Alamosa, Colo. – The Adams State football team showed progress in multiple areas but ultimately fell 41-7 to UT Permian Basin on Saturday night at Rex Field.

The Grizzlies (0-2) leaned on their ground game, rushing for 231 yards as a team. Sophomore Ahmare Merrida led the charge with 134 yards on 18 carries, including a 62-yard burst that set up his 15-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter.

Adams State's touchdown came on a 90-yard drive that highlighted the offense's potential. Brycen Mhlanga and Gabriel McFarland added 37 yards apiece on the ground, while Elijah Harris III contributed 10 yards to a deep running back rotation.

Defensively, the Grizzlies kept the Falcons under 100 rushing yards and made several key stops. Blake George had a standout night with three tackles and two sacks, while Anthony Henry added a sack of his own. Dominic Childress forced and recovered a fumble to spark momentum in the first half.

Special teams also gave Adams State a lift. Braden Biller averaged more than 41 yards per punt with a long of 56, and return man Devin Dawkins provided a 14-yard punt return to flip field position.

While UTPB (2-0) capitalized on big plays to build its lead, Adams State showed resilience, controlling the ball for nearly 37 minutes and finding rhythm offensively in the second half.

The Grizzlies will take a week off before they return to action at home to open RMAC play against Western Colorado on Sept. 20, aiming to build on the positives from Saturday's performance.