Five things to take away from Saturday’s games

Another weekend of college football in Oklahoma with another five things to consider.

• McClendon tops the state’s rushing list at the halfway point in the season.

Oklahoma Panhandle’s Chris McClendon continued his incredible season on Saturday with his fifth consecutive 100-yard-plus rushing effort, giving him 772 yards on the season.  He sits at No. 9 in Division II.
The top 10 list of top rushers in the state looks like this:

1. Chris McClendon, Oklahoma Panhandle – 772
2. Jake Gandara, Central – 582
3. Semaje Perine, Oklahoma – 568
4. Jordan Barnes, Oklahoma Baptist – 527
5. Karl Hodge, Southwestern – 509
6. Dawson Myers, Oklahoma Baptist – 494
7. Devlon Wortham, Southeastern – 474
8. Desmond Roland, Oklahoma State – 391
9. Victor Smith, Bacone – 343
10. Zack Langer, Tulsa – 336

• Central is legitimate.

The Bronchos quarterback falls just outside the previous list at No. 11 with 319 rushing yards on the season.  With two strong backs to carry the ball, a star receiver, a potent defense that can put points on the board as well and a “never quit” attitude, Central has been turning heads this season.  UCO is now 5-1 and headed into a big matchup with Central Missouri on Saturday.  The Bronchos are now ranked in the D-II top 25 and have a real shot to be playing for a playoff spot when they host Pittsburg State on Nov. 15.

• There’s something about Lawrence.

The Jayhawks have taken up residence in the Big 12’s cellar.  Kansas has won only one conference game in its last 33 attempts.  And yet, the Cowboys seem to struggle when playing KU on the road.  When OSU was there in 2012, it was just a six-point win at 20-14.  On Saturday, it took a 99-yard Tyreek Hill kickoff return for a touchdown late in the game for the go-ahead score and the 27-20 win.

• Bacone never went away as a contender for the CSFL title.

After opening at 2-0, the Warriors lost three straight.  But Bacone righted the ship Saturday with a 47-6 win over Texas College.  It was the first game for the Warriors on the Central States Football League portion of the schedule, in which they sit a half game out of  the top at 1-0.  It was a big day for the defense and specifically Justin Browley, who had three interceptions and was named CSFL Defensive Player of the Week.

• The Arkansas GAC teams just have their Oklahoma counterparts’ number this year.

There are no divisions in the Great American Conference – no West and East, no Oklahoma and Arkansas.  But there is a distinction this year in football: the teams from the Natural State have shown themselves stronger than their counterparts from the Sooner State.  Oklahoma teams have a record of 6-18 against the the Arkansas teams.  But the telling point might be in margin of victory.  When Oklahoma teams have won, it has been by an average of 4.5 points; Arkansas victories are by an average of 29.8.