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University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

The Official Site of Central Oklahoma University Athletics Central Oklahoma Athletics
Connor Pulley
Connor Pulley
32
Central Oklahoma UCO 1-6 , 1-6
47
Winner Nebraska-Kearney UNK 1-6 , 1-6
Central Oklahoma UCO
1-6 , 1-6
32
Final
47
Nebraska-Kearney UNK
1-6 , 1-6
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
UCO Central Oklahoma 3 7 7 15 32
UNK Nebraska-Kearney 7 20 13 7 47

Game Recap: Football | | Chris Brannick

Central Oklahoma loses at Nebraska-Kearney in high-scoring shootout

KEARNEY, Neb. - Chas Stallard threw four touchdown passes in relief effort for Central Oklahoma on Saturday, but it wasn't enough for the Bronchos to overcome six turnovers and UCO lost 47-32 at Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium in Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association play.

T.J. Eckert started the game for UCO, and was 8 of 17 in the second quarter when Stallard took over. Stallard got off to a 4 of 4 start, including an 18-yard touchdown pass to Alec Davidson. But by the end of the day, despite throwing for 282 yards and running for another 97, Stallard threw four interceptions and UCO could not overcome.

The win for Nebraksa-Kearney was the first since Nov. 15, 2014.

Connor Pulley was the main target on the day for Stallard. The senior wide receiver hauled in seven passes for 165 yards and three touchdowns. Pulley caught touchdown passes of six, six and 50.

Stallard led all Bronchos in rushing with 97 yards on 13 carries. Jake Gandara had 10 carries for 61 yards and Clay McKenzie had 11 for 40.

Central Oklahoma scored first on Saturday, a 43-yard field goal by Seth Hiddink in the first quarter. But from there, Kearney reeled off 20 unanswered points to take control of the game in the first half. 

That's when Nick Bobeck made the change at quarterback. Stallard provided a spark for the Bronchos offense in the second quarter ahead of his touchdown pass to Davidson. Kearney added one more score in the second to make it 27-10, Stallard threw the first of his picks as time expired in the first half on a hail mary pass, and that's how the teams went into halftime.

Kearney scored on a 51-yard touchdown pass on the first possession of the second half to cap off a quick, six-play 83-yard scoring drive. A bad snap prevented the Lopers from kicking the PAT, but Kearney still led 33-10. 

Stallard then orchestrated a three-play, 75-yard scoring drive. Stallard ran for 16 on the first play, a Kearney personal foul negated what would have been a two-yard loss on a sack, and instead gave the Bronchos another 15 yards. Stallard then found Josh Crockett for a 38-yard first down, and Stallard found Pulley for a 6-yard score to make it 33-17.

UCO made a stop on defense, and momentum was turning for the Bronchos. Stallard had UCO marching down the field. Unfortunately a pass to an open Pulley hung in the air too long, and Antwan Hadley grabbed it and returned the interception 96 yards for a score. That made it 40-17 with 4:17 to play in the third.

Pulley would score his other two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, and a two-point conversion on the second score made it 40-32 with six minutes to play. But Stallard would throw his fourth interception of the game with just under two minutes left and Tyke Kozeal returned it 16 yards for a score to make it 47-32.

The Bronchos are now 1-6 on the season. UCO returns to Edmond next week when it will host Missouri Southern on Saturday, Oct. 22 at 2 p.m.

 
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