Homecoming Disappointment

10/3/2009 6:22:21 PM

Ryan Gallimore

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EDMOND (Oct. 3) – A team that racks up 444 yards of offense and forces four turnovers would normally expect to come out on the winning end, but that didn't happen for Central Oklahoma Saturday afternoon.

Southwest Baptist ruined UCO's Homecoming celebration before 6,230 Wantland Stadium fans, building a 28-14 halftime lead en route to handing the Bronchos a disappointing 31-23 setback.

UCO rallied to within 28-23 in the fourth quarter, but the Bearcats pushed their advantage to eight with a time-consuming field goal drive late in the contest and then intercepted the Bronchos in the end zone in the final seconds to hold on.

“It's a tough loss,” said UCO coach Tracy Holland, whose team fell to 1-5 on the season with its fourth straight loss. “We had a lot of chances to get over the hump and take the lead, but just couldn't get it done.”

Brandon Noohi completed 23-of-50 passes for 296 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for 48 yards and a score to lead UCO's offense. Ben Birmingham added a season-high 106 yards rushing and Ryan Gallimore caught six passes for 97 yards and a TD.

The Bronchos intercepted three passes – two by Giorgio Durham – and recovered a fumbled punt, but had a tough time slowing down a high-powered SBU offense triggered by quarterback Steven Gachette.

The Bearcats had 400 of their 541 total yards in the first half and made a Wantland Stadium-record 33 first downs as Gachette was 27-of-45 passing for 291 yards and two TDs in addition to rushing for 78 yards in 10 tries.

The Bronchos took a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter when Noohi found a wide-open Gallimore with a 60-yard TD bomb, which was set up when Durham stopped an SBU drive with an interception at the UCO one-yard-line.

The Bearcats came back to tie it late in the period and went ahead 14-7 early in the second, with the Bronchos answering right back.

A short kickoff and 18-yard Kendall Hendricks return gave UCO great field position and it took just three plays for the Bronchos to score.

A 40-yard Noohi-to-Daniel Morrell pass put UCO in position and Noohi drilled an 18-yard scoring pass to Hendricks to tie the game with 11:04 left in the half.

The Bearcats responded with touchdowns on their next two possessions to grab a 28-14 halftime advantage and gouged UCO for 400 yards – 206 rushing, 194 passing – in the opening two quarters.

UCO's defense stiffened in the third quarter, giving up just 44 yards as the Bronchos tried to get back in the contest.

A fumbled punt early in the third period led to a 27-yard Chris Robbs field goal that got UCO within 28-17 and Durham's second interception helped get the Bronchos closer early in the fourth.

The sophomore picked off a Gachette pass at the UCO 29and the Bronchos took just six plays to cover 71 yards.

A 22-yard pass from Noohi to Morrell keyed the drive that Noohi ended with a weaving, tackle-breaking 21-yard TD scramble. The Bronchos failed on the two-point conversion try, but were within 28-23 with 11:22 left to play.

UCO stopped the Bearcats' next possession when defensive end Freddie Harris leaped to bat down a Gachette pass and then hauled in the interception at midfield, but the Bronchos ended up punting the ball away.

SBU followed that with a clutch 14-play, 77-yard drive that ended in a 19-yard field goal with 1:42 remaining in taking a 31-23 lead.

Noohi had a 22-yard scramble as the Bronchos moved to a first-and-10 at the SBU 26, but three incompletions and an interception in the end zone with 51 seconds sealed UCO's fate.

Linebackers Tucker Cason (14 tackles) and Bryson Crawford (12 tackles) led UCO's defense effort.

The Bronchos resume Lone Star Conference North Division action next Saturday, traveling to Durant to take on Southeastern Oklahoma.

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