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EDMOND (Oct. 30) -- Another down-to-the-wire game ended in another frustrating loss for Central Oklahoma Saturday afternoon at Wantland Stadium as the Bronchos fell to Lone Star Conference North Division rival Texas A&M-Commerce, 31-30.
UCO looked like it was going to force overtime when Josh Birmingham's two-yard touchdown burst capped an impressive 99-yard drive with a just 1:26 left to play, but the Bronchos missed the extra point that would have created a 31-31 tie.
The Lions then picked up one first down to run out the clock and hand UCO its third one-point loss of the season.
"The game wasn't decided by that one play," head coach Tracy Holland said of the missed PAT. "There were lot of plays throughout the game we could have made that would have made a difference and we just didn't do that. It was a tough loss, but I'm proud of the way we hung in there and battled."
The Bronchos were held to a season-low 260 yards on just 57 offensive plays, with three offensive line starters missing the contest along with starting quarterback Ethan Sharp. Landon Greve went the distance under center and completed 16-of-22 passes for 177 yards and a touchdown.
Birmingham was also limited to a season low in rushing, managing 55 yards and two scores on 19 carries while adding 72 yards on four receptions.
A&M-C finished with 384 yards, including 278 passing. Linebackers Tucker Cason and Turner Troup had 11 tackles apiece to lead UCO's defense, while cornerback Creadell Pennon had eight tackles with a sack that led to a touchdown and an interception that set up another score.
The Bronchos trailed 10-0 after one quarter, but got back in the game with defense when Pennon's blind-side sack of A&M-C quarterback Adam Farkes in the UCO end zone resulted in a fumble that Jeremy Atkins recovered for a touchdown that made it 10-7 with 10:20 left in the half.
The Lions came back with a 49-yard scoring drive -- their third of the game of less than 50 yards, thanks to special team returns -- to regain a 10-point advantage at 17-7 and then UCO scored twice in the final three minutes to tie it.
Chris Robbs booted a 25-yard field goal to end a 52-yard drive that made it 17-10 with 2:04 left and Pennon's interception and 41-yard return set up a short scoring drive capped by Greve's 14-yard scoring pass to tight end Bryce Davis, who dragged four defenders into the end zone.
That made it 17-17 with just 37 seconds left in the opening half, but that left A&M-C enough time to drive for the go-ahead touchdown as Farkes threw a 40-yard bomb on the final play to give the Lions a 24-17 lead.
UCO drew even in the opening minute of the third quarter when Artrell Woods returned the kickoff 74 yards to the A&M-C three-yard-line and Birmingham scored on the next play. It stayed deadlocked at 24-all until late in the period when the Lions scored on another short TD drive to go ahead 31-24.
The Bronchos went 99 yards in just nine plays to get close in the final stages of the game, with Greve passes of 14 and 38 yards to Birmingham the key plays. Birmingham finally ended it with a two-yard smash up the middle, but the errant PAT left UCO a point short.
