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STILLWATER — For two-and-a-50 % quarters, the Oklahoma Condition Cowboys’ 6-shooters appeared to be aimed instantly at their have ft.
Very poor tackling. Unforced problems. Missed offensive prospects.
But in the third quarter, with Texas Tech holding an 8-point guide, the seventh-rated Cowboys found balance on equally sides of the ball, scoring 18 unanswered details on the way to a 41-31 gain on Saturday at Boone Pickens Stadium.
OSU quarterback Spencer Sanders and functioning back again Dominic Richardson had 2nd-50 percent speeding touchdowns. Jaden Bray took in a two-place conversion. And kicker Tanner Brown was best on 4 field target attempts.
Following letting Texas Tech to score on 4 consecutive belongings in the next and 3rd quarters, the OSU defense didn’t enable a place in excess of Tech’s last 6 drives, with an interception, two punts and three consecutive turnovers on downs to conclude the sport.
Sanders threw for 297 yards and a TD, rushed for 56 and two scores, and turned the No. 2 male on OSU’s all-time wins record as a starting off quarterback. It was Sanders’ 29th gain guiding the Pokes, relocating him in advance of recent Cowboy coach Mike Gundy and leaving him a few victories powering leader Mason Rudolph.
Right here are 4 much more takeaways from the Cowboy victory:
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A punt and a decide on
Texas Tech scored on its first possession in the third quarter to acquire a 31-23 guide, and the OSU offense stalled out close to midfield on the next drive.
OSU’s Tom Hutton punted, which was truthful caught at the 5-yard line. And that turned out to be the improve the Cowboy protection necessary.
OSU pressured an rapid a few-and-out, setting up a 53-garden touchdown generate. Spencer Sanders powered his way into the close zone for a 2-garden landing run. Then Sanders popped a short pass to Jaden Bray, who was dashing throughout the development and ran in for the two-position conversion to tie the match at 31.
On Texas Tech’s following possession, OSU linebacker Mason Cobb drifted back into coverage and intercepted a move by Tech’s Behren Morton. Cobb returned the decide to the Tech 19, and the Pokes ended up with a 24-property Tanner Brown field aim for a 34-31 direct.
It was the 1st Cowboy direct considering that early in the second quarter.
The to start with interception of Cobb’s occupation could not have appear at a better time. The junior, who was actively playing just his second Major 12 match as a starter, drifted again into protection as he was meant to, then reacted to what he saw from Morton to phase in entrance of the throw.
“He was a floater,” defensive coordinator Derek Mason stated. “Just read through the eyes of the quarterback. The quarterback noticed (Cobb) phase away originally, so he thought he had it. (Cobb) played right off the quarterback’s eyes, went correct in which he was intended to go. In some cases when you happen to be doing your career, the ball just hits you in the deal with.”
Kendal Daniels ejected
In the minute, Kendal Daniels’ 3rd-down sack of Morton at the 1-garden line looked like a large defensive perform. But a late flag came floating in, and Daniels was named for focusing on since of a helmet-to-helmet hit.
Evaluate upheld the simply call, and Daniels — a redshirt freshman basic safety who doesn’t start but plays routinely — was ejected. Mainly because the penalty transpired in the 2nd 50 percent, the 6-foot-4, 205-pound Daniels will be suspended for the 1st half of next week’s street recreation at TCU.
However OSU permitted the Red Raiders to get to midfield following the penalty, the protection held and compelled a turnover on downs. It was the initial fourth-down halt for OSU in the match. Tech had transformed its earlier 4 makes an attempt on fourth down.
“It was focusing on,” Gundy mentioned. “It truly is a rough video game, but the way the rule is set up, that was concentrating on. You cannot lower your head, and they know it. But he’s youthful.
“In the warmth of the minute, all he is aware of is he experienced a lifeless shot at the quarterback in the finish zone. The rule is place in place to shield and it is a excellent rule. No person likes the rule, for the reason that persons feel it can be soccer. Football’s soccer. Till which is your kid that is finding strike. It was the correct call. He demands to learn to maintain his facial area up.”
Gundy’s only frustration with the targeting rule is the carry-over of the suspension to the initial 50 % of the next activity.
“I don’t make the rules,” Gundy claimed. “It’s reasonable for most people, but that carry-above, I have never ever favored that. But we know going in exactly where it is at. It is really an easy option. Maintain your head up, hold your eyes up. Can not decrease your head.”
Onside kick capture interference
Texas Tech scored on its to start with possession of the video game, then experimented with to steal some momentum with a sneak onside kick.
A Tech participant caught the ball in the air, but OSU’s Demarco Jones had waved for a good catch — a extremely smart engage in that prevented a significant swing.
The Tech player was flagged for kick catch interference. OSU responded by scoring a landing two performs afterwards to tie the activity.
“As soon as you kick it, if you display truthful catch, they won’t be able to capture it,” Gundy said. “Pretty smart, huh?
“We’ve practiced it and talked about it. We were being fortunate more than enough we experienced a male that plays a ton of particular teams for a extensive time. He’s experienced and he produced a great engage in.”
Damage woes effect defense
OSU came into the video game in excellent health and fitness, getting the return of receiver Jaden Bray.
But injury challenges cropped up early for the Cowboys, especially on protection.
Starting off cornerback Korie Black suffered what was noted on the OSU radio broadcast as a hamstring personal injury and did not engage in immediately after Texas Tech’s initial offensive possession. His backup, Demarco Jones also experienced an injuries, leaving 3rd-string redshirt freshman Cam Smith in the lineup.
Real freshman D.J. McKinney also saw time at cornerback.
Linebacker Xavier Benson was in and out of the lineup in the to start with half with a lower leg harm, nevertheless he performed a lot of the 2nd half.
On offense, middle Preston Wilson suffered a 2nd-quarter damage and did not return, currently being changed by Joe Michalski. Whilst the Cowboys did not have any big snap issues, the shotgun snaps were being not as crisp with Michalski.
Main receiver Braydon Johnson left the recreation in the initially quarter. It was claimed by the OSU radio network that Johnson appeared to be in concussion protocol, although Gundy reported he was unaware of Johnson’s personal injury position.
“I you should not know for guaranteed what occurred to him,” Gundy claimed. “He did not enjoy substantially in the 2nd half. I want to examine on that.”
Johnson’s frequent backup, Langston Anderson, was not suited up simply because of personal injury, so Jaden Bray switched positions in his first sport of the year, returning from a thumb harm experienced in August..
