Joplin, Mo. -- Kyle Keller rushed for one score and threw for another, while
Giresse Forchu added a rushing touchdown, but the Missouri Southern football team fell 55-21 tonight at home to visiting Central Oklahoma at Fred G. Hughes Stadium inside the Robert W. Plaster Sports Complex.
Southern (1-5, 1-5 MIAA) had 309 yards passing, 290 coming from a 15-31 performance from Keller.
TJ Fleeton went 4-5 passing for 19 yards.
Terrell Crawford caught seven passes for 82 yards and a score, while
Jordan Morrison caught four balls for 111 yards.
Chad Nolan had two catches for 82 yards, including a long of 55, while
Michael Nelson had five catches for 29 yards.
Joe Henderson had 16 yards on the ground, while Forchu had 12 yards and a score.
UCO (2-4, 2-4 MAA) quarterback TJ Eckert went 26-38 in the air with three touchdowns. Clay McKenzie rushed for 164 yards and a score.
Defensively, the Lions were led by
Kyjuan Tate with 15 tackles, including one for a loss of a yard.
Ricky Green had ten stops and added his fourth interception of the year.
Justin Tomlinson had ten stops, while
Martice Buckley had nine.
Central Oklahoma led 14-0 at the end of the first quarter, but the Lions got on the board shortly into the second quarter when Forchu rushed for a four-yard score to make the tally 14-7, UCO.
The Bronchos added a 26-yard field goal from Seth Hiddink on their next possession and took a 31-7 lead into the locker room.
Keller worked quick on the Lions' first drive of the second half as he hit Nolan for 55 yards to put the Lions on the UCO 12-yard line, then he hooked up with Crawford for a 12-yard pass and score to make the score 31-14.
UCO led 41-14 at the end of the third quarter and a Keller rushing touchdown made the score 48-21, UCO.
The Lions will be back in action next weekend when Southern travels to Tahlequah, Okla. to take on Northeastern State. Kickoff from Doc Wadley Stadium is slated for 1 pm.
