MONMOUTH --- The Western Oregon football team appeared to be at least heading to overtime with 13th-ranked Texas Permian Basin as the Falcons drove into red zone trailing the Wolves 31-28 in the fourth.
But you know that saying, big players make big plays at big moments? Well for WOU, that's just what happened.
UTPB fired a ball over the middle and a receiver caught it inside the 10 before all-conference linebacker
Malcolm Liufau punched it out and
Tamaaulelei Ma'alona was there to jump on top of it with 25 seconds remaining to secure WOU's first win over a nationally ranked opponent since 2016 when the Wolves beat Humboldt State, 48-42.
The Wolves (5-2 overall, 4-1 LSC) jumped out to a 17-0 lead in the contest before a late UTPB score in the second quarter followed by a quick score to start the third quarter quickly cut the WOU lead to 17-14.
The score remained that way until the fourth when WOU bolstered its lead to 24-14 on a 23-yard touchdown reception from
Jordan McCarty to
Keyvaun Eady.
UTPB - which was ranked No. 6 in the nation last week before losing at home to Central Washington - answered with back-to-back touchdowns in a four-minute span, the last coming with 6:46 left to make it 28-24 Falcons - the first time WOU trailed in the contest.
The Wolves didn't panic, however, as they put together a nine-play, 65-yard drive that took 4:51 off the clock and was capped by a McCarty 10-yard rushing touchdown to make it 31-28 with 1:55 left in the contest.
UTPB looked prime to at least tie the game, if not take the lead, before the big play by Liufau and Ma'alona.
McCarty finished 19-for-28 passing for 166 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for a team-best 74 yards and another score.
Jermaine Land rushed for 40 yards on seven carries while catching four passes for 56 yards and a score.
Defensively, Liufau finished with four tackles, a sack, an interception and the game-clinching forced fumble.
Aden Murphy led WOU with nine tackles,
Tyler Copeland had six and
Daron Ulrich Jr. and
LJ Imo each finished with five with Imo adding 1.5 tackles for a loss, a half sack and six QB hurries.
Joseph Northcutt was also a terror for UTPB, finishing with four tackles, a sack and six QB hurries.
The Wolves hit the road next week to take on Texas A&M-Kingsville.
