Football 10/30/2019 11:45:00 AM Chris Brannick

UCO Ready To Host Missouri Southern

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EDMOND – The University of Central Oklahoma football team is hosting Missouri Southern Saturday at 1 p.m. in Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association play. The game will be tabbed the Hall of Fame Game, as the university will recognize its 2019 UCO Athletics Hall of Fame Class at halftime. A formal banquet will follow the game.

Central Oklahoma enters Week 9 with a 3-5 overall record. The Bronchos won last week, 22-20, at Washburn, to snap a rare four-game losing streak. Missouri Southern is 2-6 on the season and beat Northeastern State last week in Tahlequah.

UCO will look to lean on its defense after the group had one of its better outings of the season last week in Topeka. Central has forced a turnover in seven out of eight games this season. The Bronchos have five interceptions on the year and have recovered eight fumbles. UCO has forced 10 fumbles.

The Bronchos will welcome a Missouri Southern team whose turnovers have a problem this season. MSSU quarterback Jacob Park, who does lead the country in passing yards (2,909), has thrown 20 interceptions this season, more than any other quarterback in the country. MSSU has also lost seven fumbles this season.

The Broncho defense will have plenty of opportunities Saturday to add to its 13 turnovers this season.

O'Shay Harris leads that defensive group. He has a team-high 56 tackles this season, including four behind the line of scrimmage, and also has one fumble recovery. Jeremiah Hill (49) and Jakarri Hunt (48) are also team leaders on getting to the football and making the tackle. Kolby Underwood, who has 27 tackles this season, has a team-high three interceptions.

On the offensive side of the football, UCO will continue its by any means necessary approach to winning football games.

Chandler Garrett has assumed the role of starting quarterback for the past two weeks and has been solid. The junior quarterback has thrown for 433 yards and five touchdowns. He's also ran for 239 yards and three touchdowns. His do-all style of play has kept defenses guessing.

Garrett is 33-for-71 this season with eight touchdown passes and just one interception. He's thrown for 501 yards. He also has 71 carries for 363 yards and a team-high five touchdowns.

His primary target, Dustin Basks, is having another stellar season – a follow-up to his All-MIAA campaign in 2018. Basks has a team-high 35 receptions and a team-high 574 yards and a team-high six touchdowns. He's up to 116 career receptions (10th-most all-time), 1,566 yards (11th-most all-time), and has 15 career receiving touchdowns, which is seventh-most all-time at Central Oklahoma.

Amonte Phillips is also a prime target for the Broncho offense. He has 30 receptions this season for 377 yards and four touchdowns.

T.J. Roberts is the top running back for the Bronchos. He has 87 carries this season for 485 yards and three touchdowns. The junior back is still searching for his first 100-yard game. He's had 98 and 96 yards this season. Roberts also has 10 catches for 83 yards.

Central Oklahoma leads the all-time series against Missouri Southern, 5-2. MSSU won in 2012 and 2013 before the Bronchos won their first in the series in triple overtime in 2014. UCO has won five straight in the series.

The Bronchos will be home for the next two Saturdays. Central hosts Northeastern State for the 79th all-time meeting Saturday, Nov. 9. That matchup is played annually for the President's Cup. UCO has also won five straight in that series, keeping the cup in Edmond since 2015.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

#14 O'Shay Harris: DB; 6' 1"; Senior

#36 Jeremiah Hill: LB; 6' 1"; Senior

#6 Jakarri Hunt: DB; 5' 11"; Senior

#21 Kolby Underwood: DB; 5' 10"; Sophomore

#11 Amonte Phillips: WR; 6' 3"; Sophomore

#1 T.J. Roberts: RB; 5' 10"; Junior

Players Mentioned

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

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

#14 O'Shay Harris
: 6' 1"; Senior
: DB

#36 Jeremiah Hill
: 6' 1"; Senior
: LB

#6 Jakarri Hunt
: 5' 11"; Senior
: DB

#21 Kolby Underwood
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: DB

#11 Amonte Phillips
: 6' 3"; Sophomore
: WR

#1 T.J. Roberts
: 5' 10"; Junior
: RB