Tulsa World: Toston bowls over ISU

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Toston bowls over ISU
Senior gains 206 yards, breaks free for 69-yarder against Iowa State.

Keith Toston scores the first of his three touchdowns during Saturday's game against Iowa State. Toston rushed for 206 yards as Oklahoma State rolled past Iowa State in Ames. STEPHEN HOLMAN/Tulsa World

By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
Published: 11/8/2009 2:24 AM
Last Modified: 11/8/2009 6:09 AM

AMES, Iowa — Oklahoma State smothered Iowa State with a ground game that rolled for 331 yards and with a senior running back who no longer should be viewed as "a role player."

For three seasons, that was the Keith Toston label — "role player." On Saturday, making his seventh start since Kendall Hunter sustained a fractured right foot, Toston erupted for a career-best total of 206 rushing yards and three second-half touchdowns as the 18th-ranked Cowboys beat Iowa State 34-8.

"Keith has been tremendous for us," OSU coach Mike Gundy said. "I'm a big Keith Toston fan."

In the fourth quarter, Toston barreled downfield for the longest gain of his career, a 69-yarder. He was tackled from behind at the Cyclone 2-yard line.

"Once I got into the open field, I probably should have scored," Toston said. "I'll probably hear about it on Monday from (OSU running backs coach Robert Gillespie)."

Toston's big run matched OSU's longest play from scrimmage this season. Against Grambling State, freshman running back Jeremy Smith scored on a 69-yard dash.

Now with 882 yards for the season, Toston made a significant move toward becoming the 13th back in OSU history to reach the 1,000-yard mark.

"That was one of my personal goals for the season," Toston said. "At the end of the season, if I end up reaching it, that would be a big thing for me."

In his comeback game last week, Hunter was limited to one carry for 1 yard against Texas. Gundy said Hunter's primary issue was pain tolerance. On Saturday, last year's Big 12 rushing leader was effective. Hunter carried nine times for 47 yards.

"I feel like I'm getting better every week," Hunter said. "I'm sore a little bit, but I'm all right."

Said Gundy: "He's not Kendall yet, but I think it was good to get him back on the field. I know he was in the open field a couple of times, and if that had happened (in 2008), he would have been gone. It's really nice to get him back there and take some of the load off of Keith."

More than in any previous game this season, OSU's option game was productive. On pitch plays, Hunter had an 11-yard run, Toston an 11-yarder and Beau Johnson a 14-yarder. Quarterback Zac Robinson ran for 15 yards after fooling a Cyclone defender by faking a pitch.

Toston has had three 100-yard performances this season, and they all occurred in Big 12 road games. He ran for 130 yards at Texas A&M and 109 at Baylor.

After carrying 25 times on Saturday, Toston admitted to being "sore all over." Asked whether a 206-yard afternoon might lessen the pain, he smiled and replied, "No, but it makes me feel better on the inside."

Running men

A look at the top five individual rushing performances of the Mike Gundy head-coaching era:

Dantrell Savage, 212 yards (vs. Nebraska, 2007)

Kendall Hunter, 210 yards (vs. Houston, 2008)

Keith Toston, 206 yards (at Iowa State, 2009)

Mike Hamilton, 194 yards (vs. Texas, 2005)

Kendall Hunter, 169 yards (vs. Troy, 2008)

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

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