Oklahoma State Outlasts Baylor 36-25 in Heavyweight Bout

In a game where big plays ruled supreme, No. 7/9 Oklahoma State outlasted a tough No. 14/16 Baylor team on the road, 36-25.

With the win, the Cowboys moved to 4-0 on the season, 1-0 in Big 12 play and gives Spencer Sanders his 28th career win as an OSU quarterback, tying Mike Gundy for second in wins all-time.

Sanders finished the game going 20-of-29 for 181 yards and one touchdown and one interception, while rushing for 75 yards and one touchdown on 14 carries.

The Cowboys held Baylor, who entered the game averaging nearly 207 rushing yards per game, to just 112 yards on 30 carries. They also held the Bears to 3-of-11 on third downs, three quarterback hurries and two sacks and interceptions. The Bears were, however, and impressive 3-of-5 on fourth downs.

Spencer Sanders hit sophomore Bryson Green with a fade from eight yards out, placing the ball where only Green could get it. But what made the play even more impressive was Green high-pointing the pass over the defender and maintaining possession all the way through to put the Pokes on the board first.

After being forced to punt at the start of the second quarter, Tom Hutton’s 37-yard punt was downed at the two-yard line by Braylin Presley. On the very next play, Brock Martin blew the play up in the end zone, leading to a safety by Kendal Daniels and Mason Cobb, putting the Pokes up 9-3.

That was the second safety of the season for OSU, the first time they’ve recorded two safeties in a season since 1991.

It was a back-and-forth affair for the rest of the first half before Spencer Sanders put the exclamation point on the half with a one-yard touchdown run with :27 second left in the second quarter.

The Cowboys got the ball back to start the second half and Jaden Nixon recorded his play of the season as he returned the kickoff 98-yards for a touchdown, putting the Pokes up 23-3.

That’s when Baylor started to come back. QB Blake Shapen hit Monaray Baldwin for 49-yards and a touchdown, which was followed up by an interception by the Baylor defense, leading to a quick touchdown by the Bears.

Sanders was able to shake the interception off quickly, however, as Brennan Presley returned the kick 50-yards, which was followed by a 49-yard first down pass to Braydon Johnson.

Dominic Richardson got into the end zone from one yard out the very next play, putting the Pokes up 30-17.

After a field goal by Tanner Brown, Shapen found Baldwin once again, this time on 4th and long for 70-yards and the score towards the end of the third quarter.

After a failed drive to start the fourth quarter led to an OSU punt, Thomas Harper picked off a pass from Shapen to give the Pokes the ball back on the Baylor 33-yard line.

That drive, which included a big 11-yard first down run by Ollie Gordon, led to a 26-yard field goal by Tanner Brown, putting the Pokes up 11, 36-25. However, it was a big play by quarterback Spencer Sanders who recorded a fumble after Baylor knocked the ball loose from Gordon, saving the drive.

However, the play of the game came with less than three minutes left in the fourth quarter. Blake Shapen, from the Baylor 42-yard line, launched a ball intended for Josh Cameron but Taylor II had different plans. Reading the play the whole way, Taylor II rose up and made an impressive sideline interception at the OSU 29-yard line.