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University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

The Official Site of Central Oklahoma University Athletics Central Oklahoma Athletics
J.T. Luper
J.T. Luper
31
Winner Fort Hays State FHSU 3-0 , 3-0
24
Central Oklahoma UCO 1-2 , 1-2
Winner
Fort Hays State FHSU
3-0 , 3-0
31
Final
24
Central Oklahoma UCO
1-2 , 1-2
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
FHSU Fort Hays State 0 7 14 10 31
UCO Central Oklahoma 14 0 0 10 24

Game Recap: Football | | Chris Brannick

Upset minded Bronchos fall to Fort Hays

EDMOND – Chas Stallard launched a hail mary as the final seconds ticked off the clock, but the pass was broken up in the end zone and No. 21 Fort Hays State handed the University of Central Oklahoma a 31-24 loss at Wantland Stadium Saturday night before 4,712 fans in Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association action.

Stallard threw for 293 yards and became UCO's all-time leader in total offense, but was just one play short Saturday.

"This entire university should be proud of that kid," UCO head football coach Nick Bobeck said. "He's going to have his MBA when he's done here, and now he's the all-time leader in total offense. I'm really proud of him."

Stallard passed TJ Eckert for most combined offensive yards in school history. After UCO and Fort Hays State traded punts to start Saturday's game, Stallard connected with J.T. Luper on a 75-yard pass play to move to the top of the list. The Cleveland, Okla. native has totaled 6,575 yards (4,754 passing, 1,821 rushing) in his career at Central.

Stallard would run in 15-yard touchdown – two plays after Luper's catch – to put the Bronchos up 7-0 against the nationally-ranked Tigers.

UCO then forced its first turnover of the season on the next drive, a Trey Wormington interception behind the line of scrimmage, to give UCO first-and-10 at the Fort Hays 17-yard line. Stallard then ran in his second touchdown of the game from three yards out to make it 14-0.

The Bronchos then allowed Hays to not only get back in the game with a lone second-quarter touchdown, but take a lead in the third quarter following 21 unanswered points.

UCO closed the gap with a big, 46-yard field goal with 11 minutes left to play in the fourth quarter. Freshman Alex Quevedo has handled kickoff and extra-point duties this season, but had yet to kick a field goal before Saturday. His first career attempt, into a 15 miles per hour south wind, split the uprights and the Bronchos only trailed 21-17.

The Bronchos then forced Hays to punt, and took over at their own 36 with 9:27 to go. Stallard hit Luper for a quick 13-yard gain on first down, then went deep to L'liott Curry on the next play. Curry drew a pass interference call and put the Bronchos on the FHSU 36 with first down.

Stallard connected with Curry three plays later for a 12-yard touchdown to give UCO a 24-21 lead with more than seven minutes to go.

Fort Hays tied it with a field goal on the next drive, and forced the Bronchos to punt with 1:27 on the clock in the fourth. Four plays later, Hays' Monterio Burchfield caught a pass and raced 64 yards for what would be the game-winning touchdown.

The Bronchos got their final shot. UCO started at its own 25 following a touchback on the kickoff with 42 seconds left, and all three timeouts remaining.

Stallard hit Curry for a 20-yard gain on the first play of the series, before throwing an incomplete pass to Caleb Moss on the next play.

Stallard then, scrambling around in the backfield trying to avoid a pass rush got hit by a defender. He broke free and hit Jake Standlee for a 21-yard gain, however, offensive lineman Noah Hammons helped Stallard escape the grasp of the Hays defender and the big first down was called back.

Next play. Stallard finds Luper again, and again, a 21-yard gain for the Bronchos. Bobeck called a timeout with five seconds on the clock, and all knew what was coming. The desperate heave to the end zone was the only hope for maybe tying the game.

Stallard had the time, and took his shot. The pass, intended for Luper, was batted down and time had run out on the Broncho upset bid.

UCO totaled 382 yards on the night, with 293 coming from Stallard in the passing game. The Bronchos lost senior running backs Clay McKenzie and Jake Gandara to injury, and were left to use a pair of freshmen in Standlee and Quan Hogan. Standlee ran for 42 yards on 11 carries. Hogan, six yards on five carries.

Stallard had 39 yards on 13 carries. He gained 51 yards rushing, but was sacked twice. He finished the game 23-of-29 passing for 293 yards and a touchdown.

Luper led the way in the air attack, making 12 catches for 192 yards. Senior Josh Crockett added four catches for 38 yards. Curry had two for 32 and a touchdown.

Defensively, UCO did allow 535 total yards of offense, but took away some hope in that the Bronchos forced their first two turnovers of the season, and sacked Hays quarterback Jacob Mezera four times.

Stephan Robinson led the Bronchos in tackles with 12, and added a forced fumble and a big interception on the Broncho 1-yard line in the first half. Alex Figueroa added 10 tackles and a sack. Eli Hooks, Carson Smith, and Noble Lybrand also recorded a sack.

Central Oklahoma hits the road in Week 4, traveling to Missouri Western in St. Joseph, Mo. Western is also 1-2 on the season after losing a shootout, 66-44 to Central Missouri Saturday. Kickoff next week is scheduled for 6 p.m.

 
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