 4, Simon Fraser defensive lineman Tank Brewster dropped Graham in the end zone for a safety.
The Red Leafs would outscore UTPB, 22-10, the rest of the way to force the extra period.
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UTPB 31, Simon Fraser 24 (OT)
Score by Quarters
Simon Fraser – 0—9—7—8—0—24
UTPB – 7—14—0—3—7—31
FIRST QUARTER
UTPB: Gunner Asbeck 19 pass from Dylan Graham (Carson Roberts kick), 7:37 p.m. Drive: 9 plays, 74 yards, 3:12.
SECOND QUARTER
UTPB: Brock Johnson 11 pass from MJ Link (Carson Roberts kick), 13:50. Drive: 12 plays, 80 yards, 3:58.
Simon Fraser: Tank Brewster tackles quarterback in end zone, 9:08.
UTPB: MJ Link 93 pass from Dylan Graham (Carson Roberts kick), 6:58. Drive: 3 plays, 96 yards, :41.
Simon Fraser: Robert Meadors 12 pass from Justin Seiber (Kristie Elliott kick). Drive: 2:13. Drive: 4 plays, 80 yards, 2:25.
THIRD QUARTER
Simon Fraser: Ethan Beselt 39 pass from Justin Seiber (Kristie Elliott), 5:14. Drive: 8 plays, 89 yards, 3:34.
FOURTH QUARTER
UTPB: FG Carson Roberts 20, 12:22. Drive: 7 plays, 65 yards, 2:42.
Simon Fraser: Sam Davenport 6 pass from Justin Seiber (Robert Meadors pass from Justin Seiber), 3:13. Drive: 4 plays, 76 yards, 2:25.
OVERTIME
UTPB: Kory Harris 1 run (Carson Roberts kick), :00. Drive: 7 plays, 25 yards.
Team Statistics
|
Simon Fraser |
UTPB |
|
| First Downs | 19 | 25 |
| Total Yards | 417 | 462 |
| Rushing (Att-Yards) | 29-23 | 34-150 |
| Passing Yards | 394 | 312 |
| Passing (Att-Comp-Int) | 23-39-1 | 29-42-1 |
| Return Yardage | 76 | 28 |
| Sacks-Yds Lost | 2-6 | 5-24 |
| Fumbles-Fumbles Lost | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| Punts-Avg. | 5-47.6 | 6-41.3 |
| Penalties-Yards | 13-85 | 5-50 |
Individual Statistics
Rushing
Simon Fraser: Mason Glover 8-19, Somoto Anyadike 8-12, Reggie Elie 4-8, Justn Seiber 9-(-16).
UTPB: Antonio Malone 21-110, Kory Harris 4-30, Caden Cox, 1-13, Dylan Graham 4-4, Suddin Sapien 2-(-1), Gunnar Asbeck 1-(-2), MJ Link 1-(-4).
Passing
Simon Fraser: Justin Seiber 23-39-1—394.
UTPB: Dylan Graham 20-38-1—301, MJ Link, 1-1-0—11, Suddin Sapien 0-1-0—0.
Receiving
Simon Fraser: Ethan Beselt 8-223, Robert Meadors 5-76, Sam Davenport 4-45, Mustapha Yekini 1-19, Andrew Hunt 3-15, Aidan Pearce 1-14, Mason Glover 1-2.
UTPB: MJ Link 8-141, Gunnar Asbeck 7-104, Marcus Molina 4-28, Antonio Malone 3-11, Brock Johnson 2-11, Malik Jackson 1-10, Clyde Bellow 1-7, Timothy Wiggins 1-5, Caden Cox 2-(-5).
Interceptions
Simon Fraser: Ryan Barthelson 1-0.
UTPB: Ashton Levells 1-0.
UTPB 31, Simon Fraser 24 (OT)
Score by Quarters
Simon Fraser – 0—9—7—8—0—24
UTPB – 7—14—0—3—7—31
FIRST QUARTER
UTPB: Gunner Asbeck 19 pass from Dylan Graham (Carson Roberts kick), 7:37 p.m. Drive: 9 plays, 74 yards, 3:12.
SECOND QUARTER
UTPB: Brock Johnson 11 pass from MJ Link (Carson Roberts kick), 13:50. Drive: 12 plays, 80 yards, 3:58.
Simon Fraser: Tank Brewster tackles quarterback in end zone, 9:08.
UTPB: MJ Link 93 pass from Dylan Graham (Carson Roberts kick), 6:58. Drive: 3 plays, 96 yards, :41.
Simon Fraser: Robert Meadors 12 pass from Justin Seiber (Kristie Elliott kick). Drive: 2:13. Drive: 4 plays, 80 yards, 2:25.
THIRD QUARTER
Simon Fraser: Ethan Beselt 39 pass from Justin Seiber (Kristie Elliott), 5:14. Drive: 8 plays, 89 yards, 3:34.
FOURTH QUARTER
UTPB: FG Carson Roberts 20, 12:22. Drive: 7 plays, 65 yards, 2:42.
Simon Fraser: Sam Davenport 6 pass from Justin Seiber (Robert Meadors pass from Justin Seiber), 3:13. Drive: 4 plays, 76 yards, 2:25.
OVERTIME
UTPB: Kory Harris 1 run (Carson Roberts kick), :00. Drive: 7 plays, 25 yards.
Team Statistics
| Simon Fraser | UTPB | |
| First Downs | 19 | 25 |
| Total Yards | 417 | 462 |
| Rushing (Att-Yards) | 29-23 | 34-150 |
| Passing Yards | 394 | 312 |
| Passing (Att-Comp-Int) | 23-39-1 | 29-42-1 |
| Return Yardage | 76 | 28 |
| Sacks-Yds Lost | 2-6 | 5-24 |
| Fumbles-Fumbles Lost | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| Punts-Avg. | 5-47.6 | 6-41.3 |
| Penalties-Yards | 13-85 | 5-50 |
Individual Statistics
Rushing
Simon Fraser: Mason Glover 8-19, Somoto Anyadike 8-12, Reggie Elie 4-8, Justn Seiber 9-(-16).
UTPB: Antonio Malone 21-110, Kory Harris 4-30, Caden Cox, 1-13, Dylan Graham 4-4, Suddin Sapien 2-(-1), Gunnar Asbeck 1-(-2), MJ Link 1-(-4).
Passing
Simon Fraser: Justin Seiber 23-39-1—394.
UTPB: Dylan Graham 20-38-1—301, MJ Link, 1-1-0—11, Suddin Sapien 0-1-0—0.
Receiving
Simon Fraser: Ethan Beselt 8-223, Robert Meadors 5-76, Sam Davenport 4-45, Mustapha Yekini 1-19, Andrew Hunt 3-15, Aidan Pearce 1-14, Mason Glover 1-2.
UTPB: MJ Link 8-141, Gunnar Asbeck 7-104, Marcus Molina 4-28, Antonio Malone 3-11, Brock Johnson 2-11, Malik Jackson 1-10, Clyde Bellow 1-7, Timothy Wiggins 1-5, Caden Cox 2-(-5).
Interceptions
Simon Fraser: Ryan Barthelson 1-0.
UTPB: Ashton Levells 1-0.
