Football 11/19/2024 11:00:00 AM Chris Brannick

Central Oklahoma Leads All-MIAA Selections

Bronchos Have 19 All-MIAA Picks As League Announces Postseason Honors

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – MIAA Champion Central Oklahoma had 18 players recognized Tuesday when the league announced its All-MIAA Football Teams, with head coach Adam Dorrel, Montriel Lee, Kobey Stephens, and Ashton Schumann also earning individual awards.

Dorrel was named MIAA Coach of the Year following his third season leading the Bronchos. He guided the team to a 10-1 record and its first league title since becoming a member in 2012. Lee was named Offensive Lineman of the Year, Stephens Special Teams Player of the Year, and Schumann Freshman of the Year.

"I'm proud of all the guys that were recognized," Dorrel said. "Every single player in our program deserves to be recognized for their roles in helping us win a title this year. But these guys that are being recognized today deserve this too. They all work so hard every day, on and off the field, and this is a big deal for them. Something they'll have forever. I'm really happy for them."

Jaylen Cottrell (RB), Terrill Davis (WR), and Jack Puckett (LB) joined Lee on the All-MIAA First Team. Jett Huff (QB), Noah Dobson (OL), Zane Adams (DL), and Grayson Miller (P) joined Stephens (KR/PR & DB) on the All-MIAA Second Team.

Mac Garner (OL), Connor Johnson (LB), and Dylan Buchheit (DB) joined Schumann on the All-MIAA Third Team. William Mason (RB), Dominique Dunn (TE), Hunter Largent (DL), Noah West (LB), and JK Moore (DB) were each listed for All-MIAA Honorable Mention.

Lee started every game this season and the junior right guard from Del City, Oklahoma paved the way for the No. 1 offense in the country. UCO put up 547.3 yards of offense per game this year, with 338.1 passing and 209.2 rushing. The Bronchos scored 71 touchdowns in 11 games in 2024.

Stephens, a senior from Wewoka, Oklahoma, put together a historic season returning kicks and punts for UCO this fall. He took the opening kickoff of the season 98 yards for a touchdown, and later in the same Week 1 game, returned a punt 90 yards for a score. He also had a 92-yard punt return for a touchdown in Week 9. Stephens averages 26.6 yards per punt return and 29.1 yards per kick return after 11 games played this season. Stephens was also tabbed Second Team All-MIAA as a defensive back. He had 35 tackles, six pass breakups, and three interceptions this season at safety.

Schumann, a wide receiver from League City, Texas, burst onto the scene in his first season with the Bronchos. He hauled in 58 catches for 701 yards and six touchdowns this fall, scoring in 5 of 11 games this season. He had two 100-yard games and 98 in another. Schumann caught at least one pass in every game and had a season-high 12 receptions in Week 3.

Cottrell led UCO's rushing attack with the junior running back from Lexington, Oklahoma carrying the ball 142 times this season for 1,069 yards and 11 touchdowns. Cottrell had six 100-yard games and a career-high 203 at Northeastern State in October. He scored a rushing touchdown in six games and had three scores in a single game twice. Cottrell also had 14 receptions for 185 yards and three touchdowns.

Davis had a record-setting season with the junior wide receiver from Choctaw, Oklahoma hauling in 89 catches for 1,397 yards and 15 touchdowns. Davis is second in receptions and third in yards in UCO's record book. He set a school record for TD receptions this season. Davis also has three 200-yard games, a feat never done before in school history.

Puckett, a sophomore from Bixby, Oklahoma, led UCO with 87 tackles this season at linebacker. He has a team-high 13 behind the line of scrimmage which includes six sacks, also the most on the team. Puckett adds five QB hurries, three pass breakups, and one forced fumble this season.

Huff, a sophomore from College Station, Texas, burst onto the scene this fall, debuting in a big way for the Bronchos. The Houston Transfer set a school record with 30 touchdown passes and threw for 3,071 yards in 11 games this year. His 227-for-345 totals equal a 65.8 completion percentage. Huff threw for more than 300 yards in five games and twice threw for more than 450 passing yards.

Dobson and Garner, like Lee, led Central's No. 1-rated offense on the front lines. Dobson is a senior from Midwest City, Oklahoma and Garner a junior from Moore, Oklahoma. The duo were key game-in and game-out leading UCO to 457 yards offense per game and 71 touchdowns scored.

