Football 11/4/2026 1:00:00 PM Chris Brannick

Bronchos Visit Missouri Southern Saturday

UCO Plays Seventh And Final Road Game Of 2026 Season In Joplin

JOPLIN, Mo. – In a season with seven road games, Central Oklahoma makes its final trip of the season Saturday when the Bronchos visit Missouri Southern at Fred G. Hughes Stadium.

UCO takes a 4-5 record into Week 10 with a 3-4 record in the MIAA. The Lions of MSSU are 3-6 overall and have a 2-5 record in the MIAA.

"They have played really well at home and really well as of late so this is a game we have to be at our best," UCO interim head football coach Cody Swanson said. "We have to take care of the football and we need to force turnovers. That's been key in every game this season whether we win or lose. We have to execute and play well for four quarters too."

Central Oklahoma goes to Joplin averaging 25.7 points per game this season. The Bronchos put up 353.9 yards of offense per game with a split of 251.7 passing yards and 102.2 rushing yards per game.

Defensively, Central concedes 24.2 points and 335.7 yards of offense per game. Opponents put up 178.4 passing yards and 157.2 rushing yards per game against the Bronchos.

Central Oklahoma has forced 17 turnovers in nine games this season. The Bronchos have 10 fumbles recovered and seven interceptions.

Reese Roller leads the UCO defense and has almost double the tackles of Chris Fitzpatrick, who is second on the team. Roller has 83 tackles including 9.5 in the backfield. Fitzpatrick has 45 tackles and 6.5 behind the line of scrimmage.

Roller has played in every game over four seasons at UCO. He adds three QB hurries, three pass breakups, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries, 1.5 sacks, and one forced fumble.

Fitzpatrick leads the Bronchos with three forced fumbles. He also has three pass breakups and three QB sacks.

Cameron Done, who has a team-high four QB hurries as well as a forced fumble and a fumble recovery, leads the Bronchos with 7.5 sacks this season. He ranks 11th nationally and leads the MIAA in getting to the quarterback.

Zacary Stilwell has 2.5 sacks and Ralph Carter has two. The Bronchos have 24 sacks this season and had a season-high eight sacks last week against Nebraska Kearney.

The defensive backfield has been just as active as the defenders in front of them. Marcus Works and Bryant Coley both have 36 tackles, and David Williams and Antwan Gilbreath both have 35 tackles. Coley and Williams have a team-high five PBUs this season. Coley has three fumbles recovered and two interceptions. Williams and Works both have one pick each.

On the offensive side of the ball for the Bronchos, a stable of quarterbacks have led the way. Senior All-American Jett Huff has 1,515 passing yards and eight touchdowns. He remains 88 yards shy of the all-time record at Central. He hasn't played under center in two weeks due to injury.

Cruz Campbell came in and has 382 yards and two touchdowns in four games played, including one start. Owen Jones made his first career start last week. He has 293 yards and four touchdowns. Jones' 59-yard touchdown pass last week is the longest play from scrimmage for the Bronchos this season.

Makel Paiva leads UCO with 50 receptions this season and has 488 yards and four touchdowns. Tahkari Bethel has 38 receptions with a team-high 669 yards and also has four touchdowns. Andrew Carney has 25 receptions for 289 yards and two touchdowns. C.J. Williams (15-207) and Zayden Martinez (13-168) both have one touchdown catch. Javohn Thomas (9-80) has three touchdowns this season.

UCO's run game has been led by Ja'Daniel Nettles, who has 101 carries for 433 yards and two touchdowns this season. Dev Mathews has missed three games this season but is still the second leading rusher with 234 yards on 48 carries and three touchdowns. Rodgerick Sloan has 132 yards on 26 carries this season.

Central Oklahoma owns a 9-5 advantage in the all-time series against Missouri Southern. All 14 meetings have come since UCO joined the MIAA in 2012. The Bronchos lost the first two meetings in 2012 and 2013 but won six straight after that (2014-19). MSSU won two in a row again and UCO has won the previous three meetings. Central Oklahoma is 4-2 in Joplin in the series.

Central Oklahoma will wrap up the regular season next week with a home game against Missouri Western Nov. 14 at Chad Richison Stadium. The Bronchos will recognize seniors prior to kickoff and it is also Military Appreciation Game.

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Players Mentioned

#18 Andrew Carney: TE; 6' 1"; Senior

#5 Bryant Coley: DB; 6' 1"; Senior

#0 Cameron Done: DL; 6' 5"; Senior

#40 Chris Fitzpatrick: LB; 6' 0"; Senior

#14 Antwan Gilbreath: DB; 6' 0"; Sophomore

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

#11 Owen Jones: QB; 6' 0"; Redshirt Freshman

#7 Zayden Martinez: WR; 6' 4"; Sophomore

#6 Dev Mathews: RB; 6' 0"; Junior

#33 Reese Roller: LB; 5' 11"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#18 Andrew Carney
: 6' 1"; Senior
: TE

#5 Bryant Coley
: 6' 1"; Senior
: DB

#0 Cameron Done
: 6' 5"; Senior
: DL

#40 Chris Fitzpatrick
: 6' 0"; Senior
: LB

#14 Antwan Gilbreath
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: DB

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

#11 Owen Jones
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Freshman
: QB

#7 Zayden Martinez
: 6' 4"; Sophomore
: WR

#6 Dev Mathews
: 6' 0"; Junior
: RB

#33 Reese Roller
: 5' 11"; Senior
: LB