By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post
EDMOND, Okla. - Fort Hays State raced out to an early 10-0 first quarter lead but Central Oklahoma countered with big second and fourth quarters for a 35-23 victory Saturday afternoon at Chad Richison Stadium.
The Tigers (1-6) have lost four straight for the first time since 2013. UCO (5-2) has won four in-a-row for the first time since 2018.
The Tigers scored on their first possession for only the second time all season. Parky Janky kicked a 32-yard field goal to cap a 10-play, 60-yard drive for the early 3-0 lead.
After a muffed punt which gave the Bronchos the ball at the FHSU nine, Makel Williams intercepted a Stephon Davis pass and returned it to the UCO 34. Three plays later, Manny Ramsey scored on a 30-yard touchdown pass from Jack Dawson to push the lead to 10-0 with 7:11 to play in the first quarter.
UCO answered with 22-straight points, the first 16 of which came in the second quarter. Nicky Quevedo booted a 25-yard field goal to cap a 15-play, 66-yard drive to get the Bronchos on the board early in the second. Following a Tiger punt, Brown hit tight end Oscar Hammond on an 80-yard to tie the game 10-10 with 9:46 left in the half. Nasir Kemper later added a three-yard run which gave UCO a 16-10 halftime lead.
Quevado kicked two field goals in the third quarter to push the UCO lead to 22-10.
FHSU answered with a nine-play, 76-yard drive which ended with Ramsey's second touchdown reception, this time from 24-yard out to pull the Tigers within 22-17 with 2:46 to play in the third.
The Tigers got the ball back after forcing a three-and-out and drove down to the Bronchos 20 but Noah West batted a Dawson pass into the air then intercepted it on the first play of the fourth quarter. UCO would eventually score on a 23-yard touchdown pass from Brown to Madison Ridgeway to go up 28-17.
Following Dawson's third interception of the day, UCO added a 26-yard touchdown pass from Davis to Dominique Dunn.
Adrian Soto would score on a two-yard run with 1:32 left for the final score.
The Tigers had one more first down than UCO but were outgained 496 to 337 in total yards.
Jack Dawson finished 10-of-25 through the air for 107 yards and two touchdowns but was intercepted three times, two of them in the red zone. Leyton Cure had a team-high four catches for 25 yards. Ramsey hauled in three catches for 64 yards and two scores. Adrian Soto led the Tigers in rushing with 89 yards on 22 carries.
Stephon Davis completed 24-of-33 passes for 394 yards and three touchdowns with one interception. Oscar Hammond and Terrill Davis both had five receptions. Hammond had a team-high 148 yards and a score. Nasir Kemper led UCO in rushing with 52 yards on 12 carries.
Fort Hays State is back at home this Saturday at 1 p.m. against Central Missouri who defeated Missouri Southern State 20-17 Saturday for their second win of the season.