Adams, a senior from Haskell, Oklahoma, racked up 52 tackles this season. The defensive lineman made five tackles in the backfield and four of those were QB sacks. He also had two QB hurries and a forced fumble. His blocked kick as time expired in Week 10 preserved a 28-27 win for the Bronchos.

Miller had a standout season at punter for the Bronchos. The junior from Edmond lifted 43 punts on the season and averaged 43.7 yards per punt. His long of 65 was one of 17 punts this season more than 50 yards. He put 17 inside the 20-yard line as well.

Johnson, a senior from Tulsa, was tied for the second most tackles on the team with 68. He had 11 in the backfield from his linebacker position including five sacks. Johnson also pressured the quarterback a team-high seven times, and had seven pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one blocked kick.

Buchheit also had 68 tackles this season to land second on the team with Johnson. A senior from Moore, Oklahoma, Buchheit did it all from his safety position. He had five pass breakups, four tackles in the backfield, three interceptions, two fumble recoveries, and one QB hurry.

Mason, a sophomore running back from Coweta, Oklahoma, helped Cottrell carry the load for the nation's top offense. He took the ball 127 times for 734 yards and seven touchdowns. His average of 5.8 yards per carry was tied for second in the league. Mason scored two rushing touchdowns against Central Missouri in Week 2, then had one each of the next two weeks. After a short hiatus from the end zone, the sophomore scampered for three in the season finale blowout of Emporia State.

Dunn, a junior tight end from Mustang, Oklahoma, played a key role in the UCO offense both in the passing game and the run game. He helped pave the way for the dominant backs, but also hauled in 22 receptions for 354 yards and two touchdowns. His 66-yard reception against Northwest Missouri is UCO's longest pass play from scrimmage this season.

Largent spent his senior season bullying the offenses around the MIAA. The defensive lineman from Noble, Oklahoma made 41 tackles, six in the backfield, and 2.5 sacks this season. He also had one QB hurry to his credit.

West, like fellow starting linebackers Puckett and Johnson, had a big year for the UCO defense. The senior from Tulsa, Oklahoma made 38 tackles, 6.5 behind the line scrimmage, and 3.5 sacks. He had two QB hurries, a forced fumble, a blocked kick, and one interception.

Moore, who starts at corner for the Bronchos, racked up 41 tackles this season. The senior from Mesquite, Texas had 10 pass breakups on the edge, three interceptions, and one forced fumble this season.

Central Oklahoma led all teams with 19 All-MIAA selections, while Fort Hays State had a league-high six First Team selections. FHSU and Pittsburg State both had 18 total picks by the league's head coaches.

For the Bronchos, UCO earned four First Team picks, six Second Team picks, four more Third Team selections, and five Honorable Mentions.

Central Oklahoma is one of two MIAA schools to qualify for the NCAA Division II Football Championship. The Bronchos will host Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) in the first round of the playoffs Saturday, Nov. 23 at 1 p.m. at Chad Richison Stadium.

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Players Mentioned

#31 Zane Adams: DL; 6' 1"; Senior

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

#0 Jaylen Cottrell: RB; 6' 2"; Junior

#8 Terrill Davis: WR; 6' 0"; Junior

#78 Noah Dobson: OL; 6' 3"; Senior

#5 Dominique Dunn: TE; 6' 3"; Junior

#76 Mac Garner: OL; 6' 4"; Junior

#21 Connor Johnson: LB; 6' 3"; Senior

#97 Hunter Largent: DL; 6' 2"; Senior

#52 Montriel Lee: OL; 6' 2"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#31 Zane Adams
: 6' 1"; Senior
: DL

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

#0 Jaylen Cottrell
: 6' 2"; Junior
: RB

#8 Terrill Davis
: 6' 0"; Junior
: WR

#78 Noah Dobson
: 6' 3"; Senior
: OL

#5 Dominique Dunn
: 6' 3"; Junior
: TE

#76 Mac Garner
: 6' 4"; Junior
: OL

#21 Connor Johnson
: 6' 3"; Senior
: LB

#97 Hunter Largent
: 6' 2"; Senior
: DL

#52 Montriel Lee
: 6' 2"; Junior
: OL