EDMOND — The President’s Cup will be on the line Saturday when Northeastern State wraps up the season at Central Oklahoma at 2 p.m. today.
“It’s a game that’s become a big, serious rivalry in the state,” said NSU coach Kenny Evans.
In addition to the President’s Cup, the game also has implications in the Lone Star Conference North Division. UCO (3-7 overall) and NSU are both 2-2 in the division and trail Southeastern Oklahoma and Texas A&M-Commerce.; With an SEOSU loss, the winner of the game would have a chance to tie for second place.
“We are a lot alike,” Evans said. “But I don’t know if stats matter when UCO and NSU play.”
The Bronchos are coming off a 42-25 victory over East Central last week. Their other LSC North victory was against the team the RiverHawks also beat, Southwestern Oklahoma State.
Northeastern State (2-8) has lost three straight games, including a 66-23 loss to West Texas A&M; last week. The RiverHawks’ two division wins are also against SWOSU and East Central.
The Bronchos, who average 24 points a game, are led the senior backfield of quarterback Brandon Noohi and running back Jason Palmer. Noohi is third in the conference in total offense and Palmer leads the LSC in rushing yards per game.
The NSU defense, after allowing just one touchdown in a three-game stretch earlier in the season, has been suspect the past few games and have allowed at least 42 points in the last three contests.
On the other side of the ball, the RiverHawks offense will be led by junior Patrick Cook this week. Junior Woody Wilson and sophomore Kenny Davis will both be unavailable due to injury. Cook passed for 136 yards and two touchdowns last week against WTAMU.
Central Oklahoma is allowing opponents an average of 33 points a game this season. The Bronchos, however, lead the conference in interceptions with 19 and they are second in turnover margin.
Sophomore defensive back Giorgio Durham has led the defense and the conference with seven of those interceptions.
NSU and UCO have split the last ten meetings with the Bronchos winning 24-13 last season.
Bacone idle
The Warriors don’t finish their season until next Saturday at Indian Bowl against Southwestern Assemblies of God University.
Bacone has today off. It is 1-7 overall and 1-3 in league play after the 38-6 loss to Langston last Saturday.
Bacone plays SAGU at 2 p.m.
