‘Chos win thrilling comeback in overtime; sit alone as top team in MIAA

Central Oklahoma pulled off an improbable comeback on the road on Saturday to defeat the Missouri Western Griffons 37-34 off the foot of senior kicker Nicky Quevado, who tied a career long 47-yarder to ice the Griffons to improve the Bronchos to 8-1 on the season. 

A game where rain pummeled players in the first half. The Bronchos entered enemy territory for their first of two road games in the month of November. It started off sluggish for both sides, starting with six punts and a turnover on downs. Jacob Delso would return a punt 34-yards to the Missouri Western three-yard line. Andrew Carney pushed his way into the end zone for the first score of the game. 

Neither team could break through in the second quarter. A Griffon punt was then followed by a turnover on downs by Central at the Griffon 32-yard line. But Missouri Western failed to capitalize on that drive and punted it right back to the Bronchos. 10 plays later, Jett Huff would throw a 37-yard pass to Terrill Davis to put the Bronchos up 14-0. That was Terrill Davis’ 12th receiving touchdown of the season, tying J.T Luper’s single season, which Luper achieved in 2017. The Griffons would strike back before the second quarter concluded thanks to quarterback Branden Berwald, who scored on a nine yard rushing touchdown to cut the lead in half before the half. Berwald was a dual threat all game, with 171-yards in the air and 116-yards on the ground. The Bronchos and Griffons would exchange field goals to start the third quarter, but with 5:33 to go the third quarter, the rain that was pouring down all game came with a side of lightning, cause of 35 minute delay. 

Then the Griffons soared. 

The Bronchos would punt and Western would go 61-yards to cut the score to three. Grayson Miller would punt again, but Jonas Bennett would return the ball 41-yards to give Miller a 12-yard net punt. A Cody Watson 40-yard field goal would even the score with 12-and-a-half minutes to go. It seemed like Central had some life after the Griffons muffed a punt. But two Jett Huff interceptions, including a pick six to Cameron Powell, would squash any sign of that and Missouri Western would go up by 14. The Bronchos punted for the seventh time and with 4:08 to go, it seemed like the Griffons were going to stun the Bronchos on a gloomy and rainy day in Missouri.

But that’s not what happened. 

The UCO defense stuffed the Griffons running game before punting to Kobey Stephens went coast to coast on a 92-yard punt return to get the Bronchos in a one possession game with 2:54. Griffons would get a short field following a failed onside kick, but David Williams had the hit of the day, stopping the advancing Branden Berwald on third down. One play later, the Bronchos defense would force a turnover on downs and get the ball back with 1:49 to go. Enter Dawson Herl. 

The sixth year senior surprised fans with his first appearance in a month, but after an incompletion to Jacob Delso, threw three straight completions for 58-yards before taking it himself for six points. Following the extra point from Nicky Quevado, it was all square at 34-34. Forcing the Bronchos first overtime game since Oct. 11, 2014 against Missouri Southern. After winning the toss and choosing to start on defense. The UCO defense prevented the Griffons from advancing past the 15-yard line, with Hunter Largent tackling Marrell Fountain on fourth down for no gain. Which set up the 47-yard field goal for Nicky Quevado, who drills it and puts the dagger into the Griffons hearts as the Bronchos are now 8-1 on the season in sole possession of first place in the MIAA conference. 

While the chaos of this game was occurring, Pittsburg State and Emporia State, the teams tied with UCO at the beginning of the week, lost to their respective opponents on Saturday, leaving Central Oklahoma all alone at the top. 

The ‘Chos can clinch a share of the MIAA title with a victory in Topeka against the 2-7 Washburn Ichabods Saturday at 1 p.m.