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University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

The Official Site of Central Oklahoma University Athletics Central Oklahoma Athletics
Team
20
Central Okla. UCO 4-5 , 4-5
26
Winner Pittsburg State PSU 7-2 , 7-2
Central Okla. UCO
4-5 , 4-5
20
Final
26
Pittsburg State PSU
7-2 , 7-2
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
UCO Central Okla. 7 0 0 13 20
PSU Pittsburg State 10 13 3 0 26

Game Recap: Football | | Chris Brannick

UCO Comes Up Short In Kansas

PITTSBURG, Kan. – The University of Central Oklahoma football team lost 26-20 at Pittsburg State Saturday afternoon.
 
Central Oklahoma is 4-5 following the loss. The Bronchos are back in action in Week 10 MIAA football with the 2021 home finale next Saturday, Nov. 6 at 2 p.m.
 
Central totaled 306 yards of offense Saturday, with almost all of it coming in the passing game. Keats Calhoon threw for 286 yards and two big touchdowns. But the Bronchos failed to convert on several third downs (2-for-12) and some mistakes cost UCO.
 
"If we could have converted more of our chances early we would have been in a better position," UCO head football coach Nick Bobeck said. "We didn't score off our turnovers and we forced three of them. That's not good enough. If we score even just field goals off that, it's a different ball game."
 
UCO had two interceptions and a fumble recovery but had zero points off turnovers Saturday afternoon.
 
Central punted on its first possession of the game before Darius Hawkins got it back for the Bronchos with the first interception. The Bronchos then missed a field goal, a 39-yard attempt by Alex Quevedo drifted wide, and UCO found itself in an early deficit after Pittsburg State scored on the next possession with a 16-yard touchdown pass that capped off a 7-play, 79-yard scoring drive.
 
The Bronchos were soon down 10-0, but after the 54-yard field goal bounced off the cross bar and in, Central struck with a 75-yard touchdown pass from Calhoon to Josh Moore to make it 10-7 with 2:12 to play in the first quarter.
 
Pittsburg State then posted 13-0 second quarter to take command of the game. The PSU kicker, Cross Holmes, connected on a 25-yard field goal before the Gorillas scored on a 2-yard touchdown run. Holmes hit another from 35 yards to give Pittsburg a 23-7 lead heading to halftime.
 
Holmes hit his fourth field goal of the game late in the third quarter to make it 26-7.
 
Central had the ball, 2nd & 9, at its own 22-yard line as the game shifted to the fourth quarter. That's when Calhoon connected with Markiese King on a big, deep post and the junior wideout darted 78 yards for a touchdown. UCO failed a two-point conversion attempt after the King touchdown and trailed 26-13 with most of the fourth quarter to play.
 
UCO had a good chance late after Pitt State fumbled a punt return that Derek Loccident recovered. But the next four plays didn't net a first down for Central and the Bronchos gave it back to the Gorillas. Central got it back one more time though and did score on a 5-yard touchdown pass from Calhoon to Moore that made it 26-20, but Pitt State ran out the clock after that.
 
Calhoon finished 20-for-35 with 286 yards and three touchdowns. He hit Moore four times for a game-high 106 yards and two touchdowns. He hit King six times for 104 yards and the one touchdown. Calhoon completed a pass to seven different receivers Saturday.
 
He was also Central's leading rusher, at nine carries for 11 yards. Jayce Gardner added five carries for 11 yards.
 
Central Oklahoma's defense was strong Saturday, forcing five field goal attempts and three punts from PSU.
 
Dylan Buchheit led the effort with 11 tackles and Elijah Wright added nine. Michael Slater had eight tackles, including two for a loss, and a forced fumble. Robert Fuentes, who had seven tackles, had UCO's one sack on the afternoon.
 
Hawkins had a first-quarter interception and Dontez Fagan added another in the second quarter. Loccident's fumble recovery on the PSU muffed punt gave UCO three forced turnovers in the game.
 
Central Oklahoma is home next weekend for the final home game of the 2021 season. The Bronchos welcome Nebraska Kearney to Chad Richison Stadium Saturday, Nov. 6 at 2 p.m. The Bronchos will then hit the road in Week 11, visiting Central Missouri in Warrensburg.
 
 
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