Box Score
WEATHERFORD, Okla. (Oct. 18) – Kendall Hendricks caught only one pass in the second half of Central Oklahoma's Lone Star Conference North Division battle with Southwestern Oklahoma here Saturday, but it was a gigantic one.
Hendricks scored on a 56-yard pass from Brandon Noohi with 2:24 remaining to give the Bronchos a 23-16 lead and UCO staved off a last-ditch SWOSU drive to hold on for its fourth consecutive victory at sun-drenched Milam Stadium.
The Bulldogs moved from their own 19 to the UCO 21 in the final minute, but an all-out blitz on a fourth-and-two play from there rushed Steve Day into an incompletion and the Bronchos were able to celebrate.
UCO improved to 4-4 on the year, 3-3 in the overall league standings and an LSC North-best 3-0 while dropping the Bulldogs to 2-6, 1-6 and 1-2. UCO returns home to host Midwestern State for Homecoming next week.
“It was a struggle, but we made some big plays in the second half and pulled out a great, great win,” first-year UCO head coach Tracy Holland said. “It's been a long road back after a tough start, but this team has worked hard and they deserve to have success.”
The Bronchos trailed 6-0 at halftime and had just 71 total yards, but turned it around in the final two quarters in finishing with 352 yards. Noohi passed for 203 of his 264 yards in the second half, hitting 27-of-42 attempts for the game.
Hendricks had three receptions for 68 yards, Ryan Gallimore caught a touchdown pass for the fourth straight game and Da'Marean Pullen rushed for 83 tough yards in 21 carries.
Linebacker Terrence Hill had 11 tackles, safety Ellis White eight and tackle Jermelle Cudjo seven to lead a defense that gave up 358 total yards, though UCO allowed just 10 rushing yards in the second half after giving up 109 in the first 30 minutes.
Noohi had wind-aided punts of 49, 57 and 60 yards in the first quarter to help keep the Bulldogs at bay, with SWOSU hitting field goals of 29 and 47 yards in the second period to take a 6-0 halftime lead.
UCO doubled its first-half yardage with its opening possession of the second half, going 73 yards in 11 plays to take the lead. Rick Montgomery had key catches of 12 and 27 yards in the drive and Noohi capped it with a six-yard TD bullet to Gallimore.
SWOSU drove to a first-and-goal at the UCO 10-yard-line on its next offensive try, but Micah Howeth had a big five-yard tackle for loss and the Bulldogs had to settle for a short field goal and a 9-7 lead.
The Bronchos went back on top with another lengthy drive late in the period, this time covering 80 yards in 11 plays.,
A 30-yard pass from Noohi to Marqus Stutson was the key play and Noohi ended it with a two-yard keeper up the middle on the first play of the final period. UCO missed on the two-point conversion try and led 13-9.
The Bronchos made it 16-9 minutes later on Chad Susman's 28-yard field goal, which was set up by a huge 20-yard pass from Noohi to a sliding Gallimore on a fourth-and-11 play that carried to the SWOSU nine.
The Bulldogs answered back with their first touchdown, scoring on a 26-yard Day pass to tie it at 16-all with 7:04 left to play.
Neither team could do anything on their next two possessions, with UCO taking over at its own 28 with 3:27 remaining for the game-winning drive.
Montgomery had a clutch 14-yard catch on a third-and-eight play from the 30 and the Bronchos scored on the next play when Noohi found Hendricks wide open down the middle of the field. The sophomore wide receiver gathered in the pass at the SWOSU 30 and raced untouched the rest of the day for the go-ahead score.
A personal foul penalty kick-started SWOSU's last-gasp drive and the Bulldogs eventually moved to the UCO 21.
Mike Reed batted down a Day pass at the line on a third-and-two from there and on fourth down the Bronchos brought heavy pressure and forced Day to hurry a throw that bounced off tight end Joe Sawyer's shoulder pads.
