Skip To Main Content

University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

The Official Site of Central Oklahoma University Athletics Central Oklahoma Athletics
Makel Paiva
59
Winner Central Okla. UCO 1-0 , 0-0
7
Texas Wesleyan TXW 0-1 , 0-0
Winner
Central Okla. UCO
1-0 , 0-0
59
Final
7
Texas Wesleyan TXW
0-1 , 0-0
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
UCO Central Okla. 14 21 14 10 59
TXW Texas Wesleyan 0 0 7 0 7

Game Recap: Football | | Chris Brannick

Bronchos Trample Texas Wesleyan

Central Oklahoma Wins 59-7 In Season Opener In Fort Worth

FORT WORTH, Texas – Central Oklahoma opened the 2026 season with a cruising victory at Texas Wesleyan, winning the non-conference contest 59-7 Thursday night.
 
UCO scored touchdowns on all five possessions in the first half to jump out to a big lead and never looked back. The Bronchos racked up 498 yards of total offense, senior All-American Jett Huff threw for 300-plus yards and two scores, and the UCO defense stifled Texas Wesleyan nearly every step of the way.
 
"That wasn't a clean game by any means but we did a great job of taking care of business and a lot of guys made big plays today," UCO head football coach Adam Dorrel said. "We've got to clean up ball control and some other things. But overall, we did have a lot of good things go our way. Defense was great and the offense for the most part was really good too."
 
Central's defense held TWU to 262 total yards of offense, including just 108 passing yards. UCO forced two fumbles, recovered one for a touchdown, and though the Bronchos didn't record any interceptions, Central had 10 quarterback hurries and seven passes broken up.
 
Huff was 21-for-28 with 302 yards and two touchdowns. He connected with freshman wideout Tahkari Bethel for a 31-yard touchdown pass on the opening possession. His second TD came in the second quarter to Javohn Thomas from 17 yards out.
 
Makel Paiva led UCO with 105 yards on six catches. Bethel finished with 72 yards on three catches and he added a second touchdown from Clayton Creasey in the fourth quarter to make it 59-7.
 
Creasey was 2-for-4 for 44 yards and the one touchdown. He carried the ball eight times for 32 yards and scored on a 3-yard rush in the first quarter to make it 14-0.
 
Andrew Carney made it 21-0 with a 2-yard touchdown run and Dev Mathews made it 28-0 with a 3-yard rush. Thomas' 17-yard score made it 35-0 before halftime.
 
UCO's only blemish was a strip sack fumble that gave TWU the ball on the Broncho 16-yard line and the Rams scored three plays later.
 
Senior linebacker Reese Roller forced a fumble in the third quarter and senior defensive back Bryant Coley recovered and returned it 39 yards for a touchdown. Carney added his second rushing touchdown to make it 49-7.
 
In the fourth quarter, freshman kicker Bradley Thao hit a 32-yarder to make it 52-7, then Bethel's score made it the final, 59-7.
 
Xzavier Booth led UCO with eight tackles. Roller finished with seven and one sack. Roller also has two QB hurries as did Trip Roberts and Ethan Stites. Chad Walker led the Bronchos with two pass breakups.
 
Central Oklahoma has a bye week next week, then goes to Central Arkansas in Week 2 before opening MIAA play at Washburn Sept. 19. The first home game of the season for the Bronchos is Sept. 26 against Northwest Missouri.
 
 
Print Friendly Version
Skip Ad
Skip Sponsors