Story & Photos
By Michael Kinney
The journey continues for the University of Central Oklahoma. But it wasn’t easy.
Playing in their first round of the NCAA Division II Football Championships, the Bronchos withstood a late rally from Ouachita Baptist to prevail 38-31 in overtime at Chad Richison Stadium.
“We Bought in and believed that we could win no matter what the score was, and we really just stayed together as a team,” said senior Jacob Delso. “That was very big in the end and we just allowed everybody to trust each other and that’s the main reason why we’ve made it as far as we have and won the close games. And we’re just going to keep this momentum rolling.”
After leading throughout the afternoon, UCO saw its lead slip away when OBU scored with 3:18 left in the fourth quarter when Carter McElhany caught 47-yard pass from Eli Livingston and rolled untouched into the endzone. It was the Tiger’s first lead of the day.
But UCO wasn’t shaken. Quarterback Jett Huff and the offense promptly took the field and strolled down the field on a 10-play, 75-yard scoring drive. It ended with Huff hitting Delso in the endzone for a 12-yard touchdown with 1:12 on the clock.
OBU responded with a long drive of their own which led to a game-tying field goal from Dax Jaggers to send the contest into overtime. However, the Tigers lost Livingston during the series when he went down with an injury.
In the extra frame, the Bronchos got the ball first. Once again Huff went to Delso in the back of the endzone for a 3-yard touchdown that put UCO ahead 38-31.
“All I knew is I was open and I just had to catch it,” said Delso. “I just kind of caught it and went into the fetal position, just made sure I held onto it and that was about it. We drew up the perfect play for that scenario and it worked perfectly.”
UCO wasn’t done. In order to advance they had to keep OBU out of the endzone.
On 4th down and five from the 7-yard line, Ouachita’s backup quarterback dropped back to pass before Zane Adams and Hunter Largent collapsed on him for the game-ending sack.
The sack led to a celebration in which the fans stormed the field and mobbed the players as they earned the first playoff victory in 25 years.
“The key was staying consistent,” said UCO’s Dominique Dunn. “The whole game. We never get too high, never get too low. We You stay consistent.”
Huff finished the day 36-for-58 with 371 yards and three touchdown passes. Terrill Davis led UCO’s receivers with 14 receptions for 155 yards while Jaylen Cottrell tallied 17 carries for 151 yards and two scores.
Delso collected four receptions for 37 yards and the team’s final two touchdowns.
Adams and Largent both finished with 10 tackles. As a team, the Bronchos amassed 12 tackles behind the line of scrimmage.
Central Oklahoma (11-1) advances in the playoffs and will play Ferris State (10-1) in the second round on Saturday, Nov. 30 at 11 a.m. in Big Rapids, Mich. Ferris State had a first-round bye.
The winner moves on to the quarterfinal round (Dec. 7) while the loser will see its season come to an end.
With the game being played in Michigan, it will be sort of a homecoming for Delso. The Checotah High alum signed with Eastern Michigan University where he played for two seasons before transferring to UCO.
Three years later, Delso heads back with a chance to close out his collegiate career with a bang. Not just for him, but also for the program and its growing fanbase.
“It means a lot. This is my last ride,” Delso said. “I don’t know what I’d be doing if I wasn’t playing football with this team. Playing with this group of guys means the world to me. We appreciate all the support that we’re getting. It’s really big for us because UCO hasn’t been in this spot in a very long time and we’re doing something special and rewriting history and it’s really a big thing for me to be a part of it.”
Instagram: mkinneymedia
X (Twitter): MKinneyMedia
Youtube: Michael Kinney Media
Photos (SmugMug): Michael Kinney