Game Statistics
EDMOND (Sept. 6) – Central Oklahoma was no match for No. 9-ranked West Texas A&M Saturday night as the three-time defending Lone Star Conference champions handed the Bronchos a 49-18 setback.
WTAMU quarterback Keith Null passed for 389 yards and four touchdowns and the Buffs racked up 637 total yards while making a Wantland Stadium-record 32 first downs in winning their 19th straight road game
The Buffs improved to 2-0 overall and 1-0 in the LSC, while UCO fell to 0-2 and 0-1.
The Bronchos attempted a school-record 49 passes in trying to stay in the game, with Brandon Noohi (10-of-24, 98 yards) and Alex Gibson (13-of-25, 97 yards) combining to complete 23 for 195 yards. But UCO managed just 36 rushing yards and was never in the game after WTAMU jumped out a 21-0 lead.
“West Texas obviously has a great team and we just couldn't stay with them tonight,” UCO coach Tracy Holland said. “We played hard and never gave up, but West Texas is where we want to be and that's what we're going to keep working toward.”
Null had TD tosses of four, six and 26 yards in leading the Buffs to a 21-0 lead midway through the second period.
UCO finally got its offense untracked with a 53-yard drive that led to a 38-yard Chad Susman field goal with 3:34 left in the half, but the Buffs came back with a one-yard Keith Flemming touchdown run to take a 28-3 lead into intermission.
The Bronchos forced a quick turnover to start the second period, with a Freddie Harris sack forcing a fumble that Terrence Hill recovered at the WTAMU 36-yard-line. Rick Montgomery made a spectacular 34-yard catch on second down from there and Gibson eventually hit Ryan Gallimore with a four-yard scoring toss to pull UCO within 28-9.
WTAMU came back with two more TD passes – one from Null and one from back-up Taylor Harris – to go on top 42-9 after three quarters.
Susman added a 32-yard field goal early in the fourth to make it 42-12 and the Buffs upped the advantage to 49-12 on a blocked punt recovered in the end zone with just 2:25 left to play.
UCO salvaged one last score, driving 75 yards in eight plays before Noohi hit Daniel Morrell with a 12-yard TD pass with 57 seconds remaining to arrange the final score.
Terrence Hill led UCO's overworked defense with 10 tackles, while #T.J. Shaw and Mike Reed# had nine stops apiece.
The Bronchos continue LSC action and make their first road trip next week, traveling to Texas A&M-Kingsville for a 7 p.m. contest.
