Football 10/30/2025 11:00:00 AM Chris Brannick

Central Oklahoma Visits Nebraska Kearney

Bronchos Finish Season With 2 of 3 On Road In November

KEARNEY, Neb. – Central Oklahoma plays two of its final three games on the road as the calendar turns to November, starting with Nebraska Kearney Saturday at noon.

UCO is 4-4 on the season with a 4-2 record in the MIAA. The Bronchos play at UNK on Saturday before closing out its home schedule next weekend against Missouri Southern. UCO wraps up the regular season Nov. 15 at Missouri Western.

"Kearney is a good football team, they're really good on defense, and it'll be tough to win at their place," UCO head football coach Adam Dorrel said. "We feel good about our defense and we need to find a way on offense to have a chance."

Nebraska Kearney is 5-4 on the season overall and 3-4 in the MIAA. The Lopers started the year 2-0 with non-conference wins over in-state rivals Wayne State and Chadron State. UNK is coming off a 1-3 month of October where the Lopers lost three road games and won its Homecoming contest against Missouri Western. Kearney lost at Pittsburg State before that and has lost the last two at Missouri Southern and at Northwest Missouri.

Central Oklahoma owns a 8-4 advantage in the all-time series with the Lopers. The Bronchos beat UNK in the 1979 NAIA playoffs and the teams split two meetings in the 1990s. Since becoming conference opponents, UCO is 6-4 in the series, though UNK was forced to vacate the 2022 win – its last in the series – due to an NCAA violation.

Kearney averages 21.1 points per game on 315.9 yards of total offense. The Lopers average 160.8 rushing yards per game and 155.1 passing yards per game. Defensively, UNK allows 20.0 points per contest on 325.3 yards per game. The Lopers give up 203.4 passing yards per game and 121.9 rushing yards per game.

Central Oklahoma is averaging 27.8 points per game this season and is allowing 27.8 points per game this season. It's an even split of 223 points scored and 223 points allowed for the Bronchos.

Central averages 460.5 yards of total offense, splitting the mark with 269.3 passing yards and 191.1 rushing yards per game. Defensively, UCO allows 375.3 yards per game with 232.7 through the air and 142.5 on the ground.

Jett Huff leads the offense with 1,533 passing yards and 13 touchdowns this season. The junior quarterback has a primary target in Ashton Schumann, who has 57 receptions for 816 yards and five touchdowns this season. Schumann ranks second in the country in receiving yards and fourth in receptions through nine weeks of play.

William Mason leads UCO's rushing attack with 700 yards on 107 carries this season with four rushing touchdowns. Mason's 6.5 yards per carry ranks second in the MIAA and 24th nationally.

Central Oklahoma's defense is led by linebackers Connor Johnson, Jack Puckett, and Reese Roller. Johnson has a team-high 49 tackles this season, including 7.5 behind the line of scrimmage with one sack. Puckett has 42 tackles and leads the team with 9.5 tackles for a loss. He has two sacks this season. Roller has 31 tackles, seven behind the line, and 2.5 sacks.

Johnny Wilson leads on the defensive line with 29 tackles, 5.5 for a loss, and two sacks. Defensive linemen Darius Hampton and Cameron Done have the team lead with three sacks each.

UCO has seven interceptions from seven different players. Puckett, Bryant Coley, Willie Rice, Daniel Ekwese, Marcus Works, Kaunor Ashley, and Antwan Gilbreath have all picked off one pass. Rice leads the team with eight pass breakups and Works has five this season.

On special teams, Davis Barr is averaging 38.6 yards per punt this season with 12 inside the 20-yard line and four of 50-plus yards. Joseph Kim is 7-for-13 on field goal attempts including a long of 51 yards.

Central Oklahoma will host Missouri Southern in Week 10 next Saturday at 1 p.m. at Chad Richison Stadium. The Bronchos are 8-4 all-time against the Lions from Joplin, Missouri. It's Senior Day at UCO and also Central's Military Appreciation Game sponsored by ROTC & Plexus.

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Players Mentioned

#8 Kaunor Ashley: DB; 5' 10"; Senior

#2 Daniel Ekwese: DB; 6' 1"; Senior

#14 Antwan Gilbreath: DB; 6' 0"; Redshirt Freshman

#3 Jett Huff: QB; 5' 8"; Junior

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

#22 William Mason: RB; 6' 2"; Junior

#30 Jack Puckett: LB; 6' 1"; Junior

#1 Willie Rice: DB; 5' 10"; Senior

#33 Reese Roller: LB; 5' 10"; Junior

#15 Ashton Schumann: WR; 6' 1"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#8 Kaunor Ashley
: 5' 10"; Senior
: DB

#2 Daniel Ekwese
: 6' 1"; Senior
: DB

#14 Antwan Gilbreath
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Freshman
: DB

#3 Jett Huff
: 5' 8"; Junior
: QB

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

#22 William Mason
: 6' 2"; Junior
: RB

#30 Jack Puckett
: 6' 1"; Junior
: LB

#1 Willie Rice
: 5' 10"; Senior
: DB

#33 Reese Roller
: 5' 10"; Junior
: LB

#15 Ashton Schumann
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: WR