UCO Falls To Tigers

10/22/2011 6:21:00 PM

Joshua Birmingham

Game Statistics

EDMOND (Oct. 22) – Fort Hays State used a big-play offense to put Central Oklahoma on its heels early and the Bronchos never recovered in dropping a 38-21 decision Saturday afternoon at Wantland Stadium.

The Tigers scored on a 60-yard run just four plays into the contest, added touchdown passes of 36 and 49 yards in building a 24-7 halftime lead and sealed the win with a 74-yard TD sprint midway through the final quarter. FHSU racked up 529 total yards, including 302 rushing.

UCO had plenty of offensive success of its own in amassing a season-high 503 yards -- passing for 298 and rushing for 205 – but the Bronchos came away with no points on four drives that went inside the FHSU 35, turning the ball over on downs twice and committing two turnovers.

The loss in the opener of a season-ending four-game homestand dropped UCO to 1-7, while the Tigers improved to 3-5. The Bronchos return to action in just five days, hosting Black Hills State for a rare Thursday game at 6 p.m.

UCO appeared to have momentum on its side in the third quarter after pulling within 24-14 on Landon Greve's 24-yard scoring pass to Tucker Holland and forcing a quick punt, but the Bronchos failed on a fourth-and-three play from the FHSU 32 minutes later and the Tigers responded with a 68-yard TD drive that made it 31-14 early in the final stanza.

An interception at the FHSU 10-yard-line and fumble into the end zone ended two of UCO's next three drives and the Tigers put the game away with their second long-distance scoring run of the game midway through the period that made it 38-14 before the Bronchos got a consolation score in the final minutes.

Greve took over at quarterback for UCO and completed 31-of-49 passes for 298 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions while also running 14 times for 47 yards. Joshua Birmingham ended up with 133 yards and a TD on 15 carries, while Holland caught six passes for 63 yards and two scores.

End Sam Moses led the defense with a career-high 12 tackles, including 3.0 for loss.

FHSU didn't waste time taking the lead, getting a 60-yard scoring scamper from quarterback Anthony Sheppard just 1:32 into the game. The Bronchos went three-and-out on their first two possessions and the Tigers made it 10-0 with 6:54 left in the opening period on a 42-yard field goal.

Birmingham keyed UCO's first TD drive with a 50-yard burst on a third-and-one play that carried to the FHSU eight and he ended it with a two-yard smash up the middle on the first play of the second quarter to pull the Bronchos within 10-7.

Sheppard had TD passes of 36 and 49 yards on the Tigers' next two possessions, with UCO turning the ball over on downs at the FHSU 27 to thwart a long drive as the Bronchos went into intermission facing a 24-7 deficit.

UCO dominated most of the third quarter, getting an interception from safety Dylan Warner and a big sack from linebacker Tucker Cason in limiting the Tigers to 48 total yards while scoring on a 66-yard drive to make it 24-14.

Greve had a 24-yard pass to Bryce Davis to ignite that possession and he ended it with a 24-yard scoring toss to Holland on a fourth-and-one play. Chris Robbs' extra point made it 24-14 with 5:25 left in the period.

The Bronchos turned the ball over on downs at the FHSU 32 late in the quarter and that's when FHSU regained control, going 68 yards in seven plays to increase its lead to 31-14 on Edward Smith's 10-yard TD run with 14:28 left to play.

Two of UCO's next three possessions ended with turnovers and Smith's 74-yard scoring dash with 6:49 remaining made it 38-14.

The Bronchos got their final score with 1:41 to play as Greve found Holland in the end zone from eight yards out to cap a 55-yard drive sparked by Birmingham's 21-yard run.

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