Game Statistics
DURANT, Okla. (Oct. 10) -- Three second-quarter turnovers led to 17 points that put Central Oklahoma in a big hole and the Bronchos never recovered in dropping a 41-24 Lone Star Conference North Division decision to Southeastern Oklahoma here Saturday afternoon.
The Savage Storm intercepted three Brandon Noohi passes in the period -- returning one for a touchdown -- and turned a precarious 7-3 lead into a big 24-3 halftime cushion en route to handing UCO its fifth consecutive loss.
Noohi threw for two touchdowns and ran for another in twice getting the Bronchos within 10 in the fourth quarter, but SOSU clinched the win with a late scoring drive.
UCO fell to 1-6 on the year, 1-4 in the overall league standings and 0-2 in the LSC North. The Savage Storm improved to 5-2, 3-2 and 2-0.
“We made too many mistakes in the first half and got ourselves in a hole we just couldn't get out of,” UCO coach Tracy Holland said. “We battled back and made a game of it, but we didn't get it done.”
The Bronchos looked to be back in the game after trimming the 24-3 halftime deficit to 27-17 in the opening minutes of the final period and forcing SOSU to punt from deep in its own end zone, but UCO was called for roughing the kicker to give the Savage Storm new life.
SOSU took advantage of that reprieve, driving 85 yards to up its lead to 34-17 with 8:25 remaining.
The Bronchos answered back quickly when Noohi found a streaking Daniel Morrell open down the sideline for an 80-yard TD bomb, with the 10th-longest scoring pass in school making it 34-24 with still plenty of time remaining.
But UCO couldn't get the defensive stop it needed as the Savage Storm again went on a long scoring drive, marching 73 yards to make it 41-24 with 2:38 left to play and seal the deal.
The Bronchos finished with 362 yards as Noohi was 20-of-32 passing for 267 yards and Morrell caught six passes for 142 yards and two scores. Linebacker Tucker Cason had 13 tackles to lead the defense.
SOSU ended with 475 yards, including 317 passing as Justin Pitrucha ended up hitting 37-of-51 attempts.
The Savage Storm jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead, needing just four plays to cover 70 yards on its initial possession of the game as Josh Johnson ripped off a 56-yard scoring run not even two minutes into the contest.
The Bronchos pulled within 7-3 late in the period on Chris Robbs' 45-yard field goal that ended a 12-play, 53-yard march. Ben Birmingham had a 17-yard run and Noohi escaped a certain sack to scramble for 10 yards on a third-and-three play to key that drive.
UCO appeared poised to gain the lead in the opening minute of the second quarter when Isaiah Blackshear intercepted a Pitrucha pass at the SOSU 33 when Jeremy Atkins hit Pitrucha just as he was throwing, but the momentum switched back in one play.
On UCO's first play from the 33, Noohi was blindsided as he threw and SOSU's Noe Lopez gathered in the ball on the run. He wasn't touched as he raced 60 yards down the sideline with the interception for the touchdown that made it 14-3.
The Savage Storm went up 21-3 midway through the period on an eight-yard Pitrucha TD pass and UCO made two big defensive stops in the final minutes of the half to hold SOSU to a last-second field goal in falling behind 24-3.
Prentice Muse picked off a Pitrucha pass in the back of the end zone to stop one threat the Bronchos forced a 23-yard field goal after SOSU had reached a first-and-goal at the UCO five-yard-line.
The Bronchos made it 24-10 midway through the third period on Noohi's 20-yard scoring run, with the senior quarterback jumping off a crowd of defenders at the line of scrimmage before racing untouched up the middle of the field.
A 46-yard field goal pushed SOSU's lead to 27-10 after three quarters, with UCO getting within 27-17 early in the final stanza on Noohi's 25-yard TD strike to Morrell.
