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University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

The Official Site of Central Oklahoma University Athletics Central Oklahoma Athletics
Clay McKenzie
52
Winner Central Oklahoma UCO 1-2 , 1-2
42
Lindenwood LWU 1-2 , 1-2
Winner
Central Oklahoma UCO
1-2 , 1-2
52
Final
42
Lindenwood LWU
1-2 , 1-2
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
UCO Central Oklahoma 10 14 7 21 52
LWU Lindenwood 14 7 7 14 42

Game Recap: Football | | Chris Brannick

UCO Outlasts Lindenwood

ST. CHARLES, Mo. - The University of Central Oklahoma football team earned its first win of the 2018 season Saturday night after a 52-42 win at Lindenwood in Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association action at Harlen C. Hunter Stadium.

The Bronchos had stars all over the field Saturday. Keats Calhoon was near perfect at quarterback in the first half before being sidelined with an injury. Chandler Garrett was solid in backing up Calhoon. Clay McKenzie was powerful at running back. And Tyrone Howell and the Broncho receiving corps showed out in a break-out game for Central.

And that was just the offense.

The Bronchos defense had a similar stellar performance from numerous cast members. Malik Walker had an interception and could have had two more. O'Shay Harris also had an interception. And Daniel Baughman recovered a fumble by way of a backwards pass and returned it more than 60 yards for a touchdown to put the exclamation point on the Broncho victory.

"We had a good team effort tonight," seventh-year head coach Nick Bobeck said. "We responded to adversity today and that's how it's been this week. We needed to respond to a really tough situation and we did and we had to do that within this game too and we did. I'm really proud of the team for that effort."

UCO's need to respond has been constant since the Bronchos lost teammate  Derek Loccident for the season and presumably his career this past Sunday in a train accident. Central's need to respond began early Saturday at Lindenwood.

The Lions marched down the field in the first quarter and scored the game's first touchdown after just three and a half minutes. After the Bronchos managed a field goal on its first drive to make it 7-3, Lindenwood again marched right down the field to score and go up 14-3 with 2:58 to play in the opening quarter.

But Calhoon was poised and ready to strike. He got a lot of help from his offensive line and in the opening quarter, went 4-for-4 with 101 yards including a touchdown to Dustin Basks that made it 14-10.

Howell added a nifty 8-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter that gave the Bronchos the lead, and Basks caught his second score of the night - a 12-yard pass from Calhoon - to put Central up 24-14 with 1:38 to play in the first half.

Lindenwood took its turn with the big response. The Lions took the ensuing kickoff back for a touchdown to cut into the lead. At halftime, Central led 24-21.

Central would need to respond again in the third after Lindenwood re-took the lead 28-24. McKenzie was up to it. 

The sixth-year senior running back, who missed nearly all of last year with a knee injury, ran into the end zone for his first touchdown since scoring against Lindenwood in August of 2017 and gave the Bronchos a 31-28 lead with 4:34 to play in the third quarter.

Just before half, Calhoon was hit rolling out of the pocket, and Garrett stepped in. Calhoon wouldn't return, but as the theme went, Central responded. 

Garrett went on to throw a 62-yard touchdown pass to Howell in the fourth quarter, and a 37-yard strike to Ronald Monroe. 

Baughman capped off the night, and the win, with a 58-yard fumble return with 1:37 to play that put Central up 52-35. Lindenwood added a score on the game's final play to make it 52-42.

Calhoon finished the night 14-for-16 with 213 yards and three touchdowns. Garrett was 4-for-11 with 105 yards and two touchdowns.

McKenzie finished with 14 carries for 73 yards and a touchdown. His longest rush, 17 yards, came on 3rd & 14 in a crucial conversion late in the game. McKenzie's touchdown run gives him 37 career rushing touchdowns.

Basks had a team-high seven catches for 89 yards and two scores. Howell had five catches for 152 yards and two scores. McKenzie had two receptions for 25 yards and Monroe finished with just the one catch for 37 yards and the score.

Chris Pogi led the team with eight tackles Saturday. Harris also had eight tackles to go with his one interception. 

The Broncho defense also had four sacks on the night. Mike Rios, Noah Ingram and Dreyvon Christian each had one, while Tyrell Cummings and Noble Lybrand each had a half sack. Christian, who started in place of Loccident at safety, had seven tackles, 1.5 for a loss, and the sack.

Central Oklahoma will take on Northwest Missouri next week in Edmond. The Bronchos (1-2) host the Bearcats of Maryville, Mo. (3-0) at 6 p.m. at Wantland Stadium.
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