Football 9/28/2021 11:00:00 AM Chris Brannick

Central Hosts Lincoln In Annual Hall of Fame Game

EDMOND – The University of Central Oklahoma football team welcomes Lincoln (Missouri) to Wantland Stadium in Week 5. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday.

The Bronchos enter this weekend's annual UCO Athletics Hall of Fame Game with a 1-3 record. Lincoln is 0-3. The Blue Tigers of Jefferson City, Missouri did not play in Week 2 due to a canceled game.

Central is aiming to snap a three-game slide. The Bronchos beat Missouri Western 24-20 in Week 1 at Wantland Stadium but have been turned away in each of the last three games. UCO lost at Emporia State, 31-21, home versus Missouri Southern, 14-10, and at Northwest Missouri, 38-0.

Lincoln has lost at home to Washburn, 76-12, on the road to Fort Hays State, 72-0, and again at home against Northeastern State, 49-48, in overtime.

Dylan Buchheit leads Central's defense with 33 tackles in four games. The sophomore safety from Moore, Oklahoma has 24 solo stops and nine more assisted tackles. Buchheit also has one interception and one forced fumble (recovered by the Bronchos) and has broken up two passes.

Lamontre Huval and Elijah Wright, both linebackers, are second and third on the roster in tackles through four weeks of play. Huval has 21, including one for a loss. Wright has 19 tackles, including 1.5 behind the line of scrimmage. Huval also has two pass breakups while Wright is credited with one QB hurry.

Central Oklahoma has produced eight sacks in four games. Michael Slater's 1.5 sacks leads 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.

Through four weeks of play, Central's offense is averaging 254.5 yards per game and posting 13.8 points per game. The Bronchos average 147.5 passing yards per contest and 107 rushing yards.

Stephon Brown is Central's leading rusher. In three games played, the 6-foot-5 dual threat quarterback has 51 carries for 173 yards and two touchdowns.

Jayce Gardner is second in yards gained. The second-year freshman has 33 carries for 130 yards and one touchdown. Payton Scott also has 28 carries for 105 yards and a score.

Brown is also Central's leading passer after four weeks. In three games, the North Carolina native is 46-for-78 passing for 431 yards and a touchdown. Keats Calhoon played every snap in Week 4 at QB and is 19-for-35 with 159 yards.

Josh Moore, 11 receptions for 90 yards, has the most catches for any Bronchos this season. Markiese King, seven catches for 110 yards, is the total yards leader. King's 30-yard score in Week 1 is the only passing touchdown by UCO this season.

Gardner (10-75), Daunte McGee (9-44), Scott (7-27), Diego Richards (5-103) and Johnny Bizzell IV (4-34) are all targets in the passing game.

Lincoln comes to Edmond averaging 20 points per game. The Blue Tigers put up 331.7 yards of offense per game, posting 266 yards passing and 65.7 yards rushing per outing. Defensively, LU gives up 65.6 points per game on 558.7 yards per game. The Blue Tigers allow 287.3 through the air and 271.3 on the ground per contest.

UCO leads the all-time series against Lincoln, albeit a brief history. The Bronchos own a 3-0 record against the Blue Tigers. Central got two wins after joining in the MIAA in 2012, winning that season 56-25 before earning a 49-42 victory in 2013. Lincoln left the MIAA in football for six seasons but upon return in 2019, the Bronchos picked up their third win by a score of 63-0. That last meeting came at Wantland Stadium.

Central Oklahoma will start a two-game road trip following Saturday's contest. The Bronchos are scheduled to visit longtime rival Northeastern State Thursday, Oct. 7 for the annual battle for the President's Cup before making a trip to Fort Hays State on Oct. 16. UCO's next home game will be Oct. 23 against Washburn. That game will also serve as Homecoming at Central.

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Players Mentioned

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

#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

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

#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

Players Mentioned

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

#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

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

#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