(This article has been updated with new information.)
EDMOND — Central Oklahoma‘s unprecedented season of success continued Saturday afternoon at Chad Richison Stadium.
The No. 8-ranked Bronchos clinched their first outright Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association football championship and assured themselves of a first-round home playoff berth with a 55-38 victory over Emporia State (Kan.) before an estimated 8,500 fans. Central Oklahoma, 10-1 overall and 8-1 in the tough Division II league, will host Ouachita Baptist at 1 p.m. Saturday to open the postseason.
“Not bad for a bunch of guys who were picked to finish seventh in the conference,” UCO coach Adam Dorrel said, referencing preseason predictions by media. “It’s an exciting day, and I’m really proud of our team. This league is really tough from top to bottom.
“I told our guys this week, how many games across the country — whether it’s DIII, NAIA, DII, FCS, Division I — how many games were being played for a conference championship? I’ll bet there wasn’t a ton. But the atmosphere here was great today, and we didn’t play with any pressure. Now we can move on and focus on the playoffs.”
An anticipated showdown between gunslinging quarterbacks Jett Huff of UCO and Emporia State’s Gunnar Gundy never materialized. Huff, after struggling late in the past two games, was benched in favor of Dawson Herl. Gundy, an Oklahoma State transfer, suffered a concussion in the first quarter and was replaced by former Lincoln Christian standout Chase Ricke.
Herl and Ricke were the ones who led respective high-scoring offenses.
Herl, a senior out of Independence, Mo., completed 30 of 48 passes for 368 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for a TD for Central, which will host its first playoff game since 1998.
Record-setting receiver Terrill Davis tied his own single-game school record with 15 receptions. The junior out of Choctaw finished with 203 yards and a touchdown. Jaylen Cottrell had 112 yards and a touchdown, and fellow running back William Mason added three touchdowns.
“We went with Dawson Herl because he’s led us to victory the last two games,” Dorrel said of wins at Missouri Western and Washburn (Kan.) that set up the Bronchos’ chance to win the MIAA title at home on the final day of the regular season.
“Coming into today, he had led us to four touchdowns in five possessions. He’s kind of had the hot hand right now. His hard work is paying off staying ready every week.”
Dorrel said he is not ready to name a starter for the Bronchos’ first-round playoff matchup. Derl played quite well Saturday, but Huff has already set several school passing records this season.
Ricke was 28-for-43 passing for 394 yards and three touchdowns for Emporia State. The former Oklahoma All-Stater ran for 33 yards and a touchdown as the Hornets finished the season 7-4 and 5-4.
More:Meet the 5-foot-8 QB leading the best college football offense in Oklahoma
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