With host “JG Smooth” battling a sore throat we had to resort to plan B this week for the podcast. This week Smooth will still provide your weekly Broncho fix just in a different format. Recap, preview, shoutouts and more on the first-ever Cho Show Round-Up Edition.
Shoutouts
UCO Women’s soccer team– Won their 300th game in program history last Friday in a 2-1 win over Emporia State. They followed that up by beating Nebraska-Kearny last Sunday 7-1 to clinch a postseason birth the first MIAA team to do so. The cherry on top is forward Katie Killion who was named MIAA Player of the Week for the fourth straight time. She has 20 goals on the season making her only the third player in program history to do so. She also has 43 career goals good enough for third all-time in program history.
J.T. Luper- The former UCO wide receiver had a tryout with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League. While he didn’t come away with a contract it’s good to know teams are still keeping him on their radar. Wouldn’t count Luper out yet, as I’ve mentioned before on the podcast he’s pretty resilient so I expect him to bounce back and prepare for his next opportunity.
Recap over 17-16 win against Missouri Western
In a tale of the halves UCO came away with a hard-fought 17-16 road win against the Griffons. The Bronchos jumped out to a 17-0 first-half lead only to let it slip away allowing the Griffons a chance to kick a game-winning field goal that was tipped by defensive end Jordan Stafford and fell short. The Bronchos then took three kneel downs before punter Jay Tedesco ran out the back of the end zone allowing a safety on the last play of the game.
Takeaways
- UCO now moves to 4-3 on the season marking the first time they’ve posted a winning record
- 4-1 in last five games
- Inconsistent again. Still can’t figure this team out and at this point is done trying
- Corner Kolby Underwood who had a rough start to the season made a big interception jumping the route and almost returning it for a touchdown. It was his first career interception
- Safety Dreyvon Christon also made his first career interception
- Quarterback Chandler Garrett was on a tear rushing for 65 yards and one touchdown on just six carries before leaving with a side injury in the second quarter. Offense faltered after. Heard that the injury might sideline him for a while so if that’s the case I wish him a speedy recovery.
- Struggled to stop the quarterback run especially the scramble allowing Griffons quarterback Dom Marino to rush for 121 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries, an average of 8.6 ypc.
Stats
UCO NWMSU
First Downs- 16 21
Rushing Yards- 135 300
Passing Yards- 94 118
Total Yards- 229 418
3rd Downs- 6-14 5-14
4th Downs- 0-2 2-3
Redzone- 3-3 1-1
Individual Leaders
Passing- Will Collins: 9-15, 72 yards, sacked twice
Rushing- Chandler Garrett: 6-65, 1 touchdown, Clay McKenzie: 19-60, Dustin Basks: 1-15, 1 touchdown
Receiving- Basks: 4-35, Ronald Monroe: 3-22, dropped huge pass late fourth quarter
Tackles- O’Shay Harris: 10, Colton Lindsey: 9, 0.5tfl, Malik Walker: 8, Jakarri Hunt: 6
Washburn Breakdown
- 4-3, two-game winning streak
- Coming off largest homecoming win in school history 63-7 over Missouri Southern
- 14-7 first quarter before going 49-0 run. Never punted
- Lost to Missouri Western 38-7
- Has blocked Four KICKS this season
- Third-rated offense in MIAA
- Fourth-rated defense in MIAA
Season Numbers- stats could be skewed thanks to playing two worst teams in conference Missouri Southern and Northeastern State back to back weeks (won by a combined score of 121-21)
32 ppg
161.4 rushing ypg (3.6 ypc), 15 touchdowns
255.8 passing ypg, 12 touchdowns
417.3 ypg
8 interceptions
16 sacks
18.1 kick return average
7 yards punt return average
13 fumbles lost 7
64.2 penalty yards a game
42.7% 3rd down
81.2% 4th down
21-27 red zone
5-9 field goals
Key players and notes
- Have used three quarterbacks this season. Starting quarterback Blake Peterson hasn’t played since week 3
- The duo of Mitch Schurig and Ian Trapp have split time
Peterson- 6’2 215lbs junior Texas State transfer: 608 yards, 3-4 (touchdown to interceptions), 48.8% completion, 202.6 ypg, 32 carries for 118 yards, two touchdowns, 3.7 ypc
Schurig- 6’2 205lbs sophomore: 1,046, 8-6, 209 ypg, 63.1% completion
Trapp- 6’2 195lbs redshirt freshman: 137,1-0, 62.5% completion, 20-114, 1 TD, 5.7 ypc
- Running back has been by committee
- No back has over 350 yards
- Redshirt freshman Hunter Browning (5’11 195lbs) is leading rusher with 330 yards and two TD’s
- Other two backs redshirt freshman Kamani Addison (5’9 180) and sophomore Curtis Whitten (5’9 205) have combined for 364 yards and six touchdowns
Wide receiver James Brania-Hopp one of top WR’s in the conference. The 6’0 200lbs senior has 42 catches for 729 yards and four touchdowns. Averaging 104 ypg and 17.3 ypc.
- Is joined by Tulsa native senior Will Hamilton (6’3 215) who has 13-201 and two TD’s averaging 15.4 ypc and 28.7 ypg
Defense is led by linebacker duo of Austin Tillman and Derrick McGreevy
- Tillman (6’1 220) has 67 tackles, 7 tfl, 2 sacks, one interception
- Leads in tackles, tackles for loss, and sacks
- McGreevy (6’2 240) has 66 tackles, 4.5 tfl, and 1.5 sacks
- Safety Heath Tucker (6’3 205) leads in interceptions with two
- Defensive back Corey Ballentine (6’0 204) has BLOCKED THREE KICKS this season
- Kicker Perry Schmiedeler (5’11 170) 5-9 on the season with long of 49. Has one kick blocked
Keys to victory
- Play strong all four quarters
- Take advantage in the passing game. Washburn has thrown 10 interceptions this season.
- Broncho offense has to show up all four quarters. No one strong half one bad half
- Special teams. Washburn has blocked four kicks this season so protection on extra points is critical.
Next Week’s Podcast
Hope to be back. Will breakdown Washburn game with sound bites from Head Coach Nick Bobeck. Preview next weeks game and give shoutouts as needed. Will try to have the video of press conference. Had technical difficulties with it last week but I think I have it resolved.
My name is “JG Smooth” and I will talk to you all later.
