Football 10/28/2021 8:00:00 AM Chris Brannick

UCO Visits Pittsburg State

PITTSBURG, Kan. – The University of Central Oklahoma football team is back on the road in Week 9, with the Bronchos playing Pittsburg State Saturday at 1 p.m. in an MIAA matchup at Carnie Smith Stadium.

Central Oklahoma heads to Pitt State 4-4 this season while the host Gorillas are 6-2. The matchup pits two of the winningest programs in NCAA Division II history against each other. Pittsburg State holds the top spot with 721 all-time victories while Central is fourth historically with 644 all-time wins.

"We need to come out focused on execution," UCO head football coach Nick Bobeck said. "We feel like we've let more than one game get away from us just for a lack of execution. So we need to come out focused on doing our job and doing it right. That puts you in the best position to win."

Central Oklahoma had a three-game win streak snapped last weekend at home with a loss to Washburn, also 6-2 in the league. The Bronchos took a 17-16 lead with under four minutes to go but a kickoff return for a touchdown and a fumble return for a touchdown left Central in disbelief following a 29-17 loss. Now the Bronchos go to southeastern Kansas looking to get back in the win column.

Offensively, Central will look to continue its solid run game to establish the offense.

Jayce Gardner is seventh in the MIAA in total rushing yards this season. He leads the Bronchos with 483 yards on 92 carries this season. Gardner, a freshman from Moore, Oklahoma, is averaging 5.3 yards per carry this season and has four rushing touchdowns.

Stephon Brown also has 85 carries for 358 yards and eight touchdowns. The junior quarterback has gained 474 total yards rushing this season.

Keats Calhoon has stepped up his game over the last few weeks. The lefty quarterback is 82-for-127 with 888 yards and five touchdowns. His 64.6 percent passing rate is the fourth-best mark in the MIAA.

Calhoon, and Brown too, have both benefitted in the passing game from Markiese King.

A junior from Dallas, King leads the team with 499 receiving yards. He has 26 receptions for a 19.2 yards per catch average. King has also hauled in four touchdown passes – three over 50 yards – and has one rushing touchdown.

Josh Moore has a team-high 27 receptions. He has totaled 293 yards in the passing game this season. Gardner's 20 receptions are the third most on the squad and he has 122 yards receiving. Daunte McGee (18-122) and Johnny Bizzell IV (11-98) are both also active targets for both Calhoon and Brown.

Central averages 26.8 points per game this season on 355.1 total yards of offense per game. UCO splits the latter with 190.1 passing yards per contest and 165 rushing yards per game.

Defensively, the Bronchos allow 22.9 points per game on 357.5 yards per game. Opponents manage 218.9 passing yards and 138.6 rushing yards per game against UCO.

Dylan Buchheit has led the Central defense all season. The sophomore from Moore, Oklahoma has a team-high 59 tackles, which ranks 11th in the MIAA. Buchheit also has two interceptions – one returned for a touchdown – and three passes broken up to go with one fumble forced and one fumble recovered.

Elijah Wright and Lamontre Huval, UCO's duo of starting linebackers, are second and third on the team in tackles respectively. Wright has 37 stops, including two behind the line of scrimmage, to go with one QB hurry and one forced fumble. Huval has 36 stops, including 2.5 behind the line of scrimmage, to go with four passes broken up.

Hunter Largent is fourth on the team with 26 tackles and has three of those behind the line of scrimmage including 2.5 sacks. Michael Slater, 25 stops, has a team-high 9.5 tackles for a loss this season and also has 2.5 sacks. Robert Fuentes, with three sacks, leads the Bronchos in that category.

Pittsburg State welcomes Central to Carnie Smith Stadium Saturday with a 6-2 record this season. The Gorillas lost to Nebraska Kearney in Week 2 before winning three in a row. Then PSU lost to Northwest Missouri 20-19 in Week 6 by hooking a field goal that would have won the game. Pitt State has won its last two.

Pittsburg State averages 32.8 points per game this season on 413 yards per game. The Gorillas average 252 passing yards per outing and 161 rushing yards per contest. Defensively, Pittsburg gives up just 17.8 points on 342.8 yards per game.

Central Oklahoma will return home in Week 10. The Bronchos are scheduled to host Nebraska Kearney at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 6 in the 2021 home finale at Chad Richison Stadium. The Bronchos will wrap up the 2021 regular season Saturday, Nov. 13 at Central Missouri.

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Players Mentioned

#4 Johnny Bizzell IV: WR; 6' 0"; Junior

#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

#68 Hunter Largent: DL; 6' 2"; Freshman

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

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

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

Players Mentioned

#4 Johnny Bizzell IV
: 6' 0"; Junior
: WR

#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

#68 Hunter Largent
: 6' 2"; Freshman
: DL

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

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

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