Oklahoma State’s Offense Lackluster in 27-13 Season-Opening Win Over Central Arkansas

STILLWATER – Oklahoma State started the 2023 season with a 27-13 home win over Central Arkansas.

While they got the win, it was a rough start for the seemingly new-look Cowboys, which included rough offensive start which would span nearly the entire game.

Yardage-wise the first quarter went well as the Pokes combined for 153 yards, 118 through the air, but just 35 on the ground. They, however, put just seven points on the board. On the defensive side of the ball, the Pokes really struggled in the opening drive before really tightening things down, as they allowed just 137 total yards in the first half, including forcing four punts and one fumble.

The second quarter wasn’t much better for the Pokes as they’d enter halftime with just 218 total yards, 45 of which came on the ground.

Redshirt freshman Garret Rangle got the starting nod and played all of the first quarter and a handful of snaps in the second quarter. Before being replaced by Alan Bowman early in the second quarter, Rangel went 10-of-15 for 118 yards and one touchdown, as well as one pick. Rangel also had three carries for 18 yards.

Bowman struggled to get much going in the second quarter as he went into the break going 9-of-20 for just 55 yards.

However, it was the Pokes’ third quarterback of the game who injected life into the offense. Gunnar Gundy finished the game going 7-of-9 through the air for 106 yards, as well as two carries for 20 yards.

For the game, the Cowboys finished with 453 total yards, 304 through the air on 30-of-48 passing and 149 on the ground, an average of 4.8 yards per carry.
 

The Pokes’ opening defensive drive resulted in yet another blocked field goal from Korie Black, who blocked his first FG in the first quarter. However, Bowman the Pokes’ offense couldn’t make anything happen on the ensuing offensive drive. After a 37-yard Hudson Kaak punt downed at the five-yard line, UCA drove the ball 95 yards and punched it into the end zone to make it a one-score game, 13-7. A drive which put UCA on top of the Pokes in total yardage.

Gunnar Gundy made an appearance on the next drive, with the offense going three-and-out.

By the end of the third quarter, the Cowboys had combined for just 255 yards of total offense, with just 52 yards coming on the ground. As for Central Arkansas? The Bears had combined for 304 total yards, 198 through the air and 106 on the ground.

The offensive finally found some life early in the fourth quarter as Gundy stayed in the game on the next drive. Ollie Gordon recorded an impressive run across the 50-yard line, a play which was called back for an offensive hold, bringing the ball back to the Pokes’ three-yard line. Gord would get about half his yards back on the next play as he bulled over defenders to get to the 20-yard line.

Gundy then hit Stribling for 21 yards down to the UCA 45-yard line, which was followed by hitting Presley across the middle for 28 yards and down to the UCA 17-yard line. Michigan State transfer Elijah Collins found the end zone on the next play with a 17-yard run to put the Pokes back up two scores, 20-7.

Gundy kept things rolling on the next drive as he hit a streaking Jaden Bray for 39-yards and a first down, which was followed by a 15-yard first down run by Ollie Gordon. Gundy then rushed for four yards and 16 yards down to the two-yard line. Gordon capped the drive with a two-yard touchdown run to put the Pokes on top 27-7.

The Pokes blocked yet another field goal following a UCA touchdown, this time credited to Kody Walterscheid and recovered by Xavier Benson. The Pokes’ offense took back over with just under four minutes left in the game and ran out of the clock.