UCO Athletics
Chris Brannick, Director of Sports Media Relations
TAHLEQUAH – The University of Central Oklahoma retained the President’s Cup for a fifth-straight year after burying Northeastern State 62-0 Saturday in Week 10 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association action at Doc Wadley Stadium.
Will Collins connected on a 66-yard touchdown pass to Mekail Hall on the Bronchos’ fourth offensive play of the game and that was a sign of things to come in the 103-year old rivalry game. Collins would throw three touchdown passes Saturday. He hit Hall on a 65-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter too.
Hall had six catches for 200 yards to go with the two touchdown catches.
Izaiah Jackson also had a touchdown catch, a five-yard score in the second quarter. Dustin Basks had four catches for 36 yards and Johnny Bizzell had a catch for 37 yards.
The Broncho run game was also a huge factor in the big win Saturday.
Justin Curry had a team-high 157 yards rushing and three touchdowns on 18 carries. He had touchdown runs of 3, 2, and 46 all in the second half to lead the way.
Clay McKenzie added two touchdowns in the ground attack. The sixth-year senior from Callisburg, Texas had 86 yards on 22 carries with scores of 1 & 4, both in the first half.
Central’s defense was just as big Saturday, earning the Bronchos a third straight shutout for the first time since 1979 and just the second time since 1942. The Broncho defense held Northeastern State to 159 yards of offense on 60 plays. NSU managed 40 yards passing and 119 yards on the ground.
Kolby Underwood, O’Shay Harris and Colton Lindsey all had interceptions. Lindsey took his 19 yards back for a touchdown. Lindsey also recovered a kickoff that NSU let bounce around the 20-yard line. Langston Underwood had a team-high six tackles on the day. Chris Pogi and Kahewai Kaaiawaawa both had five stops.
UCO now owns a 49-27-2 advantage in the all-time series and has won 12 of 21 since the team’s began playing for the President’s Cup in 1998. Saturday also marks the second largest win in the series. The Bronchos beat NSU 83-0 in 1915, the first time the schools ever met on the gridiron.
Central Oklahoma will wrap up the 2018 regular season next week in Edmond. The Bronchos take on Emporia State in Week 11 Saturday, Nov. 10 at 2 p.m. from Wantland Stadium.