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University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

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T.J. Eckert
T.J. Eckert
38
Winner Central Oklahoma UCO 7-5
21
Southwestern Okla. SWOSU 8-4
Winner
Central Oklahoma UCO
7-5
38
Final
21
Southwestern Okla. SWOSU
8-4
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
UCO Central Oklahoma 7 21 3 7 38
SWOSU Southwestern Okla. 7 14 0 0 21

Game Recap: Football |

Bronchos Take Live United Bowl

TEXARKANA, Ark. (Dec. 5) – T.J. Eckert passed for 293 yards and two touchdowns and Central Oklahoma's defense pitched a second-half shutout as the Bronchos toppled long-time rival Southwestern Oklahoma 38-21 in the Live United Texarkana Bowl here Saturday afternoon.
 
It was the fifth straight victory for UCO, which overcame an 0-4 start in finishing 7-5 and reaching the seven-win mark for the 40th time.  The Bulldogs had a six-game winning streak snapped and ended 8-4.
 
"Our defense played well in the second half and made some things happen," head coach Nick Bobeck said.  "It was a good win for our football team and a great way to end the season.  I'm really proud of the way our guys stuck together after the start we had and we finished on a high note."
 
The Bronchos led 28-21 in a back-and-forth first half before the defense forced three turnovers in the final two quarters.  UCO allowed just 163 second-half yards while getting interceptions from Cody Jones and David Busby and a fumble recovery from Deontey Wilson.
 
Eckert, named the game's Most Valuable Player, led an offense that produced 465 total yards.  The junior quarterback completed 21-of-28 passes for 293 yards and TDs of 10 and 13 yards while also rushing 17 times for 42 yards.
 
Running back Clay McKenzie carried 23 times for 89 yards and two TDs in addition to catching five passes for 58 yards, with wide receiver Connor Pulley setting career highs for catches (five) and yards (128).
 
Linebacker Malcolm Howard had a game-high 11 tackles to lead the defense, with linebacker Cade Shearwood adding eight.  Busby had six tackles and a pass broken up in addition to his interception, while Jones had four tackles and three PBUs.
 
The Bronchos led 28-21 at the break and forced SWOSU to punt on its first two possessions of the third quarter before driving 61 yards in nine plays to push the advantage to 10.
 
Eckert had screen passes of 21 and 38 yards to McKenzie before the drive stalled and Seth Hiddink came on to knock through a 25-yard field goal that made it 31-21 with 6:11 left in the period.
 
That lead was more than enough for the UCO defense, which kept the Bulldogs under wraps the rest of the way while coming up with the three turnovers.
 
The Bronchos got their final score late in the game, going 58 yards in six plays.  Eckert had a key 30-yard scamper and McKenzie polished off the march with a two-yard smash up the middle with 1:34 left to seal the win.
 
Eckert was intercepted at the goal line to thwart a promising UCO drive on the opening possession of the game, but the Bronchos went 57 yards in seven plays the next time they got it to go up 7-0.
 
Pulley's 47-yard catch-and-run was the key play of the drive that ended when quarter Chas Stallard worked his way into the end zone from three yards out on an option keeper.
 
SWOSU answered right back with a 70-yard scoring march to tie it and then went ahead 14-7 early in the second quarter with an 80-yard drive capped by a short TD pass.
 
Myles Tease returned the ensuing kickoff 44 yards to set up a short 41-scoring drive that tied it.  Eckert's 28-yard pass to Pulley was the big play before the too hooked up again for the touchdown when Eckert found a wide-open Pulley from 10 yards out.
 
A fumbled punt gave the Bronchos a short field minutes later and UCO covered the 16 yards in three plays.  Eckert stepped up against a rush and delivered a perfect strike to Josh Crockett from 13 yards away to make it 21-14 with 4:35 left in the opening half.
 
The defense forced a quick three-and-out and a short punt led to a quick-strike 44-yard TD drive that pushed UCO's lead to 28-14 with 1:45 remaining.
 
J.T. Luper got most of that on the first play, racing 42 yards down the right side on a reverse as Pulley had a key downfield block, and McKenzie scored on a one-yard plunge two plays later after taking the snap in wildcat formation.
 
That left the Bulldogs plenty of time and SWOSU used a long pass and pass interference penalty to drive in for a score with 33 seconds left to pull within 28-21 at intermission.
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