Football 8/27/2018 8:58:00 AM Chris Brannick

Central Oklahoma Football: Season 112, Episode 1

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The University of Central Oklahoma football team is set to open the 2018 season Thursday, Aug. 30 at Pittsburg State in a Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association road matchup at Carnie Smith Stadium.

The Bronchos and the Gorillas both bring six-game win streaks into the new year. Both teams also went 8-4 last season. Pitt State beat Central in Week 2 of the 2017 season 31-28 in Pittsburg to take a 10-4-1 lead in the all-time series. Central's last win in the series came in 2015 and it was at Pittsburg State, a 49-31 decision.

But the teams are new this year. It's Week 1 and both teams are eager to display their new product on the field.

For Central, the offense will feature a handful of new faces Broncho fans must get used to. Keats Calhoon, Will Collins, and Chandler Garrett – all sophomores – will take snaps at quarterback. Calhoon has thrown four career passes (with three completions and one touchdown). Garrett has thrown five career passes (with four completions and one touchdown). All of Collins' passes have come in practice.

The targets of each of the quarterbacks are mostly new. L'liott Curry, a junior, has 39 career receptions for 697 yards and seven touchdowns. Dustin Basks has 14 grabs and two scores and Everett Jefferson has two catches. But other than that, fans will be searching the roster for more info on anyone in Bronze & Blue who makes a catch on Thursday night.

Ronnie Turner Jr., Ronald Monroe, and Mekail Hall have made significant strides in fall camp and are ready to contribute. Central has a handful of other newcomers that might be jumping in the mix early as well.

The Central running backs feature a more familiar face to Broncho fans. Clay McKenzie headlines the bunch as he returns for a sixth-year of eligibility. McKenzie went down in Week 2 of last season at Pittsburg State and didn't return. But he's back now and the bruising rusher has more than 2,600 career yards and 36 career rushing touchdowns that he is looking to add to this season.

Bruce White also returns in the backfield. He came on late last season after numerous injuries to the Central backs. White shined. He rushed for 527 yards and four touchdowns. He finished the season with 216 yards in the Corsicana Bowl which equaled the 13th-most yards in one game in UCO history.

The Broncho defense features mostly familiar faces. Six defensive linemen return including a starter at each position. Four linebackers are back, including all three starters and two of the top three leading tacklers from a year ago in Colton Lindsey (100 tackles), and Alex Figueroa (79 tackles). UCO also has six back in the secondary, with three starters returning.

Lindsey and Figueroa headline the defense. The two linebackers lead the team off the field and are the evident leaders on the field. Figueroa, who also had a team-high 12 tackles behind the line of scrimmage and a team-high five sacks, earned Second Team All-MIAA honors last season. Lindsey was a Third Team selection.

Pittsburg State returns 15 players this season that started at least four games a year ago. The Gorillas have five back on offense and 10 on defense.

Senior quarterback John Roderique is back. He's a two-time All-MIAA selection who threw for 919 yards and three touchdowns last season, and also ran for 335 yards and one score. Roderique has over 4,600 career passing yards and more than 1,100 career rushing yards.

Pitt State's defense last season allowed just 21.9 points per game, allowing 345 yards per game. The Gorillas allowed 13 or less points in five straight games during that six-game win streak to end last season.

UCO will make its home debut in Week 2. The Bronchos open the gates to Wantland Stadium for the 54th season on Thursday, Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. with an MIAA contest against Nebraska-Kearney.

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Players Mentioned

#5 Dustin Basks: WR; 5' 9"; Junior

#18 Keats Calhoon: QB; 6' 1"; Sophomore

#15 L'liott Curry: WR; 5' 11"; Junior

#11 Alex Figueroa: LB; 6' 4"; Senior

#16 Chandler Garrett: QB; 6' 4"; Sophomore

#17 Mekail Hall: WR; 6' 3"; Redshirt Freshman

Everett Jefferson: WR; 6' 2"; Sophomore

#27 Colton Lindsey: LB; 6' 4"; Senior

#23 Clay McKenzie: RB; 5' 11"; Senior

#22 Bruce White: RB; 5' 2"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#5 Dustin Basks
: 5' 9"; Junior
: WR

#18 Keats Calhoon
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: QB

#15 L'liott Curry
: 5' 11"; Junior
: WR

#11 Alex Figueroa
: 6' 4"; Senior
: LB

#16 Chandler Garrett
: 6' 4"; Sophomore
: QB

#17 Mekail Hall
: 6' 3"; Redshirt Freshman
: WR

Everett Jefferson
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: WR

#27 Colton Lindsey
: 6' 4"; Senior
: LB

#23 Clay McKenzie
: 5' 11"; Senior
: RB

#22 Bruce White
: 5' 2"; Sophomore
: RB