Tarleton Game Day

EDMOND, Okla. – The No. 19 Tarleton Texan football team will return to the road on Saturday, Sept. 19 at Central Oklahoma. Kickoff for the Lone Star Conference crossover game in Edmond, Okla. is set for 6 p.m.

Tarleton is coming off a 41-2 victory over East Central last Saturday where the Texan defense shut out its opponent for the second straight week. The only Tiger points came on a safety thanks to a botched snap by the Texan offense. 

The Bronchos are coming off a 46-17 loss at Texas A&M-Kingsville last Saturday.

Tarleton is 3-0 this season and go into Wantland Stadium with just one win in four tries. UCO is 1-2 with a win over West Texas A&M and a loss to Pittsburg State and the Javelinas.

The Texans are averaging 354.7 yards per game on offense, including 133.7 yards in passing and a league-high 221.0 yards per game on the ground. The Texan defense, who also leads the LSC as a total unit, is allowing just 183.7 yards of offense per outing. Opponents are averaging just 66.7 yards on the ground and 117.0 yards in the air. 

Roderick Smith leads the team in rushing with 114.0 yards per outing and is one touchdown away from setting a new school record for career touchdowns. The senior has 33 touchdowns scored and is tied with Gaylon Bowser (1984-87) for the school record – which he tied last week in the win over East Central.

Scott Grantham, who has a 117.68 passing efficiency, is 24-of-50 for 360 yards with two touchdowns and just one interception.

Devin Guinn has nine receptions to lead the receiving corps. He has 172 yards total for an average of 57.3 yards per game.

Matt Knicky leads the team with 22 total tackles, including five solo and 17 assisted tackles. Ben Taifane had four and a half tackles for a loss of minus-17 yards to lead the team. Tarleton has a total of 33 tackles for loss of minus-126 yards.

UCO is averaging 388.3 yards per game in total offense, including 170.0 yards on the ground and 218.3 yards through the air. The Bronchos are scoring 18.0 points a game while allowing 35.0 points per outing. UCO is allowing 452.7 yards to opponents, including 170.0 yards on the ground and 243.3 yards in the air.

The two teams have met on eight previous occasions, and the Bronchos lead the all-time series 5-3. However, the Texans have won three of the last four meetings.  The lone Tarleton victory in Edmond came on Nov. 16, 2002 (34-27). 

The game will be broadcast on KSTV 93.1 FM and online at www.kstvfm.com.