UCO vs Fort Hays State (running blog)

It's football time in Oklahoma. Been waiting to hear those words for months now. UCO comes in to todays contest looking to open up the 2015 campaign with a bang. As the Bronchos try to improve on last season's eight and three record. Broncos win the toss and defer to the second half. Hooves Up Broncho fans let's play some football.

7:15) The Tigers aren't able to do much besides picking up one first down and then punt on their first drive. Bronchos take over at their own thirty-four and march down to the goal line till a Jake Gandara fumble gives the ball back to FHSU

7:29) TOUCHDOWN BRONCHOS! UCO goes fifty-four yards on eleven plays. Chas Stallard finds Josh Crockett on a four yard out route to get the Bronchos on the board with less than six minutes remaining in the first. Seth Hiddink adds on the PAT which is his fifty straight extra point a new UCO record.
UCO 7 - FHSU 0 (5:12)

7:34) Deontay Wilson hits Tiger QB Treveon Albert who fumbles the ball recovered by UCO's La'Teze Clayton. Giving the Bronchos the ball at the 26 yard line. Broncho drive twenty six yards in three plays capped of by two yard Clay McKenzie run. Extra point blocked.
UCO 13 - FHSU 0 (1st 3:28)

7:51) END OF THE FIRST QUARTER: Fort Hays makes it pass the fifty yard line for the first time, but can't doing anything with and punts the ball back to the Bronchos.
UCO 13 - FHSU 0

8:00) A Clay McKenzie 25 yard gain helps the Bronchos move the ball all the way down to the goal line, but yet another Broncho turnover gives the ball back to the Tigers. Fumble by Chas Stallard recovered by Romello Burke at the one. Tigers ball on their own one yard line. Bronchos have looked extremely sloppy early in this one.


8:10) TOUCHDOWN BRONCHOS! A seven play drive by the Bronchos ends on a 21 yard pass from Stallard to Caden Locke on a crossing route makes it a 19-0 Broncho lead. Hiddink makes the PAT. That's the first touchdown reception of Locke's career.
UCO 20 - FHSU 0 (2nd 5:33)

8:19) Touchdown Tigers. Fort Hays State goes seven plays for 85 yards all capped off with nine yard strike from Treveon Albert to Andrew Flory. That puts the Tigers on the board for the first time this season. PAT is good
UCO 20 - FHSU 7 (2nd 3:44)

8:23) Bronchos are forced to punt for the first time tonight after going three and out. Fort Hays State ball with 1:52 remaining at their own 37 yard line.

8:29) 1:02 remaining and Fort Hays State uses it's final timeout. Under thrown ball works out for the Tigers as a pass interference on LeVonte Douglas gives the Tigers a first down. Next play busted coverage lead to a touchdown pass from Albert to Shaquile Cooper. Extra point is good and the Tigers go sixty-three yards on five plays to make it 14 to 20. UCO is now looking sloppy on both sides of the football.
UCO 20 - FHSU 14 (2nd 0:50)

8:40) HALFTIME: Bronchos lead 20-14 but have looked extremely sloppy turning over the ball twice at the door of the end zone. Did a great job moving the ball for over three hundred total yards in the first half however only have 20 points to show. The Broncho defense looked strong early, but then gave up two straight scores late giving Fort Hays State the momentum going into half only trailing now by a single score.

Halftime Stats

UCO - FHSU
Score: 20 - 14
Plays: 47 - 35
First Downs: 15 - 11
Rushing Yards: 131 - 130
Passing Yards: 176 - 89
Turnovers: 2 - 1
Possession Time: 18:17 - 11:43
Third Down Conversions: 8 of 9 - 2 of 7
Red-Zone Score Chances: 2 for 4 - 1 for 1

8:58) Halftime comes to an end and UCO elects to receive to start the second half. Bronchos looking to come out early and steal the momentum that the Tigers had going into halftime after scoring fourteen unanswered points.

9:11) Bronchos open up the second half strong driving the ball all way down to the two, but have to settle for an eighteen yard field goal. Hiddink puts it right down the middle and puts UCO up by nine.
UCO 23 - FHSU 14 (8:12)

9:16) Tigers Shaqulie Cooper hits the whole hard and isn't touched as he is goes for 79 yards for the score. That's Cooper's second TD of the game and eclipses the hundred yard rushing mark on the day after that run. O'Brien knocks down the PAT.
UCO 23 - FHSU 21 (3rd 7:27)

9:19) Jake Gandara is helped off the field after being tackled on the kick-off return. No word on the possibility of return yet.

9:28) McKenzie is hit by Sie Doe of Fort Hays State causing fumble recovered by DeAndre James. The third Bronchos fumble of the day. Next play big 34 yard pass from Albert to Flory gets it down to the two yard line. Albert would eventaully find Cooper for a six yard TD reception. Cooper's 2nd TD catch and third total touchdown.
UCO 23 - FHSU 27


9:29) Crockett fumbles the kickoff and Fort Hays' kicker recovers the ball at the Bronchos 35. The Tigers can't do anything with it and give the ball back to the Bronchos on downs. That's the Bronchos fourth fumble of the day. According to SID only five fumbles all last season.
*Injury Note: Gandara still being looked at on the sideline.

9:40) END OF THE THIRD QUARTER: Costly turnovers cost the Bronchos as they now find themselves trailing 23-27. Four fumbles by four different Bronchos could lead to their first lost of the season. Fort Hays State has the ball to start the fourth at their own thirty-five yard line.

9:44) Bronchos get the ball at their own twenty-nine trailing by four with plenty of time in the fourth.

9:51) Third and long for the Bronchos, Stallard rolls out and can't hit his receiver. Bronchus go for it on fourth down hits Crocket for a first down and gains sixteen yards. Two plays later Stallard finds Connor Pulley for the nineteen yard TD.  It caps off a ten play seventy one yard drive and gives the Bronchos back the lead. Hiddink misses the PAT as it boinks off the goal post. Costly miss as a field goal could win it for the Tigers.
UCO 29 - FHSU 27 (4th 9:30)

10:01) Tigers go three and out and give the ball back to the Bronchos. They'll take over at their own twenty-nine yard line. Over eight minutes remaining in the game.

10:04) 3rd and 5 from the UCO forty-eight. Stallard runs to midfield and comes up short. Bronchos give the ball back to Tigers who'll takeover at their own thirteen with 5:01 remaining in the game.

10:09) A holding penalty on FHSU pushes the ball back to their own seven yard for 1st and 16 with 4:43 remaining in the game. Timeout Tigers only one remaining. 

10:12) Tigers have made it past midfield with less than four minutes remaining in the game. Still trailing by two.

10:13) Tigers down to the twelve yard line. Bronchos need to force a turnover as the Tigers are well in field goal range.
Under 2 mins remaining.

10:15) Tigers taking their time try score with no time left 3rd and three from the seven yard line. Cooper picks up the first down to the three yard line. Three seconds remaining in the game and Fort Hays State to attempt a Three for the win.

10:19) 19 yard field goal by O'Brien is good and Fort Hays State wins 30-29.

10:20) FINAL: UCO 29 - Fort Hays State 30

10:21) UCO blows a twenty point lead with the help of four turnovers to start off the season with a loss.