Football 10/25/2022 9:00:00 AM Chris Brannick

Central Welcomes Pitt State for Homecoming Saturday

EDMOND – The University of Central Oklahoma football team welcomes Pittsburg State to Chad Richison Stadium for a Week 9 MIAA matchup. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.

It's Homecoming for Central Oklahoma this week. The Bronchos are 5-3 on the season with a 4-0 record playing on its new home turf.

Pittsburg State comes to Edmond with an 8-0 overall record. The Gorillas of Pittsburg, Kansas are ranked No. 5 in the country in this week's AFCA Top 25. PSU is ranked No. 4 in the nation in the D2Football.com poll.

"We're going to have to come out with a lot of energy and enthusiasm," UCO head football coach Adam Dorrel said. "Pittsburg State is a really good team and we're going to have to be focused on executing."

Central Oklahoma welcomes Pitt State to Edmond looking to get back in the win column after its four-game win streak was snapped last weekend. UCO dropped a 37-9 decision at Washburn.

The Bronchos are averaging 26.1 points per game this season and UCO does so on 356.8 yards of total offense per game. Central averages 208 yards passing and 148.8 yards rushing per game.

Defensively, UCO concedes 21.4 points per game on 342 yards of offense. Opponents average 209.5 yards passing and 132.5 yards rushing per game against the Bronchos.

Central Oklahoma has the No. 3 run defense in the MIAA.

To counter, Pittsburg State comes to Edmond averaging 32.2 points and allows just 15.2 points per game. The Pitt State offense averages 400.6 yards of offense, splitting that mark 257.1 passing to 143.5 rushing yards per game. The PSU defense gives up on average 280.9 yards per game, splitting that mark 177.1 passing to 103.8 rushing.

Pittsburg State is one spot in front of the Bronchos in the MIAA's list of best run defenses.

UCO's defensive leaders include defensive back Dylan Buchheit, linebacker Noah West and defensive lineman Michael Slater.

Buchheit has a team-high 45 tackles through eight games, including two in the backfield. The junior safety also has one pass breakup this Fall.

West has 29 tackles, including a team-high eight in the backfield. The sophomore, who plays both linebacker and defensive end in some packages, has eight tackles for a loss for a combined 33 yards. West also has a team-high 4.5 sacks for a combined loss of 28 yards. And, West also has two interceptions.

Slater has 17 tackles, including 3.5 for a loss and 2.5 sacks.

As a team, UCO has 48 tackles for a loss this season including 14 sacks. The Bronchos also have 11 interceptions, which is the most of any team in the MIAA.

The leaders on offense for Central Oklahoma start with quarterback Stephon Brown. The dual-threat signal caller has 1,404 yards passing through eight games with 11 passing touchdowns. Brown also has 282 yards rushing and five TDs.

Jacob Delso and Oscar Hammond lead the receiving corps with both hauling in a team-high 20 passes through eight games. Delso has 20 receptions for 282 yards and four touchdowns. Hammond has 20 receptions for 277 yards and one touchdown.

The two also have the two longest pass plays of the season for the Bronchos. Hammond has an 80-yard touchdown reception while Delso has a 53-yard score.

Brown has scattered his completions to 17 different receivers this season. Nasir Kemper (18-157) has two touchdown catches, while Daunte McGee (16-142), Diego Richards (12-60), Dominique Dunn (10-140), Andrew Carney (6-90), and Madison Ridgeway (5-105) all have one score through the air.

Jaylen Cottrell (16-48) and Terrill Davis (12-141) have also been regulars in the passing attack.

In the run game, Brown leads the way with his 282 rushing yards.

Cottrell adds 250 yards on 40 carries this season. He has two rushing touchdowns, including the longest play from scrimmage in the MIAA this season, an 83-yard touchdown run against then No. 2-ranked Northwest Missouri back on Sept. 24 in Edmond.

Cottrell is one of four players in the MIAA averaging over six yards per rush this season.

Kemper has also been key in the run game. He has 45 carries for 187 yards and two touchdowns. His 45 rushes are the most of any running back on the squad.

Jayce Gardner (33-170), Antonio Smith Jr. (29-103), and Andrew Carney (19-65) have also been regulars in the backfield. Carney has two rushing touchdowns and Gardner has one.

Central Oklahoma and Pittsburg State have played 18 times on the gridiron, with Pitt owning a 13-4-1 advantage in the all-time series. UCO's last win came in 2015, 49-31, in Pittsburg.

The two schools are also two of the all-time winningest programs in Division II history. Central Oklahoma is fourth on the list with 649 wins and Pittsburg State is first at 735.

Following this week's Homecoming contest, Central Oklahoma will make a trip to Kearney, Nebraska for the final road game of the 2022 season. UCO visits UNK Saturday, Nov. 5. The Bronchos will then return home to close out this year's campaign Saturday, Nov. 12 against Central Missouri.

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