Football 10/5/2021 10:00:00 AM Chris Brannick

President's Cup On The Line Thursday in Tahlequah

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The University of Central Oklahoma football team visits Northeastern State in Week 6 with the Bronchos and the Riverhawks set to kickoff for the annual battle for The President's Cup Thursday at 7 p.m.

The longtime rivals play each year for a trophy that lives with the winner for the next year. UCO has held possession of that trophy since Nov. 1, 2014 with the Bronchos winning each of the last six meetings. The teams did not play in 2020, ending a 23-year run of consecutive seasons played.

Central Oklahoma is 2-3 this season after a win over Lincoln in Week 5. Northeastern State is also 2-3 and coming off a loss to Central Missouri last Saturday.

UCO leads the all-time series 50-27-2. The teams first played in 1915 with the Bronchos winning 83-0. Central won the first eight meetings between the two schools and has a nine-game win streak from 1938-1950 that stands as the longest win streak for either school in the rivalry. During the current six-game win streak by the Bronchos, UCO is averaging 49.8 points per game. The Bronchos have scored 299 points during the current win streak, including a Wantland Stadium record 82 points in the most recent contest in 2019.

Northeastern State is 2-3 this season and has alternated results in each of its first five games (L-W-L-W-L). The Riverhawks are averaging an even 20 points per game through five games, posting 100 on the season. NSU averages 325.4 yards of offense per game, splitting 205.2 passing yards with 120.2 rushing yards per game. Defensively, NSU gives up 38.4 points per game on 499 yards allowed per contest.

Dylan Buchheit continues to be the team's leading tackler after five weeks of play. He's made 40 stops, 26 solo tackles and 14 assisted. He logged a career-high 14 tackles in Week 4. Buchheit also has one interception and one forced fumble to go with two pass breakups and another fumble recovery.

Lamontre Huval and Elijah Wright, both linebackers, are second and third on the roster in tackles through four weeks of play. Huval has 26, including two for a loss. Wright has 22 tackles, including 1.5 behind the line of scrimmage. Huval also has four pass breakups while Wright is credited with one QB hurry.

Central Oklahoma has produced nine sacks in five games. Michael Slater and Hunter Largent both have 1.5 sacks to lead the team. Derrick Shaw, Noah West, Jason Harris, Robert Fuentes and Sesi Salt all have one sack. Tre'Vaughn Craig and Zane Adams both have a half-sack.

UCO has two interceptions in five games and the Broncho defense has seen seven fumbles in five games, with Central recovering four. Rae'Quan Wicks and Buchheit each have an interception. Buchheit also forced a fumble that Shaw recovered in Week 1 and then recovered a fumble that Daniel Buaghman forced in Week 5. Noah West forced a fumble that Kobey Stephens recovered in Week 2. And Slater jumped on a loose ball in Week 3. Offensively, Central has thrown four interceptions and lost one fumble leaving the turnover battle at a 6-5 advantage after five weeks of play.

At quarterback for Central, Stephon Brown is 50-for-85 passing for 482 yards. He's thrown one touchdown and has three interceptions. Brown is also the team's leading rusher through four games. He has 63 carries for 257 yards, a 4.1 yards per carry average, and five touchdowns. He scored one rushing TD in both of the first two games this season before reaching the end zone three times last Saturday against Lincoln.

Keats Calhoon replaced Brown as the starting quarterback in Week 4 at Northwest Missouri and took every snap for the Bronchos. The two split time in UCO's win over Lincoln last Saturday. Calhoon, who also played a few series at Emporia State, is 30-for-48 with 302 yards and one touchdown.

Josh Moore, 15 receptions for 159 yards, has the most catches for any Broncho this season. Markiese King, 11 catches for 215 yards, is the total yards leader. King's 30-yard score in Week 1 was the only passing touchdown by UCO this season prior to last Saturday. But Andrew Kelow hauled in a 12-yard touchdown reception and King caught his second TD pass – from Moore on a double pass trick play – and he leads the Bronchos in that category as well. Daunte McGee has 11 receptions for 57 yards while Jayce Gardner has 10 for 75 yards. Diego Richards is third on the team in receiving yards, having tallied 103 yards on just five catches and he has done so in just two games.

Alex Quevedo had his senior season canceled in 2020 but took advantage of the NCAA's eligibility extension to return this fall and try to end his career on his own terms. The Azle, Texas native and kicker for UCO is in the Top 10 in school history for points scored. Quevedo's 149 PATs plus his 32 career field goals give him 245 points, the sixth-most in school history and the third-most of any kicker in school history. With eight PATs and two field goals this past Saturday, Quevedo moved up from seventh to sixth on the list. He also owns the school records for most consecutive PATs made in a game (11) and in a career (56, 2017-18). Quevedo has made 41 consecutive PATs to date.

Central Oklahoma will hit the road again next week to play at Fort Hays State on Oct. 16. The next home game for the Bronchos will be Homecoming, an Oct. 23 date against Washburn. Central Oklahoma will play at Pittsburg State (Oct. 30), home vs. Nebraska Kearney (Nov. 6), and at Central Missouri (Nov. 13) to wrap up the 2021 campaign.

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Players Mentioned

#57 Zane Adams: DL; 6' 2"; Freshman

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

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

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

#11 Jason Harris: LB; 6' 0"; Sophomore

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

#38 Andrew Kelow: HB; 6' 3"; Junior

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

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

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

Players Mentioned

#57 Zane Adams
: 6' 2"; Freshman
: DL

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

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

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

#11 Jason Harris
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: LB

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

#38 Andrew Kelow
: 6' 3"; Junior
: HB

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

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

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