Football 10/21/2021 8:00:00 AM Chris Brannick

UCO Hosts Washburn For Homecoming

Bronchos Set To Play First Game In Chad Richison Stadium

EDMOND – The University of Central Oklahoma hosts the Washburn Ichabods of Topeka, Kansas Saturday and the matchup will mark the first game to be played in what is now known as Chad Richison Stadium.

UCO announced earlier this week the renaming of its stadium, formerly Wantland Stadium, honoring Richison. A former member of the UCO wrestling team and 1993 graduate, Richison has invested more than $25 million back to his alma mater. Central Oklahoma also announced stadium improvements that are scheduled to begin this December and will wrap up ahead of the 2022 football season.

Central Oklahoma welcomes Washburn to Edmond with a 4-3 record this season. The Bronchos are on a three-game win streak too. UCO won its season opener before a three-game slide. Then Central beat Lincoln, Northeastern State, and Fort Hays State, the latter two on the road.

Washburn is 5-2 this season and coming off a big upset of previously unbeaten and second-ranked Northwest Missouri. Washburn won its first two games of the 2021 season before losing two of the next three – both road games at Nebraska Kearney and at Emporia State. The Ichabods beat Fort Hays State in overtime at home before also knocking off NWMSU in Topeka.

UCO owns a 6-3 lead over Washburn in the all-time series between the two schools. Washburn won the first meeting in 2011 before Central joined the MIAA. The next year, the schools met as conference opponents and UCO won. That win in 2012 is also the first win for Central head football coach Nick Bobeck, who was hired earlier that year. Washburn won again in 2013 before the Bronchos won two in a row in 2014 and 2015. Washburn got its third win in the series in 2016 but Central has won three in a row from 2017-19. In Edmond, Central is 3-1 against the Ichabods.

Defensively, Central Oklahoma is allowing 22 points per game on 363.3 yards per game. Opponents average 222.6 yards passing against the Bronchos and 140.7 yards rushing against UCO.

Dylan Buchheit continues to be the team's leading tackler with 54 tackles (31 solo) and also has two interceptions and three pass breakups, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. The second of his two INTs was returned 37 yards for a touchdown. Elijah Wright, Central's starting linebacker and a freshman from Vian, Oklahoma, has 31 tackles this season, including two for a loss. He forced a fumble last week in Central's win at Fort Hays State. Lamontre Huval also starts at linebacker. He has 30 tackles with three behind the line of scrimmage and 2.5 sacks. He also has a team-high four passes broken up.

UCO has four interceptions as a team through seven games this season and the Bronchos have thrown four interceptions on the offensive side of the ball, leaving an even split in the turnover margin in that category. But UCO has also recovered six fumbles and only lost one this season. Buchheit, Martial Washington, Michael Slater, Derrick Shaw, and Kobey Stephens each have recovered fumbles for the UCO defense. Hector Beccera also has one recovery on offense.

Keats Calhoon and Stephon Brown have found success in a two-quarterback system this season. Brown started in Weeks 1-2-3-5 while Calhoon has started in Weeks 4-6-7. Calhoon has played in all but two games (Week 1 & 3) and Brown has played in all but one (Week 4). The duo has helped Central create a matchup nightmare for defenses with having to account for both styles of play throughout the games. Calhoon is 60-for-93 with 614 yards and four touchdowns. Brown is 55-for-96 with 525 yards and one touchdown. Brown is also the team's second leading rusher. He has 80 carries for 358 yards and a team-high eight touchdowns.

Markiese King, who also has one rushing touchdown, has the most yards receiving of any Broncho this season. King has hauled in 20 passes in six games for 393 yards and three touchdowns. He caught a 30-yard touchdown pass from Brown and a 57-yard touchdown pass – Central's longest play from scrimmage this season – from fellow receiver Josh Moore. Then he topped that with a 59-yard touchdown from Calhoon last week. Moore has a team-high 22 receptions for 244 yards. His longest reception of the season is 46 yards. Daunte McGee has 18 receptions for 122 yards and one touchdown. He scored on a 20-yard touchdown pass from Calhoon at Fort Hays State last week.

Jayce Gardner, a freshman from Moore, Oklahoma, is the team's leading rusher at 78 carries for 412 yards and three touchdowns. He posted his first career 100-yard game in Week 6 at Northeastern State. He had 94 yards last week. Gardner is eighth in the MIAA in rushing yards. He also has 15 receptions for 83 yards.

Washburn comes to Edmond after its big win over Northwest Missouri. The Ichabods are not ranked though at 5-2. WU is receiving votes and more than any other non-ranked team, leaving the squad virtually No. 26 in the country. Washburn averages 35.1 points per game this season and its defense is holding opponents to 23.1 points per outing. Washburn averages 431.3 yards of offense per game, splitting that mark at 292.1 passing yards per game and 139.1 rushing yards per game. The Ichabod defense gives up 361 yards per game, splitting that with 243 passing yards per game and 118 rushing yards per game.

Central Oklahoma has three games left on the schedule in 2021. After this week, the Bronchos visit Pittsburg State on Saturday, Oct. 30 for an MIAA matinee. UCO then hosts Nebraska Kearney Nov. 6 before wrapping up the regular season Nov. 13 at Central Missouri.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#10 Dylan Buchheit: DB; 6' 1"; Sophomore

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

#20 Jayce Gardner: RB; 5' 11"; Freshman

#30 Lamontre Huval: LB; 6' 2"; Senior

#1 Markiese King: WR; 5' 8"; Junior

#85 Daunte McGee: HB; 6' 5"; Junior

#0 Josh Moore: WR; 5' 10"; Senior

#93 Derrick Shaw: DL; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#6 Martial Washington: DB; 6' 3"; Senior

#15 Elijah Wright: LB; 5' 11"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#10 Dylan Buchheit
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: DB

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

#20 Jayce Gardner
: 5' 11"; Freshman
: RB

#30 Lamontre Huval
: 6' 2"; Senior
: LB

#1 Markiese King
: 5' 8"; Junior
: WR

#85 Daunte McGee
: 6' 5"; Junior
: HB

#0 Josh Moore
: 5' 10"; Senior
: WR

#93 Derrick Shaw
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: DL

#6 Martial Washington
: 6' 3"; Senior
: DB

#15 Elijah Wright
: 5' 11"; Freshman
: LB