OSU routs Texas Tech again

BY JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer
Sunday, November 18, 2012
11/18/12 at 5:52 AM

STILLWATER - The yolk was on Texas Tech. Again.

Oklahoma State, converting two blocked punts by Zack Craig and three takeaways into 35 points, roared to a 59-21 Senior Day victory Saturday over 23rd-ranked Texas Tech. It was the Cowboys' most lopsided triumph over a ranked opponent since a 62-14 rout of No. 15 Wyoming in the 1988 Holiday Bowl.

OSU has outscored Texas Tech by 98 points over the last two seasons. The Cowboys crushed the Red Raiders 66-6 in Lubbock last season and, during a press conference five days before the rematch, Tech quarterback Seth Doege called the 2011 game an embarrassment for the entire program.

Continue Doege, "I mean, they were probably the better football team last year, but there was no reason that it should have been that lopsided."

Doege told reporters during the Monday press briefing that Texas Tech is a totally different team this year and said, "I don't think we'll lay an egg like that ever again."

Ever again came pretty quickly.

And it seemed as if OSU's defensive linemen were intent on trying to crack Doege like an egg. He was sacked three times on Texas Tech's first 18 plays.

"The defensive linemen were ballin' today," OSU safety Shamiel Gary said.

Doege threw interceptions to Gary and defensive tackle James Castleman. And, when a shotgun snap sailed too high, the quarterback lost a footrace with Lyndell Johnson for a loose ball. OSU transformed the turnovers into 21 points.

"Any time you can get pressure on a quarterback, they are never the same," OSU defensive coordinator Bill Young said. "You knock them down a few times and they are not only looking at the receivers. They kind of have an eye on the rush too. I'm not sure that took place, but it certainly couldn't have hurt us."

Did Doege - the trigger man of an offense that leads the nation in passing yards - hear footsteps?

"It's hard for me to speak for them, but we were getting four-man pressure on them," OSU coach Mike Gundy said, adding that senior Nigel Nicholas was "back there quite a bit."

Said the former Cowboy quarterback, "I can only go from my experience back there. It's no fun. You get hit a couple of times, even if you let go of the ball, or there is pressure and you feel people and you get rolled up. I'm going to say there was twice that (Doege) got hit really hard in the first half after he let go of the ball and, as a quarterback, it's not very much fun when you know there is a chance you are getting hit. You just don't feel as comfortable."

OSU junior Clint Chelf was apparently comfortable in his second career start, hitting 11-of-21 passes for 229 yards and three touchdowns - all to Isaiah Anderson, who had a Senior Day to remember by catching four passes for a career-best 174 yards.

Chelf was spelled on a situational basis by redshirt freshman J.W. Walsh, who threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Kye Staley in the first quarter. Walsh also took over for Chelf once the game got out of hand.

Anderson did all his damage in the first half, staking OSU to a 35-7 second-quarter lead. The Cowboys scored on three of their first four second-half possessions and bumped the margin to 59-14 when Craig blocked his second punt and returned it 30 yards for a score at 12:35 of the fourth quarter.

At that point, this seemed oh-so-close to being 66-6 all over again.

Afterward, Tech coach Tommy Tuberville described the morale of his team as good.

"We had our best practices last week," he said. "I have no problem with the effort and how the guys go into each game and compete. We're our own worst enemy in a lot of ways."

Actually, OSU could lay claim the to title of Tech's worst enemy. The Cowboys - who improved to 7-3 overall and 5-2 in Big 12 play - matched a series record by beating the Red Raiders for a fourth consecutive year. The last time that happened was the 1940s.

Texas Tech dropped to 7-4 overall and 4-4 in league games. The Red Raiders entered the game ranked 10th nationally in total offense and 18th nationally in total defense. But they were trumped in all facets. They were held to their second-lowest yardage total (383) of the season and surrendered their most yards (487) in a non-overtime game this season.

"It was a very complete game," Gundy said. "I mentioned last week that I thought we were good in all three phases. I think we were better today in all three phases."

OSU ends the season with road games at Oklahoma and Baylor.

OSU UP NEXT

At OU

2:30 p.m Saturday

TV: TBA

Radio: KFAQ am1170

Original Print Headline: OSU routs Tech again

Jimmie Tramel 918-581-8389
jimmie.tramel@tulsaworld.com

Associated Images:

Oklahoma State's Isaiah Anderson scored three touchdowns on Saturday. MATT BARNARD / Tulsa World

Oklahoma State quarterback J.W. Walsh (left) passes over Texas Tech's Bruce Jones. MATT BARNARD / Tulsa World

Texas Tech's Seth Doege runs under pressure from James Castleman. Doege was sacked three times on Tech's first 18 plays. MATT BARNARD / Tulsa World