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Texas holds 'em

OSU receiver Dez Bryant lays on the field after a Hail Mary pass failed on the final play against Texas in Austin. MICHAEL WYKE/Tulsa World

 
By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
Published: 10/26/2008  2:02 AM
Last Modified: 8/20/2009  9:47 AM

Audio: Listen to audio of OSU coach Mike Gundy from Saturday’s postgame interviews.



Pokes' bid for upset of Texas falls short



AUSTIN, Texas — Oklahoma State-Texas was a Big 12 matchup defined as having national ramifications and appeal, and it attracted the largest audience to see a football game in the state of Texas.

At the end, OSU had a chance to pull off what would have been the most prominent upset victory in school history.

To the relief of most of the 98,518 witnesses packed into Royal-Memorial Stadium, it didn't happen.

No. 1-ranked Texas held on for a 28-24 triumph, but even in defeat, the Cowboys made a resounding statement about the growth of their program.

OSU, ranked No. 7 in the Associated Press Top 25 and No. 6 in the Bowl Championship Series, wasn't conquered until Zac Robinson's Hail Mary pass attempt fell incomplete as time expired.

The eight-game Cowboy win streak has ended. OSU had not lost since last year's Bedlam setback against Oklahoma.

"I'm ripped to pieces inside for our football team," Cowboy coach Mike Gundy said. "I'm proud of what (the Cowboys) accomplished in coming down here to fight their guts out."

Said Longhorn coach Mack Brown: "I think everybody got their money's worth."

OSU sophomore running back Kendall Hunter enhanced his All-American candidacy by rushing for 161 yards and scoring on a 23-yard dash. He did it against a Texas defense that had allowed only 48 rushing yards per game.

Through eight games, Hunter has rushed for 1,116 yards. Only one other OSU sophomore rushed for 1,000 yards, and that was Thurman Thomas in 1985.

In passing for 391 yards and two touchdowns against OSU, Texas quarterback Colt McCoy did nothing to diminish his status as the Heisman Trophy favorite. The relentlessly efficient junior was 38-of-45 with two touchdowns.

But the Cowboy defense did force McCoy into committing two second-half turnovers (a Jacob Lacey interception and a Jeray Chatham fumble recovery, with 5:27 remaining in the fourth quarter, at the Texas 10-yard line).

Also, OSU stopped Texas at the Cowboy 1-yard line with 33 seconds left to play.

"We weren't giving up," OSU safety-linebacker Andre Sexton said. "We weren't going to lay down just because they're No. 1."

OSU's defensive stop led to the final sequence. The Cowboys scrambled to midfield on a 23-yard Dez Bryant reception, a 13-yard Robinson run and a 14-yard Bryant catch.

On the final play, Robinson's deep throw, intended for Bryant at the Texas 5-yard line, was broken up by Longhorn cornerback Curtis Brown.

"We want this one back, but, unfortunately, we're not going to get it," said Robinson, who passed for 199 yards and connected with wide receiver Bo Bowling for a 9-yard TD late in the first half. "If (the Longhorns) are No. 1, then obviously, we're not very far behind."

Texas improved to 8-0 overall and 4-0 in the Big 12. Next week, the Longhorns visit No. 8 Texas Tech, still undefeated after a 63-21 Saturday victory at Kansas.

OSU is 7-1, 3-1. The Cowboys host Iowa State next week.

Oklahoma State limited Texas to 113 rushing yards, but didn't have an answer for McCoy's passing. The Longhorns were 11-of-14 on third-down conversion attempts and finished with 504 total yards. OSU's yardage — 217 on the ground, 416 overall.

After Jordan Shipley scored on a 14-yard catch and Vondrell McGee on a 14-yard run, Texas had a 14-0, second-quarter cushion and was threatening to rout the Cowboys. But OSU regained its balance with a 65-yard drive, highlighted by two receptions by tight end Brandon Pettigrew and capped by Hunter's TD run.

Texas surged to a 21-7 lead on Quan Cosby's 16-yard touchdown catch (which he executed while on his back in the end zone). Again, OSU responded. Perrish Cox broke a 52-yard kickoff return. Seven plays later, with 1:15 left in the first half, Robinson threw a 9-yard strike to Bowling at the goal line. OSU trailed 21-14 at halftime.

In the last five OSU-Texas games, the Longhorns had a combined second-half scoring advantage of 158-14. On Saturday, each team mustered only one second-half touchdown — McCoy's 3-yard run for Texas and Keith Toston's 1-yard run for OSU.

OSU kicker Dan Bailey booted a 39-yard field goal — the longest of his career — in the fourth period.

"(The Cowboys) are a great football team," said McCoy, who in four conference games has completed 79 percent of his passes. "There's a reason they are in the Top 10. They are tough."



Bill Haisten 581-8397
bill.haisten@tulsaworld.com



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By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer

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COMMENTS 
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4 comments have been made for this team so far. Tell us what you think below!
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Report Comment
Lana, (10/26/2008 11:48:16 AM)
Well, it's settled. OSU and Gundy can't win the big ones.
Report Comment
Big K, (10/26/2008 2:53:45 PM)
BIG GAMES?????? Mizzouri was a big game and he won it. The bowl game was a big game and Gundy won it.
They just can't come up with miracles on the road against the #1 team in the nation, can't fault them for that.

Hey Lana how did OU do against Texas, West Virginia, Boise State, USC, LSU? Or were those not big games?
Report Comment
Rhymeister, Tulsa (10/27/2008 4:12:25 AM)
As the game was unfolding Hunter ripped off a big run and I was on a chat and said Hunter is Barry Sanders II. Almost immediately I got ripped saying that was a ridiculous statement and then a bit later Hunter fumbled and then people kept coming and saying Barry would never have fumbled. Might be true, yet then Hunter started showing what he is made of...

Of course after he started ripping off more big runs and it Texas fans started to worry and panic I repeated the claim and then some Ok State fans started saying the same thing and the UT fans and others got quiet.

We saw an incredible performance by Spud, if he keeps working hard and stays healthy the sky's the limit for this kid. He needs to get a bit stronger (about 15 pounds) then he'd be almost the same size as Barry. I wouldn't have made such a ridiculous comparison unless I believed it. He's not as good YET, but he can become as good IMO.

Anyway, true Cowboys fans are not ashamed for the loss, it's disappointing because they had chances to win but they fought gamely and will learn from this game. Watch out next season, UT fans, we got you in Stillwater...
Report Comment
Rhymeister, Tulsa (10/27/2008 4:14:01 AM)
Big K, let those OU fans talk the smack. I'd be worried if I were them.
 

 
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