EDMOND, Okla. – Morgan Pearson caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from
Donovyn Omolo with just five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, leading the University of Central Missouri Mules Football Team to a thrilling 35-34 win over the University of Central Oklahoma Bronchos in a MIAA game Saturday, Oct. 4, at Chad Richison Stadium.
The Mules (3-2, 3-0 MIAA) are scheduled to face the No. 24 Northwest Missouri State Bearcats (4-1, 3-0 MIAA) on Saturday, Oct. 11, at 1 p.m. at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field in Warrensburg.
After Central Oklahoma drove down the field and tied the game, 28-28, with 6:36 remaining in the fourth quarter, Omolo led a six-play, 75-yard drive that ended when he found Pearson, a junior tight end from Ardmore, Okla., on a 20-yard feed in the end zone to put UCM in front, 35-28.
The Bronchos (2-3, 2-2 MIAA) responded, though, and orchestrated a five-play, 62-yard drive. They pulled within one, 35-34, when UCO quarterback Jett Huff completed a four-yard touchdown pass to Dominque Dunn with just under three minutes left. The ensuing extra point was no good, however, keeping UCM in front.
In the final minutes of the game, the Mules kept Central Oklahoma off the scoreboard, securing the victory.
For the game, Omolo went 20-of-40 for 331 yards and threw touchdown passes of 17 yards and 20 yards, while also rushing for 37 yards on 12 carries with 13-yard and one-yard rushing touchdowns. In addition, he caught a 17-yard touchdown pass from wide receiver Marlon Lindsey Jr., giving him five touchdowns in the contest.
Hogan Wasson had a game-best nine catches for a career-high 190 receiving yards, including a 72-yard TD reception with 10:54 to go in the second quarter.
Armand Russell posted a career-best 51 receiving yards on three catches, and Lindsey Jr. recorded both a passing and receiving touchdown, leading Central Missouri offensively.
Michael Harris tallied two quarterback sacks for 10 yards,
Garrett Hormann had nine tackles, including 2.5 tackles-for-loss for six yards and a quarterback sack, and recovered a fumble,
Trenton Bell compiled 13 tackles,
Abraham Hoskins III added 12 tackles and forced a fumble,
Drew Kaufman forced a fumble, and
Kyan Franklin had a five-yard quarterback sack, rounding out the defensive leaders for Central Missouri.
For the game, Central Oklahoma outgained the Mules, 617 yards to 500 yards, including a 223-152 rushing and 394-348 passing advantage. UCM, however, went a perfect 4-of-4 in red-zone scoring chances and had four quarterback sacks for 16 yards, along with two fumble recoveries.
Huff went 32-of-48 for 394 yards with four passing touchdowns, William Mason had 168 rushing yards on 21 carries, and Ashton Schumann posted 188 receiving yards on 10 receptions with a touchdown, pacing UCO.
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