Fall Update

*Big win for the UCO football team last Saturday at Wantland Stadium, one the Bronchos badly needed after stumbling out of the gate 0-4.

Plenty of heroes in the 41-21 win, with running back Joshua Birmingham and cornerback Creadell Pennon getting the lion's share of the credit for their incredible individual performances. All Birmingham did was rush for 233 yards -- sixth-best game in school history -- with a 74-yard touchdown scamper while breaking two other long runs to set up scores. Pennon was not to be outdone, intercepting three passes and running one back 100 yards for a TD. The other two were fourth-quarter picks, both in UCO territory.

There were plenty of others who played key roles in the win, from Ethan Sharp's efficient performance at quarterback that included two scoring passes and a TD run to Sam Moses, Keno Meadows, Tucker Cason and Brandon Williams coming up with key defensive stops. And don't forget place-kicker Chris Robbs, who booted a pair of fourth-period field goals when the Bronchos pulled away. It was the best overall effort of the seaosn for UCO, with offense, defense and special teams all playing a big role in the win.

UCO goes back on the road the next two weeks and both will be amazingly hard tests. First up is a long trip to San Luis Obispo, Calif. this Saturday to take on Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) member Cal Poly and then next week the Bronchos go to Topeka, Kan. to meet Washburn, currently ranked fifth in Division II.

After that, though, UCO ends the season with four straight home games.


*This week's Division II women's soccer poll had a familiar name in it for the first time this year -- UCO, which came in at No. 23. The Bronchos have been ranking regulars since 1999, but didn't crack the top 25 all last season and made it for the first time in 2011 thanks to an on-going seven-game winning streak.

Mike Cook's crew has outscored its last seven opponents 21-3 while pitching four shutouts and is definitely on a roll right now. UCO returns from a nine-day break from competition Sunday, hosting Southwestern Oklahoma at 1 p.m.


*Volleyball started a four-match homestand Wednesday night with a three-set throttling of Oklahoma Panhandle, giving up just 15 points in winning the last two (25-6 and 25-9). The Bronchos, now 12-9, are back home Friday against Harding before hosting Texas-Permian Basin Sunday and Newman next Tuesday.


*UCO's rowing team opened its fall schedule last weekend at the Oklahoma River in the Head of the Oklahoma Regatta and fared well despite stiff competition that had the Bronchos as the lone Division II school in every race. First-year head coach Andrew Derrick has his team pointed in the right direction and is ready to make some serious noise next spring.


*The youthful UCO women's golf team came through with a fine third-place finish at their own UCO Golf Classic earlier this week at Lincoln Park in Oklahoma City. The Bronchos had two sophomores and three freshmen in the starting lineup and still shot rounds of 294-291, with the 291 the third-lowest in school history. Sophomore Chaney Uhles finished third with a one-under-par 139 total after shooting 70-69 and looks like a legitimate All-America contender.


*UCO's cross country team continues to be paced by freshman phenom Brooke Klimek, who came in 11th at the rugged Cowboy Jamboree last week to lead the Bronchos to a seventh-place team finish. Klimek won the first two meets of the season and will be a threat to win every race UCO competes in the rest of the way.


*Don't look now, but the winter sports teams are about to start practice. UCO's wrestling squad, which has 15 national championship banners hanging in Hamilton Field House, will get started Oct. 10 when teams can finally get on the mat. The basketball teams won't be far behind, with the first official practices for both set for Oct. 15. UCO's men and women both made it to the Sweet 16 last year in winning a combined 52 games (30 for men, 22 for women) and both figure to be quite good again this year.