Cowboys Hold Off Texas Tech to Stay Unbeaten
In a game with three lead changes, Oklahoma State's football team made some key stops late and held on to beat Texas Tech 41-31 on Saturday at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater.
OSU quarterback Spencer Sanders ran for two scores and passed for another, and kicker Tanner Brown booted four field goals to give the Cowboys their 12th straight home win.
In the process, Sanders passed OSU head coach Mike Gundy for second place on the Cowboys' quarterbacks win list with his 29th.
Sanders was 22-for-45 for 297 yards passing and ran for 56 yards.
Texas Tech outgained OSU in total yards 527-434, but failed on two important fourth down conversion attempts in the fourth quarter.
Texas Tech got the ball to start the game and went 75 yards in 11 plays, with Behren Morton passing to Jerand Bradley for a 27-yard touchdown to put the Red Raiders up 7-0 with 12:17 to play in the first quarter.
Tech attempted an onside kick, and recovered the ball, but were called for kick catch interference, so OSU took over on the Red Raiders' 34 yard line.
It took the Cowboys just two plays to score, with Spencer Sanders passing to Bryson Green, who raced to the end zone, and rolled over a defender into the end zone for a 32-yard touchdown to tie the game 7-7 with 11:48 to play in the first quarter.
Green had 115 yards receiving on 5 catches.
Tech moved into OSU territory, but Trey Wolff missed a 44-yard field goal attempt off the right upright and it stayed 7-7 with 8:40 left in the first quarter.
After an exchange of punts, OSU went 63 yards in six plays, with Spencer Sanders keeping for a 14-yard touchdown run to put the Cowboys on top 14-7 with 5:03 to play in the first quarter.
Tech was forced to punt after three downs, and OSU marched to a 42-yard field goal by Tanner Brown to take a 17-7 lead with 2:31 left in the first quarter.
The Red Raiders responded with their own touchdown drive, with Morton keeping for a 9-yard touchdown to cap a 10-play, 81-yard drive, and cut OSU's lead to 17-14 with 20 seconds left in the first quarter.
Early in the second quarter, Tech went on a drive to take the lead, going 64 yards in eight plays, with Morton passing deep to Trey Cleveland for 36 yards, then to Xavier White for a 4-yard touchdown to put the Red Raiders on top 21-17 with 12:33 to play in the second quarter.
Morton was 39-for-62 for 379 yards passing.
Oklahoma State answered with points on their next possession.
On 4th and 5, Sanders passed deep to Bryson Green for 28 yards to the Tech 7-yard line.
The Cowboys had to settle for a 22-yard field goal by Tanner Brown to cut the Red Raiders' lead to 21-20 with 7:18 left in the first half.
Tech ate up nearly the rest of the half, keeping it for 18 plays, and marching inside the OSU 5-yard line, but having to settle for a 22-yard field goal from Wolff to make it 24-20 Red Raiders with 35 seconds left in the second quarter.
OSU got the ball to start the second half and converted a 4th and 8, but had to settle for a 34-yard field goal by Tanner Brown to cut the Tech lead to 24-23 with 11:25 to play in the third quarter.
The Red Raiders answered with a 65-yard drive in eight plays, with SaRodorick Thompson scoring on a run around the left side for a 2-yard touchdown, putting Tech up 31-23 with 8:42 left in the third quarter.
Thompson had 87 yards rushing on 20 carries.
Both teams punted, then OSU took over on their own 47-yard line, and went 53 yards in seven plays, with Sanders keeping for a 2-yard touchdown run.
Jayden Bray scored on a jet sweep toss from Sanders for the 2-point conversion and it was 31-31 with 3:18 left in the third quarter.
OSU's defense then came up with a big play, as Morton was intercepted by Mason Cobb, who returned it 13 yards to the Tech 19-yard line.
The Cowboys had to settle for a 24-yard field goal from Tanner Brown to take a 34-31 lead with three seconds left in the third quarter.
Twice in the fourth quarter, Tech went for it on fourth down and failed to convert.
Thompson was short on a run on 4th and 1, and Morton threw incomplete on 4th and 7.
OSU put the game away after that, going on a 57-yard drive in 11 plays, with Dominic Richardson scoring from 7 yards out to make it 41-31 Cowboys with 2:27 to play.
Richardson had 67 yards rushing on 19 carries.
Former Oklahoma A&M star Bob Fenimore was honored, as he became the third name in the OSU ring of honor.
OSU improves to 5-0 and 2-0 in Big 12 play.
The Cowboys play at TCU next Saturday at 2:30 pm.