Stout Defense and Opportunistic Offense Propel Pokes in Final Stretch
Oklahoma State has made a habit out of dragging its opponents into ugly games and then breaking their spirit in the fourth quarter. With an inconsistent offense but a stout defense, it’s not a bad strategy.
It happened again today.
Through three quarters Texas was outgaining OSU 316-228, and Bijan Robinson was getting his yards. But it wasn’t easy. It was never easy for Texas’ offense. Normally known as a big-play offense, the Longhorns only had 4 plays of 20+ yards today. They had to really earn the yards they got.
When the Cowboys scored a touchdown to pull within two with ten minutes to go in the game, the spirit-breaking really began.
The defense forced a three-and-out after a third-down sack from Freshman Collin Oliver. Oliver has been fantastic this season, leading the team with 4.5 sacks and rated the best freshman edge-rusher in the country by PFF. Now enter the OSU run game.
17-yard run, 20-yard run, 6-yard run with a 15-yard penalty added on. Oklahoma State was in field goal range with under 5 minutes to go and for the first time all game could move the ball on the ground. Tanner Brown knocked in his fourth field goal of the game and gave OSU the 25-24 lead, their first lead of the game.
The Texas offense went into panic mode after watching a 14-point lead slip from its grasp for the second week in a row. Robinson ran for nine yards on first down but that was all the Cowboy front-seven was going to give.
Casey Thompson’s screen to Xavier Worthy got blown up for no gain by Thomas Harper, then on third down the other Harper brother, Devin, picked up a sack. Same thing on fourth down, Brock Martin swarmed in and wrapped Thompson up before he could scramble.
The Texas offense was confused and the athletic pass rush had broken down the Longhorn offensive line. The stop gift-wrapped an offensive possession starting at the opposing 42. With 3:17 left all OSU really needed was two first downs to seal the game.
Texas gave more than that.
Warren slashed through the right side for 29 yards. The next play Sanders kept, found a crease and scampered in for a score. That gave OSU a 32-24 advantage with 2:18 left.
Almost looked like Texas purposely let Sanders in to get the ball back. Maybe in the old Big 12 days of offensive dominance it could’ve worked. Not this year.
Not against this Cowboys defense.
On the second play of the drive Thompson was looking for Worthy on a deep out route near the left boundary, but he didn’t see Tanner McAllister lurking underneath, ready to undercut the route.
McAllister picked it off, virtually sealing the deal. Only one first down was needed and it was a wrap.
On third-and-six, Warren broke through for an eight yard gain. The final nail in the coffin, victory formation to close it out.
Just a completely dominant 4th quarter in all phases for Oklahoma State. Outscored Texas 16-0, outgained Texas 170-1 and outrushed Texas 145-1. Texas only possessed the ball for 4 of the final 15 minutes.
It didn’t look good early for OSU but there’s something to be said about holding the top offense in the Big 12 and 4th best in the country to 20 points below their season average.
Oklahoma State made Texas play an ugly game, especially in the fourth quarter. That made the difference today.