Game Stats
AMARILLO, Texas (Sept. 5) -- What a difference a week makes.
Central Oklahoma never got its running game untracked and was gashed for nearly 600 yards in a season-opening loss last week, but the Bronchos turned the tide in a big way here Saturday night to pull off a stunning 24-17 upset of No. 13-ranked West Texas A&M.
UCO rolled up 288 yards on the ground -- its most since 2003 -- after netting just 45 in last week's 42-13 loss at Pittsburg State and limited the high-powered Buffs to 320 yards, their lowest total since 2006.
Jason Palmer led the way with 148 yards and two touchdowns, with Ben Birmingham adding 72 yards in 12 attempts and quarterback Brandon Noohi 65 yards in 10 tries as offensive linemen Luke Sapolu, Corbin Burchett, Cody Hughes, Jake Kessen and Andrew McCabe did the job up front. Noohi added 198 yards passing, hitting 19-of-31 attempts.
The UCO defense, meanwhile, limited a dangerous Buff aerial attack to 239 yards while getting interceptions from Maurice Henry and Prentice Muse along with dominating play from linebacker Terry Hardeman (10 tackles, three for loss).
“What a great, great win for this football team,” UCO coach Tracy Holland said. “Our defensive coaches had an incredible game plan and I can't say enough about the way we were able to run the ball; that was the key to the game.”
It was the Lone Star Conference opener for both teams, with the Bronchos evening their record at 1-1 heading into next week's game at Texas A&M-Kingsville. WTAMU -- which has made four straight NCAA Division II playoff appearances -- fell to 0-2.
Palmer was the workhorse as he set career highs for carries and yards. The senior had the clinching score when the Bronchos were nursing a late 18-10 lead, breaking off a 52-yard TD dash up the middle with 1:05 left to play.
WTAMU got its final score with just one second remaining.
UCO led 15-10 at halftime and extended that to 18-10 early in the fourth quarter when Ross Weaver hit a 30-yard field goal to cap a 10-play, 62-yard drive that was highlighted by Noohi's 38-yard pass to Matt Jackson.
The Bronchos had a field goal blocked on their next possession, but UCO's defense kept rejecting the Buffs. WTAMU threatened late in the contest when it reached the 32, but Cordarrow Milton knocked away a fourth-down pass with 1:18 left to end that.
Palmer then sewed up the big win seconds later when he went through a big hole up the middle and easily outraced WT's bunched-up defense for the 52-yard score.
WTAMU led 3-0 after an interception led to a 58-yard drive for a field goal with 5:31 left in the first quarter, with UCO coming back to score 15 unanswered points in surging ahead.
A short punt led to UCO's first score, with the Bronchos needing just three plays to cover 48 yards. Birmingham picked up five yards on back-to-back carries before Ryan Gallimore made a spectacular play in scoring on a 43-yard pass from Noohi.
Noohi's pass was tipped, but Gallimore gathered in the ball at the WT 30 and broke a tackle before speeding down the sideline. The senior standout then fended off another Buff defender the final five yards before diving in to the corner of the end zone for the score.
Weaver, who just joined the team last week after a tryout, made the extra point to give UCO a 7-3 lead with 9:06 left in the half.
The Bronchos gave up one first down on WT's next possession before Jermelle Cudjo and Quinton Prince teamed up for a sack that forced a punt from the Buff 31-yard-line. Anthony Anderson stormed through to block the kick, which bounded through the back of the end zone for a safety and a 9-7 UCO lead.
Kendall Hendricks returned the ensuing free kick 22 yards to give the Bronchos good field position and UCO promptly drove 57 yards in 10 plays -- nine of them runs.
Palmer had the big play with a 21-yard scamper, while Noohi picked up two yards on a fourth-and-one sneak down to the WT 15. Noohi hit Hendricks for 14 yards on the next play and Palmer scored on a second-down run from the one.
Weaver's PAT was blocked, but UCO had a 15-3 lead with 3:13 left in the half.
The Buffs answered right back, getting within 15-10 by halftime with a six-play, 61-yard scoring drive.
