Game Statistics
EDMOND, Okla. (Nov. 1) – #K.C. Asiodu and Matt Gates spearheaded a Central Oklahoma defense that forced seven turnovers and Brandon Noohi# accounted for 344 total yards as the Bronchos toppled East Central 30-17 Saturday afternoon at Wantland Stadium to clinch at least a share of the Lone Star Conference North Division championship.
It was the sixth straight win over a 0-4 start as UCO continued its amazing turnaround. The Bronchos, who also clinched their first winning season since 2004, improved to 6-4 on the year, 5-3 in the overall league standings and 4-0 in the LSC North heading into next Saturday's season finale at Northeastern State.
UCO can win the LSC North title outright with a win over NSU or a loss by second-place Southeastern Oklahoma, which beat Texas A&M-Commerce Saturday to move to 3-1 in the division.
“I can't say enough about this football team and how they stayed together after the start we had to get to this point,” said first-year head coach Tracy Holland. “They stayed committed to what we were trying to do and worked hard to get better. We made a lot of plays today on both sides of the ball and pulled out a tough win.”
UCO's defense allowed 382 yards passing but limited the Tigers to minus-nine yards rushing in 20 attempts while intercepting ECU four times – including twice in the end zone – and recovering three fumbles.
Asiodu had 11 tackles with three sacks, a forced fumble and a broken up pass and Gates had 11 tackles, an interception and a forced fumble to lead the Bronchos. UCO also got interceptions from Terry Hardeman, #Terrence Hill and T.J. Shaw#, with Hardeman and Shaw picking off passes in the end zone.
Noohi hit 24-of-49 passes for 281 yards and one touchdown while running for 63 yards and another score in finishing with 344 total yards, the eighth-best game in school history. He completed passes to eight different receivers, with Ryan Gallimore (6 catches, 56 yards) and Rick Montgomery (5-66) leading the way.
UCO took a 7-0 lead on its first possession of the game, driving 72 yards in nine plays before Da'Marean Pullen capped it with a three-yard burst up the middle. A 63-yard kickoff return set up a short ECU scoring drive that tied it less than two minutes later, but the Bronchos came back with 17 unanswered points.
Pullen ended another UCO drive with a two-yard TD run, Noohi scored on an eight-yard scramble and Chad Susman added a 31-yard field goal in the second period to give the Bronchos a 24-6 halftime cushion.
ECU pulled within 24-14 early in the third quarter on Marcus Johnson's 28-yard scoring pass to Keewan King, but Noohi came back with a seven-yard TD toss to Daniel Morrell to give UCO a 30-14 advantage heading into the final period.
Corey Dozier's 23-yard field early in the fourth period got the Tigers within 30-17, but UCO forced a fumble and stopped ECU on downs to keep the Tigers at bay the rest of the way.
