Best Defensive Performance This Season by the Cowboys Gave OSU a Chance to Win

STILLWATER – It was a disappointing day for Oklahoma State as they fell short of beating Kansas State, 14-6. It makes 16-straight Big 12 losses for the Pokes, and while there have most certainly been worst losses on the scoreboard, this one was especially hard to swallow due to how close they were to a win. 

The Cowboys were much better on the defensive side of the ball than they’ve been all year long. They held the Wildcats, who had been averaging 363 yards of total offense a game, to just 284 yards of offense in Stillwater. That includes just 10, yes 10 yards in the first quarter. 

The Wildcats averaged just 3.6 yards per carry on 30 carries and they were just 4-of-15 on 3rd down attempts. They were, however, 2-of-2 on 4th down attempts.

“Defense, they held [K-State] to how many yards in the first quarter, 10? That’s K-State, guys, arguably one of the best [quarterbacks] in the league,” said interim head coach Doug Meacham. “So, they held them to 284 total, they did a great job and laid it out on the line and I appreciate them.”

Meacham was asked about the defense a few minutes later.

“I mean, they held K State to 284. Has anybody done that? Maybe, I don't know. You hold anybody in this league under 300 that's a major accomplishment. And they made them punt I don't know how many times, six, seven times. They did a good job. They held them at bay for the most part. They had a couple plays, but just proud of those guys. You can see it in their eyes. They want it bad, and they fight their butts off. You just hope what we have left in the season we get one.”

The Cowboys forced six K-State punts, resulting in just over 260 yards. To that end, in order to force six punts, the defense has to come up with stops, which is something that hasn’t happened that much this season.

“Today has been the first time I’ve been a part of the defense that I felt like we actually tackled people,” said interim defensive coordinator Clint Bowen. “And that was one thing that if I didn’t accomplish anything in this role, I cannot stand being a part of a soft group that doesn’t tackle. Tackles is how tough you are and how much you want to. So, I felt like today was the first day we had our knees over our toes and drove through some contact and actually put people to the ground instead of holding them and getting drug all over the field like we did in my first few weeks.”

The Wildcats had 11 total drives, with an average time of possession of just 2:39 and just 25 yards on an average of five plays. They had just two plays of 10-plus yards.

For comparison, the Cowboys had 11 drives as well, with 11 more seconds and yards per drive. They also averaged six plays per drive. The offense just couldn’t take advantage.

After the two field goals from Logan Ward, the defense gave the offense five times to drive down the field and score, including an interception by Parker Robertson left than one minute into the third quarter. Unfortunately, that drive, and the four others, ended in four turnovers, two interceptions and two fumbles, and a turnover on downs at the end of the game.

Not a great offensive performance by any means, other than a handful of plays, but this is to show just how good the defense was. A defense which has had to work had over the past month to get to this point.

“My thoughts are our kids have had to battle through a lot; it’s not been an easy situation for those kids, so credit to them,” said interim defensive coordinator Clint Bowen. “It’s been a process of, how many weeks has it been of working in a lot of things, from how we understand the game of football, to how we carry ourselves and react to each other as teammates, how we tackle, how we cover. There’s been a whole process involved and we’ve got a group of kids who continue to fight and battle, and I think they’re starting to see themselves improve.”