Game Statistics
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. (Oct. 23) – A blocked punt and fumble return led to a pair of short Northeastern State touchdown drives as Central Oklahoma dropped a 39-28 Lone Star Conference North Division decision at rain-drenched Doc Wadley Stadium here Saturday afternoon.
The Bronchos led 28-25 entering the fourth period, but NSU scored on the first play of the final quarter to take the lead for good and then used a 90-yard TD drive to extend that to 39-28 with 9:12 left to play.
UCO didn't pick up another first down the rest of the way and fell to 2-6 on the year, 2-5 in the overall league standings and 1-3 in the North Division with its third straight loss. The RiverHawks improved to 5-3, 5-2 and 4-0.
The Bronchos finished with a season-low 331 total yards after racking up 214 in the first two quarters. Two big injuries handicapped the Bronchos, with quarterback Ethan Sharp missed extended second-half action after he was shaken up and tackle Cody Hughes going out midway through the third period.
Tailback Josh Birmingham once again sparked UCO, rushing for 102 yards and one touchdown on 24 carries while adding 62 yards and a score on six receptions. He became the 24th player in school history to reach the 1,000-yard rushing mark on the season and has 1,001 with three games remaining.
Sharp finished 19-of-38 passing for 216 yards and two scores.
NSU ended up with 428 yards, passing for 264 and rushing for 164. Safety Keno Meadows had 11 tackles and tackle Sam Moses seven to pace UCO's defensive effort.
UCO trailed 25-21 at intermission, but opened the second half with a nine-play, 62-yard drive to move in front. Sharp and Birmingham hooked up for a 33-yard scoring toss on a fourth-and-seven play, with Birmingham taking the swing pass and weaving his way down the sideline for the TD.
That lead held up until the RiverHawks ended an 80-yard drive with a one-yard run on the opening play of the fourth period to go ahead 32-28 and NSU went 90 yards in 11 plays on their next possession to make it 39-28.
The lead changed hands three times in the first half, with the RiverHawks scoring 10 points in final 3:19 to take a slim lead at the break.
The Bronchos went 85 yards in 11 plays on their first possession of the game to take an early 7-0 lead, with Sharp tossing a six-yard lob pass to Dolphin Davis for the touchdown.
Birmingham ripped off an 18-yard run on the first play of the drive in addition to catching three passes for 27 yards, while Sharp also had a big 31-yard completion to Davis down the sideline on a third-and-13 play.
NSU came right back with an 86-yard TD drive before surprising UCO with a two-point conversion pass to take an 8-7 lead and that became a 15-7 advantage early in the second quarter when the RiverHawks scored on a 28-yard pass one play after blocking a punt.
The Bronchos responded with 14 unanswered points to regain the lead, scoring on another lengthy drive and a fumble return.
Sharp was 4-of-4 for 47 yards in the six-play, 68-yard march that Birmingham capped with a three-yard scoring burst midway through the second quarter and UCO went up 21-15 less than two minutes later when Creadell Pennon picked up an NSU fumble and returned it 37 yards for a touchdown.
The RiverHawks used a 51-yard pass to move to a first-and-goal at the UCO seven-yard-line on their next possession, but defensive plays by Drake Ballew and Andy Navarro forced NSU to settle for a 21-yard field goal that made it 21-18 with 2:42 remaining in the half.
Sharp fumbled while being sacked on UCO's next possession and the RiverHawks returned it to the Broncho 16 to set up another short TD drive that gave NSU a 25-21 lead with just 1:52 left.
The Bronchos play their final home game of the season next Saturday, hosting Texas A&M-Commerce at 2 p.m.
