Game Statistics
PITTSBURG, Kan. (Aug. 29) -- Pittsburg State's balanced attack proved to be too much for Central Oklahoma here Saturday night and the Gorillas won going away in a showdown between two of the winningest programs in NCAA Division II history.
No. 7-ranked PSU racked up 590 total yards -- 308 rushing and 282 passing -- in disposing of the No. 16 Bronchos 42-13, scoring 21 unanswered points the final 16 minutes of the contest after UCO had trimmed a 21-3 deficit to 21-13.
It was the second straight season-opening meeting between the two long-time powers and the second consecutive win for the Gorillas, who rank first among Division II teams in all-time wins to UCO's third.
“We put ourselves in a hole early and did a great job in battling back to get in the game, but we couldn't get over the hump,” UCO head coach Tracy Holland said. “It was a typical first game in that we made a lot of mistakes, but we played hard against a really good team in a hostile environment. We'll put it behind us, make some corrections and get ready for next week.”
Quarterback Brandon Noohi attempted a school-record 54 passes, completing 29 for 333 yards -- the ninth-best game in UCO history -- but the Bronchos managed just 45 yards rushing.
Daniel Morrell had seven catches for 113 yards to lead UCO's receiving corps, while Ryan Gallimore caught six balls for 88 yards and a touchdown and Matt Jackson had nine receptions for 67 yards.
The Bronchos trailed 21-10 at halftime, with Noohi's 32-yard pass to Gallimore keying a 66-yard drive to open the third quarter that ended in a 33-yard Brian Didonato field goal to make it 21-13.
UCO got the ball right back when Joey Fallon recovered a Pitt State fumble on the kickoff return at the 18-yard-line, but the Bronchos ended up missing a 45-yard field goal after a sack and penalty.
The Gorillas went three-and-out on their next possession, but then upped their lead to 28-13 with a 77-yard TD drive that ended in the final minute of the third period. Noohi was intercepted in the end zone on UCO's next drive and PSU answered with another lengthy scoring drive to up its advantage to 35-13.
The Bronchos failed on a fourth-down gamble their next offensive series and PSU ended the scoring with a 61-yard scoring pass with just 1:29 left in the game.
The Gorillas racked up 314 yards in the first half and scored on three of their first four possessions -- with UCO intercepting a pass in the end zone to stop another threat -- to take a 21-10 lead.
A short punt set up PSU's first touchdown in the opening minutes of the game, but the Bronchos came back with a 62-yard drive that ended in a field goal to cut the deficit to 7-3.
Noohi passes of 29 yards to Morrell and 15 to Ben Birmingham keyed the drive before Didonato converted a 41-yard field goal on his first collegiate kick.
The Gorillas came back with a 63-yard scoring pass on the first play after the ensuing kickoff, with a Giorgio Durham end zone interception stopping PSU's next possession. Pitt State was back in business moments later after another short punt and had to travel just 36 yards to up its lead to 21-3 early in the second quarter.
UCO got back in the game midway through the period with a quick-strike 62-yard TD drive that made it 21-10. Noohi found Jackson for a 23-yard gain on the first play and then followed a no-gain run with a 39-yard scoring strike to Gallimore, who was wide open down the sideline.
The Bronchos had a chance to pull closer in the final minute of the half, but Noohi's long pass to an open Gallimore went off the senior receiver's finger tips and UCO went to the locker room facing a 21-10 deficit.
UCO continues its early-season road swing next week, opening Lone Star Conference play at No. 11 West Texas A&M.
