Published: October 04, 2008 08:15 pm            

UCO wins 43-40 thriller

The Central Oklahoma football team picked up its first road win of the season — its second consecutive win — on Saturday, beating Southwest Baptist 43-40.

“To play a game where we have several bad things happen, and to fight back, and fight back on the road like that, I think our team handled it extremely well,” UCO head coach Tracy Holland said.

The Bronchos had over 480 yards of total offense in the game as Brandon Noohi passed for 358 yards and three touchdowns, and Ryan Gallimore had nine receptions for 180 yards and two touchdowns, as UCO rallied in the second half, after trailing 17-13 at the break.

“Brandon Noohi had a breakout performance that we had been waiting for. He came out in the second half and made great reads and throws, just did a great job of leading our offense,” Holland said. “And Ryan Gallimore, I just can’t say enough about him. We’ve gone to him several times for big plays, and he’s made them. His 95-yard return was huge for us today.”

Noohi found Ryan Gallimore for a 67-yard touchdown pass early in the third quarter taking a 20-17 lead.

After UCO scored a safety, the Bearcats took control, using a fumble return for a touchdown and a field goal to forge a 26-22 lead.

With 3:13 remaining in the third quarter, running back Da’Marean Pullen scored on a 25-yard touchdown run.

Early in the fourth quarter, Noohi hit Gallimore with another touchdown pass, this time from 29-yards out, as Gallimore made the catch in heavy traffic.

This put the Bronchos (2-4) up 36-26 with 14:11 remaining in the game.

UCO gave up an easy touchdown to the Bearcats after fumbling a punt in the end zone, pulling SBU to within three points.

With 4:10 left in the game, Noohi threw his final touchdown of the game, this time to Kendall Hendricks from 21-yards out.

Southwest Baptist came back though, scoring less than two minutes later with a touchdown pass.

UCO couldn’t get anything going offensively on its next possession and had to give the ball back to the Bearcats with little over a minute to play.

Aided by two roughing the passer calls, SBU drove the ball to the UCO 11-yard line with five seconds remaining, but missed a field goal from 28 yards. Noohi took a knee to end the game, after the Bronchos got the ball back with three seconds left.

Pullen was the first UCO back to go over 100 yards this season, rushing for 152 yards on 31 carries.

“That’s something that we had been missing, to average five yards a carry was big for us,” Holland said.

UCO’s win snapped a three game win streak by the Bearcats, who entered the season having lost 18 straight.

Gallimore — who was named the LSC North co-Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts against Texas A&M-Commerce — also had a 95-yard kickoff return in the first half.

The Bronchos will host Southeastern Oklahoma State on Saturday night.

        

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