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Toston, Cowboys unravel Cyclones
Robinson sets record; Toston has career day.

OSU running back Keith Toston rushed for 206 yards and three touchdowns against Iowa State on Saturday. STEPHEN HOLMAN/Tulsa World

 
By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
Published: 11/8/2009  2:23 AM
Last Modified: 11/8/2009  10:36 AM

 AMES, Iowa — Only days after a humbling home setback against Texas and the news that Dez Bryant would never again wear a Cowboy uniform, Oklahoma State methodically mauled an Iowa State team anxious to reach the six-win mark and achieve bowl eligibility.

On a 71-degree afternoon at Jack Trice Stadium, the 18th-ranked Cowboys nearly doubled Iowa State in total yardage and prevailed 34-8.

"You're always concerned when you're competing against a team that's hungry," Cowboy coach Mike Gundy said. "It was a beautiful day for football."

It was a Saturday of milestones for the Cowboys.

Quarterback Zac Robinson became OSU's career leader in passing yards.

Keith Toston rushed for a career-high total of 206 yards. The senior running back popped a 69-yard run — the longest of his career — and scored three second-half touchdowns.

For the first time since 1979, the Cowboys have recorded four consecutive road victories in conference play.

For the first time in school history, OSU has reached at least the seven-win mark in four consecutive seasons. Ahead of next week's clash with Texas Tech in Stillwater, the Cowboys are 7-2 overall, 4-1 in the Big 12.

On Saturday, with a 10-yard, second-quarter touchdown pass to freshman wide receiver Tracy Moore, Robinson supplanted Gundy as OSU's passing-yards leader. In 1986-89, Gundy passed for 7,997 yards. Robinson's total is 8,065.

"You'd rather do it on a touchdown than on a 2-yard screen pass," said Robinson, who was 19-of-24 passing for 142 yards. "Tracy made a great play. I felt the pressure, and then I saw Tracy standing in the end zone. I knew I had to get it to him."

After a four-interception outing against Texas, Robinson was not intercepted on Saturday. The Cowboys did not commit a turnover.

Iowa State entered at plus-nine on turnovers for the season. Against OSU, the Cyclones were minus-three. Austen Arnaud was intercepted three times — once each by Cowboy cornerback Perrish Cox, cornerback Terrance Anderson and linebacker Patrick Lavine.

OSU's defense dominated an Iowa State squad that was the Big 12 rushing leader at 200 yards per game. On Saturday, the Cyclones mustered only 54 rushing yards (2.1 per attempt). Alexander Robinson, the league's individual rushing leader at 101.6 yards per game, had only 51 against Oklahoma State.

"This was another opportunity to prove to the nation that we are for real on defense," OSU linebacker Andre Sexton said. "We're a good run-stop defense."

OSU entered the weekend with a No. 13 national ranking in rushing defense. Six of nine opponents have been held under the 100 mark in rushing yards. The Cowboy defense lost its shutout opportunity with 11:50 left to play, when Robinson collected a short Arnaud pass and raced 45 yards for a touchdown.

"The rush yardage was really critical because (the Cyclones) are a running football team," OSU defensive coordinator Bill Young said. "We were nervous coming in here. We knew that if we had any chance at all, we had to control the run."

On Thursday, OSU's reinstatement appeal on behalf of Bryant, the suspended All-American junior wide receiver, was denied by the NCAA. Bryant responded by announcing his plan to enter the NFL draft. Gundy acknowledged that the developments were a distraction for his team, but the Cowboys didn't seem bothered on Saturday.

OSU had 473 total yards. Iowa State (5-5, 2-4) had 242.

While the Cyclone ground game was stifled, OSU's rolled for 331 yards. For the first time since his Sept. 12 ankle-foot injury, Kendall Hunter was a factor. He carried nine times for 47 yards.

The time-of-possession statistic reflected a mismatch. OSU's possession time: 39 minutes, 38 seconds. Iowa State's: 20 minutes, 22 seconds.

"We were outcoached (and) outplayed on offense and defense and everywhere else you look," Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads said. "I thought (OSU's defensive front seven) controlled the game. White jerseys were everywhere."

Two Dan Bailey field goals had given OSU a 6-0 lead in the first period. OSU's burial of Iowa State began in the second quarter, when the Cowboys pieced together a 98-yard, 14-play possession that consumed more than six minutes. The drive ended with the Robinson-to-Moore touchdown play, and OSU took a 13-0 lead to the halftime locker room.

During the second half, OSU's offensive line manhandled the Cyclones. The Cowboys rushed for 220 yards after halftime. Toston scored on third-period runs of 2 and 17 yards. After he bolted 69 yards on a third-and-2 play from the OSU 29-yard line, he got his third TD on a 1-yard surge.

Slide Show




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CHART TOPPER

With 142 yards in Saturday’s 34-8 win at Iowa State, OSU quarterback Zac Robinson passed Mike Gundy as the school’s career leader in passing yards.

