Hale of a Game: Oklahoma State Beats Kansas State 29-21 in Thrilling Game

STILLWATER – It was Oklahoma State’s best game of the season so far as the Pokes beat Kansas State for their first Big 12 win of the season, 29-21.

With the win, the Pokes move to 3-2 on the season and 1-1 in Big 12 play. They’ll play host to Kansas next weekend, Oct. 14. Game time and TV details have yet to be announced.

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Kicker Alex Hale was the Pokes’ MVP of the game as he tied a school record of five field goals set by Quinn Sharp in 2012.

Quarterback Alan Bowman went 19-of-35 for 235 yards, while finding Rashod Owens for 75 yards on five receptions and Jayden Bray for 77 yards on four receptions.

“I definitely think the offense is moving,” said Alan Bowman. “In the first half, I think I’m going to be preaching to the choir, I know all the coaches are going to say ‘red zone, we’re kicking too many field goals, we’ve gotta score touchdowns.’ I think on deep balls, that’s just kind of familiarity; the more we practice, the more we get reps, those deeps balls that were kind of incomplete, will get complete and then we’ll be really rolling. So, I think we’ve got potential to be really dangerous on offense.”

Running back Ollie Gordon recorded 136 rushing yards and one touchdown on 21 carries.

While Hale kept the Pokes in the lead, it was a pair of defenders who really shined for the Pokes. Linebacker Nick Martin recorded a career-high 17 tackles, 10 of which were solo stops, one sack, 2.5 tackles for loss and one pick. Redshirt freshman Cameron Epps also had a great game as he recorded five total tackles, two pass break ups and two interceptions, including one for a touchdown.

Leading 29-21 with just over five minutes left in the game, the Cowboys were stuffed on 4th and one to give the Wildcats the ball back on their own 40-yard line. The Pokes forced an incompletion on first down and allowed just two yards on second down. On 3rd and 8, Howard hits Brooks for 25 yards down the sidelines to the OSU 33-yard line.

3rd and 12 on the next set of downs, linebacker Nick Martin recorded the Pokes’ third interception of the day with just 3:24 remaining in the game. The Wildcats got the stop to get the ball back, but it was Collin Oliver on 4th and long recording a pass break up to give the Pokes the ball back with less than two minutes remaining to seal the game.

In the Cowboys’ most-complete half of the season, they jumped out to a 20-7 lead over the Wildcats in the first half thanks to an impressive performance on both sides of the ball. The defense came out of the gate strong and early as they forced a Wildcat punt following a three-and-out, the first time KSU hasn’t scored in an opening drive all season.

Then Alan Bowman led the Cowboys on an impressive 15 play, 72-yard opening drive, which was capped by a two-yard touchdown from Ollie Gordon. The sequence featured exciting play calling, including a couple of reverses and plays getting the ball into the hands of Brennan Presley and Gordon multiple times.

Pokes Report

On the ensuing drive, redshirt freshman Cam Epps, who was playing for injured safety Lyrik Rawls, recorded the first interception of his career. It also marked the Pokes’ first turning over Sept. 9 against Arizona State.

Following a stalled drive by the Pokes, Gundy and Co. drew up a fake punt, which was executed to perfection as Elijah Collins picked up the first down on a four-yard run.

The Wildcats showed some life in the first half as they stuffed Ollie Gordon three times up the middle to force an Alex Hale field goal. However, Marques Sigle got around the end and blocked the kick to give them the ball on their own 16-yard line.

The Pokes got the stop, which set up another Hale field goal to put the Pokes on top, 13-7. Prior to the field goal, KSU head coach Chris Klieman called a timeout to get the Wildcats more time before the end of the half to try and make it a closer game.

Enter Cam Epps.

The redshirt freshman recorded his second interception of the game, this one going back 35 yards for the pick six, putting the Pokes up 20-7 going into the break. Epps became the first OSU freshman with two interceptions in a game since Shaun Lewis in 2010 in Bedlam and the first freshman to return an interception for a touchdown since Ramon Richards did so at Kansas State in November 2014.

Bowman finished the half going 13-of-22 for 199 yards, four of which went to Jaden Bray for 77 yards and three to Rashod Owens for 65 yards. Linebacker Nick Martin entered the half with eight total tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack.

After being held to a field goal in their opening drive of the second half, the Pokes came up with a massive stop on 4th and long. The ball was snapped over Will Howard’s head for a loss of 19 yards, giving the Pokes the ball back on their own 33-yard line.

Just a few minutes into the fourth quarter, the Cowboys’ defense forced yet another turnover on downs to get the ball back with excellent field position. The first play from the K-State 26-yard line was a 15-yard rush from Gordon down to the KSU 11-yard line.

The Pokes are back in action next Saturday as they’ll play host to Kansas. Kickoff time and TV details have yet to be announced.