SWOSU Turned Back by UCO

October 27, 2007

EDMOND, Okla. – Southwestern Oklahoma State University gave a proud effort but could not come up with enough big plays when it mattered most and fell 10-7 to longtime rival Central Oklahoma Saturday in Edmond.

The loss put a severe kink in the Bulldogs hope of a Lone Star Conference North Division title and left their overall record at 4-5 and 1-2 in division play. UCO improves to 4-4 and 3-1 in division play. SWOSU has two games remaining, both of which are at home, a homecoming match against East Central and the finale against Texas A&M-Commerce.

SWOSU had one final hope of perhaps sending the game into overtime as the Bulldogs moved to the UCO 30-yard line before time expired. Quarterback Steve Day fumbled the snap and was dropped for a short loss. The Bulldogs, without timeouts, could not stop the clock and watched helplessly as their receivers failed to make it back to the line of scrimmage before the clock went 00:00.

UCO took a 10-7 lead when Alex Weaver nailed an 18-yard field goal with 4:34 to play in the game. Weaver had earlier missed from 20 and 20 yards but made good on his third try.

The game looked to be an offensive showcase early as both teams scored touchdowns on their first possessions. It quickly turned into a defensive slugfest with neither side bending the rest of the way.

SWOSU tied the game at 7-7 when Jason Hill caught a short pass from Day and broke several tackles on his way to a 19-yard score with 5:50 to play in the first period. The score came after an impressive 14-play, 70-yard drive that chewed up 5:50 on the clock.

UCO opened the game’s scoring when David Cooper scored from one-yard run with 12:26 to play in the opening quarter.

SWOSU was nearly doubled 220 to 400 in the total yards department, ran 14 fewer plays, and had the ball 11 fewer minutes than the Bronchos.

Day completed 18-of-34 passes for 147 yards and was picked off twice in the fourth quarter each time stopping potential scoring drives.

Defensively, SWOSU was led by Ruzell McCoy who had a season-high 17 tackles. He was joined in double figures by Andre Morgan and Desmond Baker each with 10.