Oklahoma State 63 - UAPB 7: Postgame Notes

Postgame Notes

• Oklahoma State blocked a punt and a field goal attempt in the first half against UAPB that were both returned for touchdowns. The last time OSU blocked two kicks in a game was against Boise State on Sept. 15, 2018. It is the first time in school history Oklahoma State has returned multiple blocked kicks for touchdowns.
• Spencer Sanders became the first OSU quarterback since Mason Rudolph on Sept. 16, 2017, to throw for four touchdowns in a half. Sanders now has 60 career touchdown passes, moving ahead of Mike Gundy (57) and into fourth place on OSU’s all-time list for passing touchdowns.
• Spencer Sanders’ night was finished at the 13:09 mark in the second quarter. He went 13-for-16 with 242 yards and four touchdowns in just over a quarter of action. His 290.8 passer rating in tonight’s game ranks as the third best in a single game with a minimum of 10 attempts in program history.
• Over the first three games of the 2022 season, Spencer Sanders has thrown for 916 yards and 10 touchdowns to one interception. His previous high in passing yards through three games in a season was 658 yards in 2020.
• With two receptions in the first quarter for 44 yards, Braydon Johnson surpassed 1,000 career receiving yards.
• Braydon Johnson’s 42-yard touchdown reception near the end of the first quarter marked his fourth reception this season and 12th of his career that has gone for 40 or more yards.
• Oklahoma State’s 28 points in the first quarter matches the sixth most in a quarter since 1945 and 14th most at any point in school history. Its 49 points in the first half matched the third most points scored in a half since 1945 and ninth most in program history.
• Trace Ford blocked UAPB’s first punt attempt of the game and returned it for a touchdown at the 12:24 mark in the first quarter. It was the first punt blocked for a touchdown by Oklahoma State since Sept. 15, 2018, against Boise State.
• Oklahoma State ranks second among FBS teams with 30 blocked kicks since the beginning of the 2013 season. With two blocked kicks returned for touchdowns, the Cowboys are now tied for first in the FBS in non-offensive touchdowns since the beginning of the 2020 season (11).
• Gunnar Gundy made and completed his first career passing attempt with just under 7:30 to go in the second quarter.
• OSU’s six passing touchdowns is tied for the fourth most in a single game in program history.
• Eleven Cowboys logged receptions against UAPB, led by Braydon Johnson’s four catches for 86 yards and two touchdowns.
• The Cowboy defense held UAPB 0 of 7 on third down attempts to start the game. The UAPB offense finished the game 5 of 19 on third down.
• Entering Saturday’s game, OSU had eight passing plays go for 20 or more yards. The Cowboy offense posted seven plays of such sort against UAPB.
• Through three games, OSU has scored 13 touchdown on drives lasting two minutes or less this season. For comparison, the Pokes had 17 touchdown drives in under two minutes all of last season.
• The Oklahoma State defense has recorded 30 tackles for loss through three games this season. For comparison, OSU had 22 tackles for loss in the first three games of the 2021 season.
• UAPB entered tonight’s game averaging 62.0 points per game, which ranked No. 1 in the FCS, but was held to seven points by the Cowboy defense. 
• Ollie Gordon broke off a 53-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, marking the longest rush and the first rushing touchdown of his young career.
• Ben Kopenski set a new career high with two sacks against UAPB.
• Oklahoma State has outscored its opponents, 66-15, in the second quarter this season.
• True freshman Stephon Johnson Jr. recorded his first career catch for 18 yards with just under five minutes left in the second quarter. He finished the game with four catches for 55 yards.
• Cowboy back Jake Schultz made his first career start against UAPB. Collin Oliver started for the second time in his career and first since Oct. 2, 2021, against Baylor.
• Several Cowboys made their season debuts against UAPB, including Alex Hale, Isreal Isuman-Hundley, Aden Kelley, Vance Hooper, Gordie Geymuller, Andre Washington and Zeke Zaragoza. Five Cowboys saw their first game action for Oklahoma State – Talyn Shettron, Rylan McQuarters, Chance Clements, DeSean Brown, Carter Barnard, Austin Kawecki, Peyton Kramer, Jake Henry, Rashad Dixon, Landon Dean, Gabe Brown and Garret Rangel.
• Talyn Shettron and Cale Cabbiness recorded their first career receiving touchdowns against UAPB, which were also the first two passing touchdowns of Gunnar Gundy’s career. Trace Ford and Korie Black also scored their first career touchdowns on the blocked kick returns.
• Three games into the 2022 season, 12 different Cowboys have scored at least one touchdown.
• Oklahoma State’s game captains were Tyler Lacy, Thomas Harper, Dominic Richardson and Nick Martin.

The Oklahoma State win…

• Improved its home winning streak to 11 games, setting a record for the  longest streak in school history. The previous 10-win streaks came from 2002-03 and from 1911-13.
• Made it 3-0 for the sixth consecutive season.
• Moves Spencer Sanders to 27 wins as the starting quarterback at Oklahoma State. He trails only Mike Gundy (28) and Mason Rudolph (32) for most career wins in program history.
• Improved its non-conference home winning streak to 12 games, matching the third-longest streak in school history and the longest since the 15-game streak from Sept. 19, 2009 – Sept. 3, 2016.
• Gave it 10 straight wins in September games, dating back to 2019.
• Improved Mike Gundy’s record in September games to 54-12.
• Improve its record against the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff to 1-0 and its record against teams in the SWAC to 2-0.
• Made it 22-2 in its past 24 non-conference games and 44-7 in its past 51 non-conference games.
• Improved Mike Gundy 's record in non-conference games to 61-13.
• Made it 17-2 in its past 19 games overall, dating back to the 2020 season.
• Made it 151-68 in its history when playing as an AP-ranked team.
• Made it 138-39 in its history when playing as a higher AP-ranked team than its opponent.
• Made it 84-17 in its past 101 games vs. opponents outside of the AP Top 25, dating back to 2010.

Notable Streaks and Trends

• OSU has won 11 consecutive home games.
• OSU has held nine of its past 15 opponents under 100 yards rushing.
• OSU has held 19 consecutive opponents under 200 yards rushing.
• OSU has won 81 consecutive games when holding its opponent to fewer than 20 points, dating back to Sept. 13, 2003 – the longest active stretch of time in the FBS and longest since at least 1980.
• OSU has held its opponent scoreless on its game-opening drive in 26 of its past 34 games.
• OSU has held its opponent to less than a 50% third down conversion rate in 27 of its past 28 games.
• OSU is 42-6 in its past 48 games when leading at halftime, dating back to Sept. 17, 2016.
• Over the past 27 games, OSU has held opponents to 115-for-421 (27.3%) on third down.
• Oklahoma State is 117-27 under Mike Gundy when outrushing the opponent.
• Brennan Presley has recorded at least one reception in 17 of the last 18 games.
• Oklahoma State is 73-0 in the Gundy era when holding its opponent to fewer than 20 points.