Box Score Kearney, Neb. – The Central Oklahoma Bronchos were strong in the red zone and forced five second half turnovers to blank Nebraska-Kearney, 49-0, Saturday afternoon at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium at Foster Field.
 
The surprise team in the MIAA this year, UCO improves to 4-1 while the Lopers fall to 0-5.
 
UNK finished with 281 rushing yards and out gained the Bronchos in the first half. However, a series of big plays and penalties allowed UCO to lead 28-0 going into the locker room.
 
Junior Marquez Clark had the first big play as he brought back the opening kickoff 79 yards. That led to a two-yard TD run by redshirt freshman QB Chas Stallard.
 
UNK tried to respond, going 49 yards in its first possession. However, UCO's Malcolm Howard blocked a 20-yard field goal attempt from freshman Brendan Wentling (Grand Island).
 
The Loper defense held but a penalty on a potential long run by junior Romero Cotton (Hutchinson, Kans.) help end UNK's next drive.
 
UCO then turned to sophomore running back Jake Gandara to move ahead 14-0. He had a 39-yard run and a 32-yard catch on a screen pass to move the ball into Loper territory.

Gandara, who joined Clark and Stallard on the sidelines last week due to injury, finished the 73-yard drive with a one-yard plunge.
 
Early in the 2nd quarter, Stallard completed a 17-yard pass to Connor Pulley on 3rd and 2. That kept a drive alive that ended when Gandara ran in from five yards out.
 
The Lopers apparently got on the board as junior Cougar Williams (Hanford, Calif.) brought back the ensuing kickoff 100 yards. However, a holding penalty negated the score.

Soon after, another penalty waved off a 25-yard catch by redshirt freshman tight end Nick Behrends (Auburn). Kearney finished with nine penalties for 75 yards.
 
Right before the half, UNK went 80 yards in 10 plays, highlighted by a 40-yard burst from sophomore back Dezden Petty (Carson, Calif.). But, UCO's Cody Jones returned an interception 89 yards for a score and a huge momentum change.

 
In the second half, UNK lost three fumbles and threw two INT's. One of the fumbles was recovered in the Broncho end zone, stopping a 62-yard drive. 
 
UCO had scoring drives of 55, 75 and 80 yards in the second half as they scored 14 points in each of the first three quarters. They also scored six TD's in seven red zone trips.
 
Gandara paced an offense that rushed 42 times for 196 yards (4.7 avg.) and six scores. He had 15 totes for 93 yards and three TD's while catching three balls for 60 yards.
 
Stallard avoided several sacks to finish with five carries for 26 yards and a score. In the air, he was 15 of 23 for 212 yards and no INT's.

Eight different Bronchos had a catch, led by Myles Tease with four for 72 yards.
 
Cotton went over 100 yards for a second straight week as he had 107 on 19 carries (5.6 avg.). Junior QB Bronson Marsh (Omaha) and Petty both had 49 yards with junior back Kevin Lane (Carson, Calif.) finishing with 37.
 
In the pass game, Marsh was 12 of 23 for 77 yards and one INT. Junior Allen Sampson (Tampa, Fla.) had a team-best four catches for 31 yards with Williams having three kick returns for 81 yards.
 
Defensively, sophomore ILB Tyke Kozeal (Sargent) had 11 tackles (seven solo) with senior end Matt Bowman (Kearney Catholic) recording eight, two for a loss of four yards.
 
UNK is at Northeastern State (0-5) next week.