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UTRGV Vaqueros shut out the UT Permian Basin Falcons 44-0 in the season opener Saturday at the Robert & Janet Vackar Stadium in Edinburg, remaining undefeated at home.
UTRGV’s tight defense with the use of carefully executed deep passes was showcased to a program record crowd of 13,698; this strategy netted the Vaqueros a total of 675 yards, 29 first downs and forced three turnovers.
The Vaqueros took the lead putting 7-0 on the score with a five-play touchdown by junior wide receiver Kyran Lee after a 15-yard pass from quarterback Aiden Jakonsohn.
UTRGV finished the first quarter with a 17-0 lead.
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Head coach Travis Bush said the defensive performance was what stepped it up this game.
“There was times where they got some drives going, but they were able to stiffen up there and keep them out of the end zone, and holding field goals, and luckily, well, we put some pressure on them,” Bush said. “But that group’s good, excited; got banged up a little bit tonight, but, you know, just proud of the way they played.”
The Vaqueros finished with three interceptions and only allowed the Falcons 15 of 36 passes to be completed. UTRGV also held UTPB to only 2 of 12 third-down conversions.
Bush also said he was impressed with the new offensive line.
“I think the biggest question everybody had in the state, you know, offensively, new quarterbacks, new receivers, all the offense production,” he said. “And that was the question, we were going to come out, we were going to attack. And were going to call it like we called it with [Eddie Lee Marburger] and [Xayvion Noland] and those guys, and [Tony Diaz], and our guys stepped up, you know”
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Offensively, the Vaqueros completed 25 of 35 passes with no picks. UTRGV’s run game also found the end zone three times.
The Vaqueros will be back in play at 2:30 p.m. Saturday against UT San Antonio on the road for their first game against an FBS opponent.
