Defense Shuts Out Colorado In Second Half Behind Three Turnover Performance
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Oklahoma State truly has been a second-half team throughout the season. Homecoming was no exception, especially for the defense.
The Cowboys beat Colorado 57-24 on Saturday evening inside Boone Pickens Stadium to improve to 5-2 (3-1). The Buffaloes were leading 24-23 at half but were outscored 14-0 in the third quarter and 34-0 in the second half behind three turnovers forced by the Cowboy defense. Colorado was held to 35 total yards in the third quarter after gaining 279 yards in the first half.
“Super proud of the defense in the second half,” coach Eric Morris said. “It was a lackluster performance in the first half against the pass but we challenged them at halftime to come out and perform.”
The biggest difference came in the secondary. Colorado had 222 yards of passing offense in the first half but only 121 in the second half. The Buffaloes were not as impressive running the ball with only 57 yards in the first half. The Cowboy defense allowed -1 rushing yard in the second half.
Colorado had six first downs in the second half and averaged 4.8 yards per play. That same offense had 12 first downs in the first half and averaged 7.5 yards per play.
“We have a bunch of tough kids who love each other,” Morris said. “We don’t let the last play affect us whether it’s good or bad. We just continue to fight.”
Buffaloes quarterback Issac Wilson was forced into harder situations as the game went on. Defensive Tackle Jerry Lawson forced Wilson to fumble on the first play of the third quarter which was recovered by safety Quinton Hammonds and led to a Cowboy touchdown.
Later in the quarter cornerback LaDainian Fields intercepted Wilson to end what had been the Buffaloes most productive drive to that point.
“Coach Cassity was just believing in us,” Fields said. “We’re up to any challenge and coach Cassity trusts me so I just showed him that I’m going to give him my best.”
Fields intercepted Wilson again in the fourth quarter which set up the offense with a first and goal. He was rewarded postgame with the game ball.
“This is my first game ball and it feels great,” Fields said. “I haven’t let go of it yet and I feel like I might go to bed with it tonight.”
Morris and staff would certainly like to not rely on big second halves to secure wins. It is a hard way to win games consistently during the season but however the wins have come Oklahoma State is still squarely in the mix for an appearance in the Big 12 championship game. The conference as a whole got more complicated on Saturday with losses by both BYU and Texas Tech.
The Cowboys look to carry momentum now into a pair of road games which start next week against Iowa State.
