Football 10/9/2019 8:00:00 AM Chris Brannick

Central Oklahoma Visits Central Missouri

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WARRENSBURG, Mo. – The University of Central Oklahoma football team is back on the road this week, taking on Central Missouri in Week 6 MIAA action.

Central Oklahoma is 2-3 this season, both overall and in league play. Central Missouri is 5-0 and ranked 15th in the country in the latest American Football Coaches Association Top 25.

UCO is aiming to snap a short skid. The Bronchos won in both Week 2 and Week 3, but have been on the wrong end of the final score in Week 4 and Week 5.

Central Oklahoma has won two straight in the series to pull the UCM lead to 5-2. The series began when the Bronchos joined the MIAA in 2012. Central Missouri won the first meeting that year in a bizarre, two-day game. With UCO ahead late in the first quarter, a lightning delay forced the game to be postponed for a day. UCM won after the team's returned Sunday. Central Missouri won each of the first five meetings. The closest game in the series was a 45-42 win for the Mules in 2015. Both of Central Oklahoma's wins in the series came in Edmond – 48-30 in 2017 and 33-26 in 2018.

Junior running back T.J. Roberts continues to be the focal point of the Central offense in his first season in the Bronze & Blue. From Phoenix, Ariz., the junior college transfer leads the team with 369 yards rushing through five games. He's done that on 63 carries and has a 5.9 yards per carry average. Roberts also has a team-high three rushing touchdowns. One of those, a 35-yarder against Pittsburg State in Week 1, is his longest rush of the season. Roberts also has been a factor out of the backfield. He's got nine catches for 80 yards in the passing game, including a season long reception of 30 yards.

Senior wide receiver Dustin Basks could also be considered the focal point of the Broncho passing attack. Basks has a team-high 17 receptions this season. He's the only Broncho in double figures in that category. He also has 304 yards receiving for an average of 17.9 yards per catch. Basks has two touchdowns – a 30-yard score against Pittsburg State and a 6-yard touchdown against Northwest Missouri. His 45-yard reception against Nebraska-Kearney is Central's longest pass play of the season. For his career, the Claremore, Okla. native now has 98 catches and 1,296 yards to go with 11 TDs. Basks needs 14 receptions to reach No. 10 on the school's all-time list. He needs 449 yards to reach the same spot on the all-time yards list.

Jakarri Hunt and O'Shay Harris lead the Central defense in total tackles this season. Hunt has 33 (24 solo, 9 assisted) and Harris has 32 (22-10). Jeremiah Hill and Bryan Burns aren't far behind. Hill also has 32 and Burns, who sat out last week, has 24.

Central Oklahoma has forced nine turnovers in five games this season. The Bronchos' plus-6 turnover margin is among the best in the country.

Marlo Hughes, Kolby Underwood, and Chris Lewis each have one interception for UCO. Dillon Hall and Christian Maloy each have two fumbles recovered, while Drequan Brown and Stephon Starks each have one fumble recovery.

UCO as a team is averaging 28.6 points per game. The Bronchos average 157 rushing yards per game and 208 passing yards per game. The Bronchos have scored 20 touchdowns in five games.

Central Missouri has a high-octane offense. The Mules lead the MIAA in scoring at 55.6 points per game. UCM averages 587 yards of offense per game. Quarterback Brook Bolles has over 1,500 yards passing and has thrown 21 touchdowns in five games.

UCO will return home in Week 7. The Bronchos are back inside Wantland Stadium to host Missouri Western on Saturday, Oct. 19 at 1 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

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

#30 Bryan Burns: LB; 6' 0"; Senior

#40 Dillon Hall: LB; 6' 0"; Senior

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

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

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

#41 Christian Maloy: LB; 6' 2"; Redshirt Freshman

#98 Stephon Starks: DL; 6' 2"; Senior

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

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

Players Mentioned

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

#30 Bryan Burns
: 6' 0"; Senior
: LB

#40 Dillon Hall
: 6' 0"; Senior
: LB

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

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

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

#41 Christian Maloy
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Freshman
: LB

#98 Stephon Starks
: 6' 2"; Senior
: DL

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

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