The top five in Oklahoma State history:

1. Zac Robinson (’06-present) 8,065
2. Mike Gundy (1986-89) 7,997
3. Josh Fields (2001-03) 6,090
4. Tone’ Jones (1993-96) 4,812
5. Tony Lindsay (1997-2000) 4,002

Bill Haisten 581-8397
bill.haisten@tulsaworld.com
By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer

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COMMENTS 
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21 comments have been made for this team so far. Tell us what you think below!
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Some reader comments for this story were copied from "OSU runs over Iowa State 34-8," which was published on 11/7/2009.
Report Comment
Carlos, Tulsa (11/7/2009 4:34:17 PM)
Way to go Zac! GO POKES!
Report Comment
TK1, (11/7/2009 4:38:07 PM)
Nice to see Hunter contributing again.
Report Comment
FUTURE WORLD, Tulsa (11/7/2009 6:11:14 PM)
Bowl eligible.
Report Comment
Jellis40, Plano (11/7/2009 6:37:11 PM)
Go Pokes, Go!!!!
Report Comment
Jacky, small town Oklahoma (11/7/2009 7:46:53 PM)
Way to go Pokes! We love ya!
Report Comment
Woofenburger, Hominy (11/7/2009 9:53:49 PM)
Atta way Pokes!
Report Comment
HiTechRedneck, Back40 (11/7/2009 10:49:09 PM)
That's the way you shake off a loss! Great job POKES!
Report Comment
FIRE GUNDY, TULSA (11/7/2009 11:21:01 PM)
Nice road win
Report Comment
Dwight Schrute, (11/7/2009 11:21:59 PM)
Great win Pokes.. say.. its awful quiet in here. Whatever happened to all those mullet wearing UO Gomers that always come on the OSU stories talking trash ? Hmm.. thats what I thought, slithered back under their rocks under the bandwagon ! Ride Em Cowboys !
Report Comment
Carlos, Tulsa (11/8/2009 12:02:38 AM)
Dwight,
Good observation! Where are they?
Report Comment
FrankEaton, Tulsa (11/8/2009 1:24:12 AM)
What a great weekend! Cowpokes victory and gooners lose to a team that got beat by the team we killed! I have a feeling its gonna be rough time in cheaterville come Thanksgiving weekend!
Report Comment
Steff M, Claremore (11/8/2009 3:45:24 AM)
Here I am guys! Sorry it took so long. Sounds like you were getting lonely. You definitely did have a nice road win. Congrats. If our offense doesn't get things turned around you just might have a chance in Bedlam, huh? Nahhhhhhh. Probably still not going to happen for you. Nice connecting of the dots as well, Frank. "We beat the team worse than the team that just beat you beat them and....." Yeah, we get it Forrest.
Report Comment
Phred_53, Stillwater (11/8/2009 9:43:10 AM)
Hey Steff, When is OU going to become bowl eligible this year? LMAO. Mow tell your mommy to monitor your computer useage. Go brush your tooth and go outside to play.
Report Comment
OUuglystepdaughter, golden (11/8/2009 10:26:58 AM)
Keep it up Cowboys. Somebody has to represent the state of Oklahoma in a major bowl game. This OSU alum is proud of how the Coeboys have continued to play ball even though the odds have been against us. Screw the NCAA and screw the Sooners.
Report Comment
Carlos, Tulsa (11/8/2009 10:53:12 AM)
SteffM,
Since you seem to be so intimately involved with OU, tell them NOT to attempt any fieldgoals for the rest of the season. That's my tip of the week.

See, I'm just trying to help. ;-)
Report Comment
redbeard, Stillwater (11/8/2009 11:06:10 AM)
Good job Cowboys! Great defense and no turnovers.

Bill Young rocks.
Report Comment
Rhymeister, International (11/8/2009 9:37:10 PM)
Twas a great day for the Cowboys, Toston showing his underrated skills, Robinson returning to his normal good-and-consistent ability (I do think his wideouts dropping balls put too much pressure on him in Texas game), Hunter showing that he is almost back, the defense basically shutting down ISU for most of the game, and a lot of receivers getting passes thrown their way and making plays. That kind of balance is going to make the Cowboys better from here on out.
Report Comment
Steff M, Claremore (11/9/2009 3:37:52 AM)
"Mow" tell your mommy to monitor your computer "useage", Phred? I guess they're still using lead paint in the classrooms over there in Aggieland.
Report Comment
Carlos, Tulsa (11/9/2009 4:47:14 AM)
Always funny when OU fans rely on spellcheck for their arguments. That's when you know they are at the end of their rope.
Report Comment
Steff M, Claremore (11/9/2009 9:30:18 AM)
Sorry Carlos. People who can't spell simple words are just amusing to me. ESPECIALLY when they're trying to make fun of someone. Where's Mike the Mad Mexican, by the way? Did he get lost on his way home from Iowa?
Report Comment
OUuglystepdaughter, golden (11/9/2009 2:46:19 PM)
Steff, or Staff Mfection. Why don't you fulfill your long time dream of having sex with OU's football team and spread your ill will.
 

 
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