Big Win For Bronchos

Last Saturday's 37-21 Lone Star Conference football win over Tarleton State was huge for the Bronchos in more ways than one.

Obviously, it was big to get in the win column after dropping the opener to Pittsburg State two weeks earlier when five turnovers doomed UCO. But, perhaps more importantly, the win gives the youthful Bronchos a shot in the arm confidence-wise and that could be an even bigger factor going forward.

I counted 34 underclassmen who played in Saturday's game against Tarleton. That's 34 of the 50 players who saw action on the field. And that's an amazing stat to me, especially when you look at how big a role some of those young guys played.

You want some examples? I've got plenty.

Redshirt freshman running back Josh Birmingham - 97 yards and two TDs rushing, 46 yards receiving. Sophomore quarterback Ethan Sharp - 19-of-24 passing for 190 yards and two TDs, 25 yards and one TD rushing. Sophomore receiver Dolphin Davis - three receptions, 49 yards, two TDs. Two sophomore linemen - Justin Pruitt and Cody Hughes - who helped a unit that didn't give up a sack for the second straight game.

Not enough? There's more on defense, which gave up just 295 yards in the win.

Redshirt freshman linebacker Kerry Wallace, making his first start - a team-high 10 tackles. Sophomore strong safety Keno Meadows - six tackles. Redshirt freshman cornerback Randy Stanley - four broken up passes. Sophomore Creadell Pennon - an interception and 32-yard return late in the game that led to UCO's clinching touchdown.

So now the Bronchos go on the road for the first time, with the team set to travel to San Antonio this Saturday for a first-ever meeting with Incarnate Word. It will be another challenge for a young team that doesn't have a lot of depth, but UCO is heading in the right direction with this squad.

And now a quick look at our other fall sports teams . . .

• UCO will finally play its first home volleyball match Tuesday at 7 p.m. when the Bronchos host Dallas Baptist. The Bronchos are off to a solid 6-3 start, including a big win last weekend at the Angelo State Invitational over a Lubbock Christian team that was ranked No. 12 in NAIA and had ended West Texas A&M's 46-match winning streak the week before. Look for this team to keep getting stronger as the season progresses.

• Alina Istrate breezed to the individual title to lead the Broncho cross country team to a championship in its own UCO Land Run last Saturday morning. The senior wasn't even breathing hard after her win and is ready to lead the Bronchos to a banner year as she rebounds from an injury-plagued junior season. A 3-4 finish by freshmen Katie Kerns and Tess Lackey in last week's meet was also a good sign of things to come.

• UCO evened its soccer record at 2-2 Sunday with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Oklahoma City at soggy Tom Thompson Field. The Bronchos are playing without several key players because of injury, but continue to battle hard and found a way to pick up a much-needed win over the Stars. UCO will be back at home again this week, with games Friday and Sunday afternoon.

• And finally, the fall golf season gets underway Monday and Tuesday for both the men and women. UCO's men expect to be national contenders next spring and are in Abilene, Texas to open their season, while the women have high hopes of their own and open up at a tournament in Springfield, Mo.