Football 11/9/2022 4:00:00 PM Chris Brannick

Bronchos Wrap Up 2022 Campaign Saturday

EDMOND – Central Oklahoma kicks off for the final time in 2022 this Saturday at Chad Richison Stadium. The Bronchos host the Mules of Central Missouri at 2 p.m.

Central Oklahoma is 5-5 this season and playing for its first winning campaign since 2018. The Bronchos welcome a Central Missouri squad that is 4-6 on the year.

"This is a big game for our program," first-year UCO head football coach Adam Dorrel said. "It's important to us to end the year with a win and earn a winning record and take that momentum into recruiting. A lot of guys on this team haven't had a winning record here and we want that."

UCO went 8-4 in 2018 and won the Heart of Texas Bowl. Only two players on this season's roster played four years ago. Four others were with the program sitting out a redshirt season. Those two – Daunte McGee and Johnny Bizzell IV – will be recognized before kickoff as part of the Senior Day festivities.

Diego Richards, Jason Harris, Payton Scott, and Marlo Hughes Jr. are all juniors that were part of the 2018 squad.

UCO will also honor eight other seniors, that like McGee and Bizzell IV, have been key figures on this season's squad.

Stephon Brown, Vaughn Deary, Marco Domio, Robert Fuentes, Jordan Levu, Raymond McGuire, Francisco Moreno, and Michael Slater round out the seniors on the roster.

McGee has played in all 44 games for Central Oklahoma in four years on the field. Bizzell IV has played in 42 of them. McGee has 20 catches for 171 yards and a touchdown this season. Bizzell IV has nine receptions for 104 yards.

Brown leads the UCO offense with 1,626 yards and 11 touchdowns passing the football. He also has 433 yards rushing and six scores on the ground.

The others head up a tough defense for the Bronchos. UCO leads the MIAA in takeaways and ranks among the best in the country with 21 turnovers gained this season (13 interceptions and eight fumbles recovered).

Slater and Fuentes have been menaces on the defensive line. Fuentes has 25 tackles, nine in the backfield, and 3.5 sacks. Slater has 24 tackles, 5.5 in the backfield, and also has 3.5 sacks. Levu adds six tackles too on a tough front line.

Deary and Domio have been a big part of the Central secondary. Domio has 19 tackles, four pass breakups and one QB hurry. Deary has 14 tackles and one pass broken up.

Central Oklahoma averages 341.6 yards per game this season, splitting that mark 196.2 passing to 145.4 rushing. The Bronchos are averaging 23.4 points per game.

UCO's defense allows 22.9 points per game with 348.3 yards allowed. Opponents average 202.2 passing and 146.1 rushing yards per game against the Bronchos.

Central Missouri brings a 4-6 overall record to Edmond this weekend. The Mules have won two in a row, blowing out Lincoln two weeks ago before winning in two overtimes against Missouri Western last weekend in what was UCM's Senior Day.

The other Central averages 25.2 points per game and puts up 373.9 yards of total offense. UCM averages 250.2 passing and 123.7 rushing yards per game. The Mule defense gives up 27.5 points and 392.4 yards of offense. Opponents average 217.8 passing yards and 174.6 rushing yards against Central Missouri.

The two Central's of the MIAA, one the oldest and the Bronchos among the youngest members, have only played nine football games against one another. Central Oklahoma trails 7-2 in the series that began in 2012 when the Bronchos joined the MIAA. UCO's two wins both came in Edmond in 2017 (48-30) and 2018 (33-26).

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Players Mentioned

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

#2 Stephon Brown: QB; 6' 5"; Senior

#0 Robert Fuentes: DL; 6' 4"; Senior

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

#26 Marlo Hughes Jr.: LB; 6' 0"; Junior

#99 Jordan Levu: DL; 6' 4"; Senior

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

#47 Francisco Moreno: P; 6' 1"; Senior

#34 Payton Scott: RB; 5' 5"; Junior

#8 Michael Slater: DL; 6' 2"; Senior

Players Mentioned

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

#2 Stephon Brown
: 6' 5"; Senior
: QB

#0 Robert Fuentes
: 6' 4"; Senior
: DL

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

#26 Marlo Hughes Jr.
: 6' 0"; Junior
: LB

#99 Jordan Levu
: 6' 4"; Senior
: DL

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

#47 Francisco Moreno
: 6' 1"; Senior
: P

#34 Payton Scott
: 5' 5"; Junior
: RB

#8 Michael Slater
: 6' 2"; Senior
: DL