Big Plays Doom Bronchos

9/12/2009 10:36:22 PM

Ryan Gallimore

Game Statistics

KINGSVILLE, Texas (Sept. 12) -- No. 11-ranked Texas A&M-Kingsville used a variety of big plays to jump out to a huge early lead and went on to topple No. 24 Central Oklahoma 46-17 in a Lone Star Conference crossover game at rain-drenched Javelina Stadium here Saturday night.

TAMUK scored on a 65-yard interception return, a 70-yard run and an 88-yard pass in taking a 28-7 lead barely 10 minutes into the game and led 31-17 at halftime before torrential downpours slowed both teams in the final two quarters.

UCO racked up 249 yards in the first half, but was held to just 52 in the final 30 minutes as the Javelinas scored 15 unanswered points to put the game away.

The Bronchos fell to 1-2 on the year and 1-1 in the overall league standings while TAMUK improved to 3-0 and 2-0. UCO makes its home debut after three straight road games against ranked opponents next Saturday, hosting No. 22 Tarleton State at 6 p.m.

“We gave up too many big plays and you can't do that on the road against a good team,” UCO coach Tracy Holland said. “We fought hard to get back in the game after getting down early, but we just didn't play well enough to win tonight.”

TAMUK returned the opening kickoff 62 yards to set up a 33-yard touchdown drive to take a 7-0 lead just over three minutes into the game and that became a 14-0 cushion a minute later when DeIra Glover picked off a Brandon Noohi pass and returned it 65 yards for a touchdown.

UCO cut the lead to 14-7 with 8:09 still left in the first quarter when Noohi hit Ryan Gallimore with a 23-yard TD pass, but the Javelinas scored on their next play from scrimmage when quarterback Billy Garza raced 70 untouched yards to make it 21-7.

TAMUK upped that to a 28-7 advantage on their next offensive play after being pinned down at its own 12-yard-line following a punt when Garza found a streaking Sherman Batiste with an 88-yard TD pass.

The Bronchos answered right back with a 10-play, 74-yard scoring drive that Noohi capped with a 29-yard keeper on a quarterback draw to get UCO within 28-14 with 1:25 still left in the opening quarter.

The teams traded field goals in the second period to keep the Javelinas in front by 17 (34-17) at intermission and it was all TAMUK in the second half.

UCO finished with 301 total yards, while TAMUK ended with 448.

Noohi was 16-of-29 passing for 122 yards and he added 39 yards rushing. Jason Palmer carried 13 times for 78 yards and Gallimore had five catches for 50 yards.

Prentice Muse and Terrence Hill led UCO's defense with 10 tackles apiece.

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