Benton carried 33 times for his 243 yards, the second-best rushing game in ENMU history. The Greyhounds finished with 330 rushing yards, nearly 100 less than their NCAA Division II-leading 427.3 average.
UCO finished with 307 total yards, with tailback Ben Birmingham carrying 15 times for 95 yards while adding 68 yards on five receptions. Junior Colin Clancy took over at quarterback for the Bronchos and finished 16-of-31 passing for 161 yards.
Linebacker Will Clewis keyed UCO's defense with a career-high 16 tackles, while T.J. Shaw adding 13 stops and David Berry nine.
The Bronchos nearly scored on their opening drive of the game, getting a 21-yard run from Clancy in moving from their own 46 to a first-and-goal at the ENMU nine, but Clancy fumbled the snap on a fourth-and-goal from the one and the Greyhounds held on.
UCO threatened again the next time it got the ball, using a 25-yard pass from Clancy to Birmingham to overcome a third-and-20 in going from its own 36 to a first down at the ENMU 13. The Bronchos made it to the four and on fourth-and-goal from there lined up to try a 21-yard field goal only to have holder Stu Taron tackled for a nine-yard loss on a fake.
Nate Mitani's fumble recovery at midfield set up another scoring threat early in the second period, with Birmingham's 21-yard run helping move UCO to a first-and-goal at the seven. The junior tailback nearly scored on a second-down run from the nine, but he fumbled the ball away at the goal line while fighting for extra yardage and the Greyhounds recovered at the six.
The Clewis-led UCO defense held ENMU and forced a quick punt, with a shanked one-yard kick putting the Bronchos in business at the Greyhound 12, but on second down from there Clancy was intercepted at the five.
Kerry Johnson picked off a Benton pass in the end zone to stop Eastern on its next possession, but UCO returned the favor in the final minute of the half when Clancy was intercepted at the UCO 46.
The Greyhounds, who attempted just seven passes in their first three games, went to the air to break the scoreless deadlock as Benton hit Justin Campos with a 32-yard TD strike with just two seconds left in the half.
UCO held Benton in check on ENMU's first two possessions of the second half and the Bronchos tied it 7-7 on Clancy's one-yard keeper with 6:52 left in the third period that capped a short 25-yard drive after another poor punt. Clancy's 16-yard pass to Marcellus Parker on third-and-14 from the 17 set up Clancy's TD.
The Greyhounds came right back, however, with Benton picking up four yards on two consecutive carries before breaking loose on a 51-yard scoring scamper that put ENMU on top 14-7 with 5:10 left in the period.
UCO wasted another scoring chance early in the fourth quarter, getting runs of 22 yards from Maurice Little and 17 from Birmingham in moving to the ENMU 16, but on fourth down from there Chad Susman's 24-yard field goal bounced off the left upright no good.
The Bronchos turned the ball over on downs at the Greyhound 27 on their next possession and then Benton scored the clinching touchdown, ripping off a 39-yard TD dash to end a quick four-play, 73-yard drive that made it 21-7 with just 3:13 left to play.
UCO begins a three-game road-swing next week, going to Texas A&M-Commerce to open LSC North Division play.
