EDMOND, Okla. – After spending the last two weeks mostly running the ball against the Lone Star Conference North Division, the Texan offense opened the playbook, and the passing game, as the No. 19 Tarleton Texan football team defeated Central Oklahoma, 35-17.

Tarleton improved to 4-0 on the season as the Texan offense gained 310 yards through the air, a season-high. The Texans tallied 434 yards of total offense, though they only had 124 yards on the ground after averaging 221.0 yards rushing per game going into the UCO (1-3) contest.

The Texan defense was the top-ranked squad in the LSC heading into Saturday allowing just 117.0 yards per game through the air before the Bronchos racked-up 200 yards passing in the loss. The Bronchos had just 287 yards of total offense, including 87 yards on the ground. Saturday's game was the third straight contest that the Texan rushing defense held the opponent to less than 100 yards rushing.

After trailing 14-7 at halftime, the Texans outscored the Bronchos 28-3 in the second half and gained 72 percent of their yards in the last two quarters (311 yards).

“We talked about some of the things that we needed to overcome in the first half,” said Tarleton head coach Sam McElroy. “We had two crucial turnovers, and we really helped them out. However, if you can play poorly and be close, you have a chance. I was proud of the way our guys fought back and took control of this game. We executed a lot better in the third and fourth quarters, and I am proud of the way we took care of the ball in the second half and played this game. It's always good to come across the Red River and get a victory.” 

Tarleton quarterback Scott Grantham connected on 18-of-32 passes for 310 yards. He erased two interceptions in the first half with three touchdown passes and a touchdown run to help the purple and white remain undefeated with a solid second half. 

“This was a different type of game for us,” Grantham said. “We knew they were a great team, and we would have step up. We started out slow tonight, but our guys finally settled down and we went back to what we were capable of doing. I think we rose to the challenge and did what we needed to do in the second half. This was a good win against a very good team.”

The Texans scored first with 14:57 on the clock in the second quarter as the Grantham hit Devin Guinn for a five-yard score. Garrett Lindholm's kick put the Texans up 7-0 after an eight-play, 76-yard drive.

The Bronchos then tied the score on the ensuing possession after taking the ball 60 yards on seven plays. Brandon Noohi found Ryan Gallimore for a 30-yard score before Ross Weaver hit the point after attempt to make it 7-7.

On the following kickoff, Tarleton's Evan Robertson returned the UCO kickoff 79 yards to the Broncho 14-yard line. The sophomore fielded the kick at the Tarleton six-yard line. However, the Texans faced a fourth and one at the UCO five, but Robertson was stopped on the fourth down play two yards behind the line of scrimmage.

Grantham threw back-to-back interceptions on the first two Tarleton drives inside the 10-minute mark in the second half. The first time, the Texan defense forced a punt, but the second time, the Bronchos' offense took advantage of the turnover. The interception was returned to Tarleton 28, and six plays and a pass interference call later, the Bronchos' Jason Palmer punched the ball in from the one to give the home team the lead. Weaver added the extra point to make it 14-7 UCO with 51 seconds left in the half.

The score was the first for an opponent against the Texan defense in nine quarters, and it was the first time Tarleton has trailed this season.

The Texan offense that rushed for over 300 yards last week tallied just 15 yards on 17 rushes in the first half at UCO while the Bronchos' offense rushed for just 29 yards on 15 carries.

Tarleton won the coin toss at the beginning of the game and deferred to the second half. The Texans took the first drive of the second half and tied the game. Grantham hit Jahmeel Hobson on a 49-yard touchdown pass with 13:33 on the clock. The drive was 80 yards long, and Lindholm's kick made it 14-14.

The Texan defense forced a four-and-out and Tarleton took the ball 48 yards to take the lead. Grantham found Guinn for a 28-yard touchdown. Lindholm's kick put the Texans ahead 21-14 with 10:07 left in the third quarter. The drive took six plays.

With the touchdown, Guinn tied Will Moody (2000-03) with 20 career receiving touchdowns for second in the school record books.

The Texans recorded their third straight blocked field goal – with two last week against East Central – to stop the UCO drive at the Tarleton five. Jamaal Steamer got the block for Tarleton to give the Texans the ball. Grantham found Hobson for a 37-yard touchdown on the following drive, but a holding penalty put the ball back to the UCO 47, and the drive stalled for Tarleton as UCO forced a punt.

The Bronchos scored with 12:41 left in the contest when Weaver hit a 30-yard field goal to cap a 12-play, 64-yard drive to make it 21-17 Tarleton.

Tarleton then took the ball 76 yards on the next drive and took 5:52 to score a touchdown on a one-yard run on a bootleg by Grantham. Lindholm connects on the extra point attempt to put the Texans ahead 28-17 with 5:52 on the clock.

The Bronchos tried for a fourth and 10 at the UCO 31-yard line, and Jamaal Steamer had a sack on Noohi to give the Texans the ball back with just over five minutes left in the contest. The Texan offense took the ball 23 yards on two plays and added to its lead thanks to a 14-yard touchdown run from Robertson. Lindholm's kick made it 35-17.

UCO then had the ball and Noohi threw an interception on third down to Tarleton's Marcus Phillips. The Texans took over on the UCO 19-yard line after the interception return. Robert Payne took the ball on the first snap to the five, but the next three snaps were running plays that actually ended up gaining nothing. On fourth and goal from the five, the Texans took a snap in the victory formation instead of kicking the field goal to stretch the lead. 

UCO took over with just 56 ticks on the clock, and UCO, who ran the ball twice, seemed content to let the clock run out.

Robertson led the Texans with 22 carries for 86 yards and a touchdown while Guinn had eight receptions for 116 yards and two scores. Hobson had seven catches for 114 yards and a touchdown.

Phillips led the team with eight tackles, including four solo and four assisted stops. He also had one interception and a return of 14 yards with one pass breakup. The Texans had eight tackles for a loss of minus-28 yards, including two sacks for minus-19 yards.

UCO was led by Noohi in passing with 25-of-40 for 200 yards with one touchdown and one interception. 

Palmer had 22 carries for 94 yards and a touchdown while Matt Jackson had nine catches for 50 yards to lead the home squad. 

The Broncho defense was led by Terry Hardeman with 12 tackles, including three solo and nine assisted tackles. Giorgio Durham was second with 10 tackles.

The Texans will return home on Saturday, Sept. 26 for Family Weekend. Tarleton will play Southwestern Oklahoma at 7 p.m. in Memorial Stadium.