PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros football team erupted on the sidelines as redshirt freshman defensive back
Alijah Prosser forced a fumble in the final minutes of Saturday's contest at Blackshear Field. The play, which was capped by redshirt senior defensive back
Elijah Graham's fumble recovery, secured UTRGV's first road win and first win over a NCAA Div. I opponent as the Vaqueros defeated the Prairie View A&M (PVAMU) Panthers, 27-21, in thrilling fashion.
The Panthers took a 21-20 lead with 13 minutes remaining in the game. UTRGV's defense made a stop when it needed to most, forcing a clutch three-and-out late in the fourth to give the ball back to the offense with 5:25 to play. The Vaqueros (2-0) started the drive on their own 30 and quickly got to the PVAMU 36 with a pair of first-down passes from redshirt senior quarterback and Sharyland Pioneer alum
Eddie Lee Marburger to redshirt freshman running back
TJ Dement on opposite sides of the field.
Graduate student running back
Nathan Denney pounded the ball down to the 10 after a big pass interference call against the Panthers (1-1). Then, Denney rushed to the left behind a great block by freshman tight end
Brendon Ray for the go-ahead, seven-yard rushing touchdown, giving the lead back to UTRGV, 27-21, with 2:21 on the clock. Prosser's big play and a 27-yard scamper from Marburger secured UTRGV's victory.
Denney ran for 101 yards and one touchdown while reeling in five catches for 37 yards. Marburger threw for 263 yards and one touchdown in a 19-for-31 night. Redshirt freshman receiver
Tony Diaz had 121 receiving yards and one touchdown, averaging 20.2 yards per catch.
Redshirt freshman linebacker
Jaiden Haygood and graduate student linebacker
Spencer Rich paced the defense with 11 tackles each.
UTRGV controlled the first quarter with a good mix of hard runs and big passing plays. Denney racked up rushing yards on the opening drive, including a fourth-down conversion to get the Vaqueros inside PVAMU's 30. The offensive line gave Marburger plenty of time to scan the field, and Marburger connected with Diaz for a 16-yard touchdown to put the Vaqueros on top, 7-0. Diaz showed great control to haul in the pass against double coverage and toe-tapped at the back of the end zone for the score.
The Vaqueros defense forced a three-and-out on the first Panthers, and the offense rode that momentum to start its second drive with a 45-yard pass from Marburger to Diaz. Redshirt sophomore kicker
Brysen Gardner made a 49-yard field goal to cap the quick second possession and make it 10-0 UTRGV. The Vaqueros rushed PVAMU off the field with another three-and-out on their second drive as redshirt senior defensive back
Dorian Blackwell broke up a pass.
Marburger and Denney linked up on a nice first-down play to set up a third consecutive score. Marburger delivered a dart through heavy pressure, and Denney lowered his shoulder to spin off a defender down field for extra yardage. Dementrushed through a lane to his left and found the end zone on a 21-yard rush. UTRGV held a 17-0 lead after the first quarter and held the Panthers to one first down and just 30 yards in the opening quarter.
UTRGV's defense stood its ground to force a turnover on downs in the red zone. After initially stopping the Panthers on the 21-yard line, a roughing the kicker penalty on a PVAMU field goal attempt gave the Panthers a new set of downs on the 11. Graduate student linebacker
Warren Shankle, redshirt junior defensive lineman and Harlingen High alum
Nathan Huerta, and redshirt junior defensive back
Marcus Heard Jr. applied the pressure to stop the Panthers on the three.
The Panthers got on the board with a one-yard rushing touchdown by quarterback
Cameron Peters midway through the second quarter. Redshirt sophomore receiver
Xayvion Noland returned the ensuing kickoff 54 yards to set up a 40-yard field goal from Gardner, making it 20-7 in favor of the Vaqueros at halftime. Marburger threw for 170 yards in the first half and UTRGV outgained the Panthers 248-96.
Both teams went three-and-out on their first possessions of the second half. Prairie View trimmed UTRGV's lead to 20-14 with 8:04 remaining in the third quarter after another one-yard rushing touchdown, this one by
Tevin Carter. The Panthers took the brief lead a three-yard rushing touchdown by Carter.
The Vaqueros play their next two games at home, starting with a contest against Langston on Saturday, Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. at Robert & Janet Vackar Stadium.
A limited number of individual tickets go on sale Friday at 8 a.m. at
UTRGVTickets.com.
The action starts with KRGV's Vaqueros Game Day at 10 a.m. in Schlotzsky's Vaquero Village at the UTRGV Fieldhouse. Tailgating at Vackar Stadium begins at 2 p.m. The Vaqueros Walk is at 4:45 p.m. in the H-E-B Tailgate Zone followed by a pep rally in the amphitheater. Fans do not need a game ticket to access Vaqueros Game Day or the tailgating areas.
Gates to Vackar Stadium open at 5:30 p.m.
Fans can learn more about game day, including parking information, maps, and the clear bag policy, by visiting
RallyTheValley.com.
Fans can watch online domestically on
ESPN+ and internationally on
Southland International.
Fans can listen in English locally on Ultra 90.1 FM, in Laredo on Pure Country 95.7 FM, and online via the
Radio Para Mi app, and in Spanish locally on KYWW 1530 AM Puro Tejano and KGBT-FM 98.5 La Preferida and online via the
Uforia app.
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