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UCO defenders Daevion Hill (35) and Lemuel Gordon (90) close in on running back Ma’Lek Murphy (26) during the Bronchos’ spring game on Saturday. Photo by Drew Harmon. -
University of Central Oklahoma running back Willie Rice (24) spins across the goal line for a touchdown during the Bronchos’ spring game on Saturday. Photo by Drew Harmon. -
UCO quarterback (10) rolls out under pressure from linebacker Justice Conway (33) during the Bronchos’ spring game on Saturday. Photo by Drew Harmon.
Central Oklahoma football held its annual spring game Friday and we saw familiar plays from familiar faces as well as surprising performances from some new names.
UCO capped off Todd G. Lamb’s inauguration as the school’s 22nd president with an intrasquad scrimmage at Chad Richison Stadium. The spring game marks the end of spring practices, meaning the Bronchos will be off until summer workouts commence.
Head coach Adam Dorrel separated his team into Blue (offense) and Gold (defense), who then played several 20-minute periods against each other. The game featured a non-traditional scoring system, with each team receiving a certain amount of points for different feats, such as the defense being awarded seven points for every stop or the offense getting three points for plays of over 15 yards.
The Bronchos’ Gold team came away with the win at the end of the night, outlasting the Blue team, 91-75.
Given that the Gold team was defense only, Friday was a good day on that side of the ball. All of UCO’s defensive units stepped up big with a plethora of stops and turnovers. The highlight of the day was a 99-yard pick six by junior defensive back JK Moore, who intercepted a would-be touchdown in the endzone during the first period.
Moore had two interceptions and eight pass break-ups as a sophomore last season.
Freshman running back Ma’Lek Murphy had a monster day for the Blue team with two touchdowns and multiple big runs. One of those scores was a 50-yard screen pass Murphy caught out of the backfield and took to the house, racing up the sideline for the touchdown after evading defenders.
Murphy also picked up a rushing touchdown late in the scrimmage from 10 yards out.
Senior quarterback Dawson Herl connected with Willie Rice on a 15-yard touchdown pass, and sophomore running back William Mason made a 24-yard catch for the biggest non-scoring completion of the day.
UCO will now be off until the start of summer workouts and then fall camp in August. The Bronchos kick off the 2024 football season at home against former rival Langston University on Saturday, Sept. 7.