CORSICANA – Tarleton finished out its 2017 season in heartbreaking fashion as a fortunate break for the Texans turned sour in the final two minutes of a 38-31 loss to Central Oklahoma in the inaugural Corsicana Bowl at Tiger Stadium Saturday afternoon.
 
The Texans and the Bronchos went back-and-forth all afternoon and Central Oklahoma took a 38-31 lead into the final nine minutes. The Bronchos marched 71 yards in 12 plays over 6:44 before a missed field goal from 31 yards out gave the Tarleton offense a shot with 2:04 left.
 
Tarleton went 16 yards in three plays before an incompletion bounced off a Tarleton receiver into the waiting arms of the Broncho defender to seal the game for UCO.
 
Central Oklahoma started the scoring with a 37-yard field goal for the only points of the first quarter before Tarleton answered quickly inside the second quarter with a slant to Del'Michael High across the middle for a 25-yard touchdown pass for Woerner and a 7-3 Texan lead.
 
After UCO found the end zone twice for a 17-7 lead, Woerner orchestrated a 13-play, 92-yard drive over 2:45 of the final 3:02 of the first half – capped off by a two-yard jump ball to High in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown. The Texans went into halftime trailing 17-14.
 
Out of the break, Xavier Turner put Tarleton back on top with a 12-yard run to pay dirt for a 21-17 advantage to begin the second half. On the next offensive possession, Adam Berryman found the end zone for what would be Tarleton's last touchdown of the afternoon with a 30-yard run. Sergio Sroka added a fourth-quarter field goal to even the score at 31-31 before UCO scored its final touchdown with 10:13 left in the game.
 
Woerner, a sixth-year senior quarterback, ended his career in record fashion as the senior from Marble Falls passed Steve Kelly for the most passing yards in school history with 8,243. Earlier this season, Woerner became the school's all-time passing touchdown leader and finished his career with 72 passing scores. Saturday afternoon, Woerner threw for 253 yards on 15-31 passing with a pair of scores.
 
Jeff Thomas led the team with 104 receiving yards on five catches while High hauled in five for 83 yards and a pair of scores. Xavier Turner topped 100 yards on the ground with 123 yards and a touchdown.
 
Basil Jackson led the Texan defense in his final game as the all-conference linebacker made 15 tackles and a sack.
 
Tarleton will move into its second full offseason under the latest tenure of head coach Todd Whitten. National signing day is scheduled for Wednesday, February 7. There will be a final edition of the Todd Whitten Radio Show Thursday at 12 p.m. at TexStar Ford Quick Lane in Stephenville.