Oklahoma State/Kansas State: Report card

BY JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer
Sunday, November 04, 2012
11/04/12 at 4:58 AM

OFFENSE

C: The good news? OSU scored more points against Kansas State than any previous Wildcat opponent. The Cowboys bolted to a 7-0 first-quarter lead when Wes Lunt found fellow freshman Austin Hays streaking downfield for a 54-yard touchdown at 9:02 of the first quarter. And that was the last time OSU saw a lead, in part because the Cowboys sabotaged themselves. Just like in a road loss at Arizona, OSU was turnover prone. The Cowboys committed four turnovers in Tucson and five in Manhattan (one fumble, four interceptions). Lunt, who hit 11-of-20 passes for 184 yards, left the game due to injury after a third-quarter possession and was replaced by Clint Chelf, who engineered three scoring drives before tossing a fourth-quarter interception.

DEFENSE

C: Yes, the grade could be worse because OSU surrendered so many points. But consider that two touchdowns (an interception return, a 100-yard kickoff return) came via K-State's defense and special teams. The Cowboys played eight possessions against Heisman Trophy frontrunner Collin Klein before he left the game midway through the third quarter. Klein helmed four scoreless possessions (including an end-of-first-half drive that ended at the OSU 2) and four scoring possessions. Perhaps the most damaging of the Klein-led TD drives came when, after Lunt threw his third interception, the Wildcats drove 93 yards for a score that gave them a 38-17 lead. That's tough to overcome against K-State, which is 158-5 since 1990 when leading at halftime.

SPECIAL TEAMS

D: OSU coach Mike Gundy was worried about Kansas State's special teams effectiveness. He had reason to be concerned. The Wildcats popped three big returns - Tramaine Thompson uncorked a punt return of 39 yards and a kickoff return of 60 yards. Tyler Lockett, who terrorized OSU for 193 kickoff return yards in Stillwater last season, returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. OSU's Desmond Roland had returned only one career kickoff (for 36 yards) before Saturday, but he neutralized one of K-State's big returns by taking a kickoff back 80 yards for a score. It came immediately after Lockett's kickoff return for a TD. Justin Gilbert also popped a touchdown return, but settled for a 41-yard return because he stepped on the sideline. Quinn Sharp kicked three field goals.

Associated Images:

Oklahoma State running back Jeremy Smith tries to get past Kansas State's Jarard Milo. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World

Oklahoma State quarterback Wes Lunt threw three interceptions against Kansas State. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World

Kansas State wide receiver Tyler Lockett, a product of Booker T. Washington High School, celebrates after teammate John Hubert's touchdown run during the Wildcats' game against OSU on Saturday night. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World