Bronchos head to Tahlequah in Week 11

11/9/2017 10:44:00 AM | By: Chris Brannick

UCO quarterback Chas Stallard leads the Bronchos into the final game of the regular season Saturday at 3 p.m. in Tahlequah, Okla. against Northeastern State. [UCO Photo Services]

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TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The University of Central Oklahoma football team wraps up the 2017 regular season with a Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association matchup against rival Northeastern State Saturday at 3 p.m. at Doc Wadley Stadium in the battle for the President's Cup.

The Bronchos enter the final week of the regular season 6-4 and on a four-game win streak. The Riverhawks host UCO Saturday with a 1-9 record for the season. UCO has won three consecutive games in the rivalry that dates back to 1915. Since the schools began playing for the President's Cup in 1998, the Bronchos hold a slight 10-9 advantage. Central has a 47-27-2 all-time lead in the series.

"We try to treat this like every other game on our schedule," UCO head football coach Nick Bobeck said. "We aren't changing anything that we do. Sometimes this game is a little different though. It's the only Oklahoma school we play. We compete for a lot of the same kids out of high school and most of the players know each other. So, it can be a little different, that's why we as coaches have to try to do everything the same as any other game."

UCO's defense enters the game Saturday looking to finish the regular season on a high note. The Bronchos have had a handful of strong performances this season, and have in the past two games, forced four and five turnovers respectively. UCO picked off four passes against Central Missouri two weeks ago, and had three interceptions and two fumble recoveries in last week's win at Washburn.

Colton Lindsey continues to lead the way. The junior linebacker remains the team leader in tackles, 86, and also has five stops for a loss, an interception and three pass break-ups. Lindsey also has two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. Lindsey is getting lots of help too.

Alex Figueroa has 70 tackles, a team-high 9.5 for a loss, four sacks, and a fumble recovery. He's also been strong in the pass defense, batting down three balls, hurrying the quarterback twice.

Both UCO safeties have been key too. Riley Galyon and O'Shay Harris each have 69 tackles this season. Harris has broken up six passes and has one interception. Galyon has three break-ups and has also added 3.5 tackles for a loss.

Offensively, UCO continues to pick apart opposing defenses. Chas Stallard Saturday is looking to cap off an incredible career in which he set nearly every passing record at Central. The senior QB this season, is ranked fifth in the nation in passing yards with 2,970. He has 7,007 for his career, which is by far a school record.

Stallard says his receivers make his job easy. The main target in that group is J.T. Luper, who has 95 receptions for 1,456 yards. Both are tops in the country. Luper already has the school record for receptions in one season, he's tied for the touchdown mark at 11, and needs just 13 yards to hit the yards mark.

The Bronchos look for more than just Luper in the passing game. Josh Crockett and L'liott Curry have also had big years. Crockett has 40 catches for 573 yards and six touchdowns. Curry has 30 for 552 yards and five touchdowns.

UCO early this season took a big blow when its two senior running backs, both of whom had amassed 2,000 yards in their careers, went out with season-ending injuries. However, Central has been able to plug-and-play. Jake Standlee took a lot of the load (81 carries, 348 yards), Stallard of course is the Bronchos' leading rusher (125 for 466 yards), and now Bruce White has emerged as the latest offensive weapon. The freshman has 46 carries for 242 yards and two touchdowns in three games this season.

The Bronchos go for their fourth consecutive win in the series. It would be the sixth such longest streak in the history of the teams playing one another. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m.

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