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University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

The Official Site of Central Oklahoma University Athletics Central Oklahoma Athletics
Jake Gandara
41
Winner Pittsburg State PSU 10-1 , 10-1
14
Central Oklahoma UCO 8-3 , 8-3
Winner
Pittsburg State PSU
10-1 , 10-1
41
Final
14
Central Oklahoma UCO
8-3 , 8-3
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
PSU Pittsburg State 10 17 14 0 41
UCO Central Oklahoma 0 7 0 7 14

Game Recap: Football |

Gorillas Topple UCO

Game Statistics

EDMOND (Nov. 15) – No. 6-ranked Pittsburg State's high-octane attack was simply too much for Central Oklahoma as the Bronchos fell 41-14 in the regular season finale Saturday afternoon at Wantland Stadium.
 
The Gorillas scored on their first five possession of the game and racked up 356 of their 531 total yards in the first half to take a 27-7 lead en route to improving to 10-1 in earning a share of Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association championship and clinching a berth in the NCAA Division II playoffs
 
UCO had its three-game winning streak stopped in falling to 8-3, though the Bronchos are expected to gain a berth in the Mineral Water Bowl after finishing third in the final league standings. That game pits teams from the MIAA and the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference in Excelsior Springs, Mo. on Dec. 6, with an announcement expected Sunday evening.
 
"Pitt State has an outstanding football team and we didn't play nearly well enough to stay with them," head coach Nick Bobeck said.  "We played hard, but we made some mistakes typical of a young team that really hurt us.  It's been a great season and we hope we get the opportunity to play another game."
 
PSU quarterback Anthony Abenoja hit 21-of-29 passes for 290 yards and a touchdown and the Gorillas also rushed for 241 yards.  Wide receiver Marquise Cushon had 88 yards and a TD on just four carries while also catching four passes for 68 yards and a score.
 
UCO was limited to 222 total yards, including a season-low 71 passing.  Running back Jake Gandara had a stellar outing with 103 yards and both touchdowns on just 11 rushes in surpassing the 1,000-yard mark (1,077).
 
Defensively, the Bronchos got 14 tackles from safety Matt Pruitt and 10 from linebacker Chass Glaspie.
 
PSU took control quickly, forcing the Bronchos into a quick punt and then going 57 yards in four plays to take a 7-0 lead just four minutes into the contest.
 
UCO lost a fumble at the Pitt State 43-yard-line on its next possession and the Gorillas drove in for a short field goal to make it 10-0 before adding a 73-yard TD drive early in the second period to go up 17-0.
 
The Bronchos answered quickly to that score when Gandara burst through a gaping hole over the left side and raced 74 untouched yards to pull UCO within 17-7 with 13:15 left in the half.
 
But PSU's offense couldn't be stopped and the Gorillas pushed their lead to 27-7 by intermission behind a 52-yard field goal drive and eight-play, 92-yard TD march.
 
The Gorillas then scored on their first two possessions of the third period to make it 41-7.
 
UCO's final score came early in the final stanza when Gandara capped a 63-yard march with a one-yard TD smash.  Chas Stallard's 17-yard pass to Myles Tease was the key play of that drive.
 
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