Game Statistics
BLACKWATER DRAW, N.M. (Oct. 9) – Everything turned on Central Oklahoma in the second half of Saturday's Lone Star Conference North Division battle with Eastern New Mexico here Saturday afternoon and the Bronchos ended up absorbing a 49-31 setback at Greyhound Stadium.
UCO led 24-21 at halftime and again 31-28 early in the third quarter, but the Bronchos couldn't contain the passing and scrambling of ENMU quarterback Wesley Wood and struggled offensively the rest of the way as the Greyhounds reeled off 21 unanswered points to nab the win.
The loss dropped UCO to 2-4 on the year, 2-3 in the overall league standings and 1-1 in the North Division. ENMU improved to 3-3, 2-3 and 2-1.
Wood completed 20-of-31 passes for 194 yards and four touchdowns while adding 67 yards on nine rushes to spark the Greyhounds, who scored on an interception return and had another TD set up by a long kickoff return.
UCO ended up gaining a season-high 451 total yards -- 302 coming in the first half -- as Ethan Sharp hit 23-of-44 passes for 310 yards and two TDs, with Daniel Morrell catching seven for 114 yards and a score. Josh Birmingham added 148 yards and two TDs rushing in 26 attempts.
The Bronchos led 31-28 early in the third quarter after Birmingham ripped off a 58-yard scoring run up the middle, but it was all ENMU after that.
The Greyhounds came back with a 79-yard touchdown drive to take the lead for good at 35-31 with 5:30 left in the quarter and then – after the teams traded interceptions – made it 42-31 early in the final period on a 66-yard TD march.
ENMU pushed its lead to 49-31 minutes later on a 62-yard interception return and neither team threatened again.
It was a back-and-forth first half, with UCO building a 17-7 lead at one point only to see the Greyhounds go back on top 21-17 before a final-minute touchdown gave the Bronchos a 24-21 advantage at intermission.
Sharp's 50-yard pass to Morrell set up a 36-yard Chris Robbs field goal on UCO's opening possession of the game for an early 3-0 lead, with the Greyhounds coming back to take a 7-3 lead late in the period.
The Bronchos went 67 yards in 14 plays on their next offensive try to regain the lead, converting three third-down problems en route before Birmingham leaned across from a yard out for the score.
UCO forced a quick punt and then went 66 yards to increase its lead to 17-7 with 9:37 left in the half, the big play a 35-yard pass from Sharp to Dolphin Davis that got the Bronchos to the ENMU 15. Sharp got the score on a third-and-eight play from the 13 when he found Morrell open in the back of the end zone.
ENMU returning the ensuing kickoff 75 yards to set up a short 10-yard scoring drive that cut the lead to 17-14 and Wood threw a 41-yard TD bomb minutes later to give the Greyhounds a 21-17 lead with 3:24 left in the period.
UCO then marched 69 yards to move in front 24-21 at the break, with Sharp's 20-yard dart to Tucker Holland on a third-and-seven play keying that drive. That duo hooked up again for the touchdown when Sharp drilled a pass to Holland crossing the middle of the end zone with just 35 seconds left in the half.
The Bronchos still looked good after Birmingham's long TD jaunt, but the game soon turned ENMU's way.
The Bronchos return home next week to celebrate Homecoming against Southeastern Oklahoma. Kickoff for that LSC North Division contest will be 2 p.m. at Wantland Stadium.
