Central Oklahoma quarterback T.J. Eckert runs the ball against Pittsburg State on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2016 at Wantland Stadium in Edmond, Okla. [Photo by K.T. King, UCO Photo Services]
EDMOND - The University of Central Oklahoma couldn't keep the offensive firepower going late in the game against Pittsburg State Thursday at Wantland Stadium and lost 45-31.
The Bronchos (0-2) went into the final stanza tied at 31, but a late Pittsburg touchdown and then a pick-6 for the visitors sealed a win and a second straight loss to open the season for UCO.
Senior quarterback T.J. Eckert led the Bronchos with 110 yards rushing on 18 carries and threw for 174 yards. Unfortunately, Eckert threw his second interception of the game with just more than a minute to play and Spencer Brown returned it 25 yards for the score to make it 43-31. Pittsburg converted a two-point conversion to make it 45-31.
Clay McKenzie and Jake Gandara helped the Bronchos to a 300-yard game on the ground. Gandara ran for 95 yards on 10 carries and McKenzie ran for 82 yards on 12 carries, and both found the endzone.
McKenzie opened the scoring in the game with a 4-yard score with 11:06 to play in the first quarter. Pittsburg State answered with a scoring drive of its own that ended with a 44-yard field goal to make 7-3.
With 2:40 to play in the first quarter, Eckert ran the ball in from 8-yards out to for his first rushing touchdown of the season and the extra point made the score 14-3. But again, Pittsburg State answered. Austin Panko caught and 8-yard touchdown pass in traffic to make it 14-10.
Pittsburg finally took the upper hand with under seven minutes to play in the second quarter when Lorenzo West scored on a 30-yard run to make 17-14.
Then it was the Bronchos' turn to answer with a scoring drive and McKenzie did in a big way. On a night when first 1,000 fans received No. 45 jerseys, McKenzie ran for a 45-yard touchdown to put the Bronchos up 21-17. Pittsburg responded again with a 1-yard touchdown run from Dre Holman to make it 24-21 just before halftime.
But while Seth Hiddink was on the sideline warming up his leg, the Bronchos executed a perfect two minute drill to set up Hiddink for a chance to tie it before the half. UCO's offense got in position, and Hiddink nailed a 48-yarder to tie it at 24. It was the second straight game Hiddink hit a field goal as the first half clock expired.
Gandara took his turn to get to the endzone with a highlight-reel 65-yard run to put the Bronchos up 31-24. Once again, Pittsburg answered to tie it at 31-31 with six minutes to play in the third quarter and then both defenses shored up their holes and started making stops.
That was until Kiah Kintchen put the Gorillas up with his 1-yard run at 1:56 to play, forcing the Bronchos into a frantic offense.
UCO hits the road again in Week 3. The Bronchos travel to Fort Hays State next Saturday with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m.
