RiverHawks Edge UCO For President's Cup

11/10/2012 4:10:00 PM

Adrian Nelson

Game Statistics

EDMOND (Nov. 10) – A lengthy fourth-quarter scoring drive gave Northeastern State the late lead and Central Oklahoma couldn't answer back in dropping a 22-20 season-ending decision Saturday afternoon at wind-blown Wantland Stadium.

The RiverHawks had two big fourth-down conversions in a 20-play, 83-yard drive that ate up 8:46 of the clock and was capped by Drew Patton's 21-yard field goal with 1:53 remaining.

The Bronchos had a chance after taking over at their own 43-yard line following a short kickoff and Joshua Birmingham's 22-yard return, but UCO picked up just 18 yards in seven plays and turned the ball over on downs at the NSU 39 with 50 seconds left.

The RiverHawks then ran out the clock the preserve their third straight President's Cup victory over the Bronchos. UCO ended its initial season under first-year head coach Nick Bobeck 2-8 overall and in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.

“It's a tough loss and I'm disappointed for our team because I thought they fought hard today,” Bobeck said. “We made some mistakes on both sides of the ball that hurt us, but the kids played with a lot of effort and emotion.”

The Bronchos jumped out to a 14-0 second-quarter lead only to see NSU pull within 14-13 by intermission on Patton's 31-yard field goal to end the half and then go ahead 19-14 early in the third period.

UCO came back with a long touchdown pass from Adrian Nelson to Christian Hood with 13:53 left to play to take a 20-19 lead and it stayed that way until NSU's late scoring march.

The RiverHawks kept the drive alive with three third-down conversions, including a 30-yard pass on third-and-nine, and also moved the chains on two fourth down plays.

NSU running back Joel Rockmore – who finished with 198 yards on 33 carries – picked up one yard on a fourth-and-one play at the RiverHawk 32 early in the drive and an offsides penalty against UCO on a fourth-and-two at the Broncho 28 extended it again.

Patton came on six plays later for the game-winning field goal.

UCO went 91 yards in 10 plays on their first possession of the game to take a quick 7-0 lead, with Nelson doing most of the damage. The junior quarterback completed 5-of-7 passes for 52 yards and ran twice for 40 yards, getting his first rushing TD of the season on a 23-yard scamper.

The Bronchos made it 14-0 early in the second quarter with a short TD drive after Antonio Jenkins forced a fumble on a reverse, with Dante' Lipscomb recovering at the NSU 28.

Nelson's 21-yard pass to Caden Locke on a third-and-17 play carried to the NSU one and set up Birmingham's short score on the next play, with Chris Robbs adding the extra point.

The RiverHawks answered back with a 70-yard touchdown drive and a 44-yard field goal march to pull within 14-10 before a punt that went minus-13 yards into a stiff wind led to Patton's 31-yard field goal on the final play of the half.

NSU took its first lead early in the third quarter when Cayle Shambaugh picked off a tipped pass and returned it 20 yards to the UCO seven, with the RiverHawks scoring three plays later on a five-yard pass.

The two-point conversion pass failed to leave NSU with a 19-14 lead.

Central regained the lead with another long TD drive, going 81 yards in six plays in a drive that started late in the third period and ended early in the fourth.

Nelson ended it with a 43-yard scoring strike to Christian Hood, who made a nice grab on the sideline before racing the final 20 yards untouched. UCO's two-point pass was incomplete to leave the lead at 20-19.

Nelson ended the day 18-of-35 passing for 211 yards while adding 45 yards rushing. Hood caught five passes for 87 yards.

Birmingham was limited to 53 rushing yards in 18 tries, but he still set a UCO career record for all-purpose yards after adding three kickoff returns for 62 yards and four receptions for 28 more. The junior star has 4,639 career yards, surpassing the record of 4,560 set by Steve Tate from 1977-80.

Thomas Hill had 11 tackles and Turner Troup 10 to top the defense.

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