Going Bowling

11/18/2015 10:48:00 AM

TEXARKANA, Ark. (Nov. 18) – A late-season surge earned Central Oklahoma a second straight post-season appearance Wednesday morning when the Bronchos accepted a bid to play in the Live United Texarkana Bowl against Southwestern Oklahoma.

The long-time rivals will square off at 12 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5 at Razorback Stadium in Texarkana. Tickets are $4 and $10 and on sale here: or by calling the UCO ticket office at 405-974-2140.

The Bronchos have won four straight games and six of their last seven to get to 6-5 on the season after an 0-4 start, while the Bulldogs are 8-3 and riding a six-game winning streak.

UCO made its first post-season appearance since 2003 last year, finishing 8-4 after a loss to Sioux Falls in the Mineral Water Bowl in Excelsior, Mo.

"We're excited about having the opportunity to play another football game," head coach Nick Bobeck said. "I'm really proud of this team for the way they rebounded after a tough start and we've played really well the last few weeks.

"Making it even more special is getting the chance to go against one of our biggest state rivals. Southwestern has had a great year and will obviously be a tough challenge for us, but we're looking forward to playing the game."

The Bronchos are coming off a 49-31 road rout of Pittsburg State in last Saturday's regular season finale and feature a potent offense that has set single-season school records for first downs (286) and total yards (5,378).

UCO has averaged 43.6 points a game in its last seven outings and has scored 394 points (35.8 average) on the season, just 24 away from the school record of 418 set back in 1916.

The Bronchos have played SWOSU more times (87) than any other opponent in a rivalry that dates back to 1905. UCO has a big 58-26-3 lead in the series, but the Bulldogs won the last two meetings (2010 and '11) and the teams are tied 6-6 in the 2000s.

SWOSU received the Great American Conference's automatic berth to the Live United Texarkana Bowl after defeating Northwestern Oklahoma 31-17 last Saturday for its sixth straight win.

The Bulldogs of GAC Coach of the Year Dan Cocannouer are enjoying their best season since joining NCAA Division II in 1997. SWOSU averages 33.2 points and 401.5 yards a game while allowing 20.3 points and 347.7 yards.

The Live United Texarkana Bowl, in its third year of existence and one of only three NCAA Division II-sanctioned bowl games, picks the GAC team's opponent from the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association or the Lone Star Conference.

UCO is the second straight MIAA team to receive a bid. Central Missouri earned an invitation last year and beat Southeastern Oklahoma 48-21.

Profits from the game benefit the United Way of Texarkana.

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