ODESSA – Big time players step up in big time situations and Tarleton quarterback Zed Woerner delivered when the game mattered most.
 
The Texans led 25-17 with five minutes left in the game on the road against UT Permian Basin when Woerner connected with Jeff Thomas for a 76-yard touchdown pass to make it a two-score lead. Not only did the touchdown seal the win for the Texans, but it was the 58^th career touchdown pass for Woerner, passing Scott Grantham for the Tarleton all-time record. Tarleton went on to win its fourth consecutive game with a 32-17 victory over UT Permian Basin.
 
Woerner finished the game 11-of-17 passing for 168 yards and two touchdowns along with 71 rushing yards in the record-breaking night. With the win, Tarleton improves to 4-1 overall and 3-0 in the Lone Star Conference.
 
The offense in the first half was altered by the rain and heavy west Texas winds, limiting the Texans to only six points that came from the defense. UTPB already led 3-0 in the second quarter and was a yard away from adding to the score when Elliott Hart forced a fumble right at the goal line and returned it 99 yards for the touchdown. Hart's scoop and score tied the school record for the longest touchdown.  Tarleton led 6-3 at the half.
 
Xavier Turner picked up where he left off last week after winning the LSC Offensive Player of the Week award where he scored three touchdowns against West Texas A&M. On Tarleton's first play of the second half, Turner found the end zone on a 6-yard run to give the Texans a 12-3 lead.
 
The Texans built an 18-3 lead late in the third quarter when Woener teamed up with Thomas in the corner of the end zone on a 29-yard touchdown pass. That pass from Woerner tied the school record for career touchdowns. Thomas finished with a game-high six catches for 132 yards and two touchdowns.
 
When it looked like the Falcons were out of reach, they kept fighting their way back. On the opening drive of the fourth quarter, UTPB scored on a 45-yard touchdown pass to make it an 18-10 game.
 
UTPB was inside Tarleton territory looking to tie the game with six minutes to go before Chris Radford forced a Falcon fumble and was recovered by Michael Knobloch. Knobloch led the Texan defense with 16 tackles to go with the fumble recovery. The next offensive play for Tarleton, Turner ran up the middle for a 56-yard touchdown for a 25-10 lead. Turner finished with 89 yards on the ground and two scores, giving the junior five touchdowns in the last two games.
 
The Falcons answered back with a 76-yard touchdown pass on the next play to make it 25-17 before Woerner's game-clinching touchdown on the next drive.
 
Tarleton will look to make it five straight as they make the longest road trip of the year to Western New Mexico on Saturday, Oct. 7 and 1 p.m.