GAME UPDATE: ESU 17, Central Oklahoma 7 — FINAL
Hornets defense stands strong against Bronchos in upset win
By Jesse Newell
Saturday, September 8, 2007
Central Oklahoma drove 71 yards on its first possession to the ESU 20 but was held scoreless when ESU's Emmanuel Howard made a leaping interception in the end zone.
ESU went three-and-out on its first possession.
The Hornets forced punts on the next two UCO drives, but the ESU offense continued to struggle. It went three-and-out on its three first-quarter possessions, losing a combined six yards in those drives.
In its first drive of the second quarter, UCO drove to the ESU 32 before fumbling a snap. Hornets defensive lineman Lance Claibourn recovered the ball for ESU.
ESU took the ball to the UCO 23 before a Ben Purkeypile fumble turned it back over to the Bronchos.
Howard came up with his second huge play for the Hornets, stepping in front of a Ryan O'Hara pass and returning the interception 40 yards for an ESU touchdown.
Johnny Torres' point-after made it 7-0 Hornets.
The ESU defense struck again with under a minute left in the first half.
UCO drove 71 yards all the way down to the ESU 5, but O'Hara underthrew a ball on third and goal that was intercepted by Travis Lee.
The ESU cornerback — who also runs on the school's track team — returned it 100 yards down the right sideline for the Hornets' second defensive touchdown. It was the first interception return for 100 yards in the MIAA since 1972.
Torres' PAT made it 14-0 with 25 seconds left in the half.
The Hornets led by 14 at half despite gaining just 53 yards on 21 plays. UCO had 39 plays for 207 yards in the first half.
Purkeypile threw an interception on ESU's first possession of the second half, giving UCO the ball at the ESU 22.
But again the Hornets defense stepped up, as sacks by Blake Ringwall and Daniel Webb pushed the Bronchos back to the ESU 40, forcing a punt.
The ESU defense forced punts on UCO's first three possessions of the third quarter to keep the score at 14-0 entering the fourth quarter.
UCO finally got on the board with 14:32 left in the fourth quarter, as Maurice Little capped a 42-yard drive with an 11-yard touchdown run.
It was the first touchdown the Hornets defense had allowed all season.
The extra point cut the lead to 14-7.
David Diener and A.J. Brinkman notched interceptions in the fourth quarter to thwart UCO drives.
After Brinkman's interception, the ESU offense gained a first down before Torres' 35-yard field goal made it 17-7 with 2:02 remaining.
To cap its great day, the ESU defense held UCO on a four-and-out on the Bronchos' final possession to seal the victory.
The Hornets won despite gaining just 67 yards of offense -- the team's lowest total in a game since becoming an NCAA school.