Re-booted Cowboys look to maintain momentum
What Oklahoma State does for an encore promises to be interesting.
Coming off a lifeless performance at Kansas State, the Cowboys took a week off, regrouped and then knocked Texas out of the Top 10 with a 38-35 victory. The upset not only played out before a national television audience in prime-time, but approximately 20 recruits in attendance that Oklahoma State has offered scholarships.
The home crowd was one of the best that veteran coach Mike Gundy could remember in a long time, and rightfully so, though the schedule does play on. Oklahoma State (5-3, 2-3 Big 12), still a win shy of bowl eligibility, will attempt to prove the game was no fluke when it travels to Baylor (4-4, 2-3) on Saturday.
Although senior quarterback Taylor Cornelius passed for 321 yards and three touchdowns against Texas, the re-creation of the Oklahoma State run game may have been as impressive as anything the Cowboys pulled off against Texas.
All season the Oklahoma State staff has insisted the wiry Cornelius has skills as a rusher, which the first-year starter and fifth-year senior showed off on occasion. Against Texas, he carried six times on zone reads and also executed three quarterback sneaks, while providing an element of surprise that helped running back Justice Hill gain 92 yards on 23 rushes.
Hill’s production has also been an ingredient worth track. The reigning Big 12 rushing leader has often had his best performances in victories. When the Cowboys get away from using him, sometimes because of time, score and momentum, trouble has often ensued. The kind of trouble that had Oklahoma State lurking near the Big 12 cellar prior to the Texas win.
The soft-spoken Hill, a junior, did not directly express his frustration over any lack of carries, but Gundy detected his back was itching to contribute. He did so, while sharing the workload with his backups.
“I could just tell he wants the ball more,” Gundy said. “Now, he wanted out some (against Texas) too. He got the ball enough and he got a little fatigued. But it was good. (Chuba Hubbard) came in and made some plays, (J.D. King) made some plays. Nah, he’s never come to us to say he wants to touch the ball more.”
Hill was a known commodity at least. Another star was actually unveiled against the Longhorns. Sophomore wide receiver Tylan Wallace, though he came in as Oklahoma State’s top receiver and had received attention after moving into the lineup this year, caught 10 passes for 222 yards and two TDs. Included were some circus grabs, and also some moves that left the Longhorns fooled.
“Here’s the interesting thing about him at this point, he’s really just a freshman,” Gundy said. “He didn’t play hardly at all last year, but he did get quality reps in practice. We had him there on the shelf in case something happened to one of those guys. We were very fortunate that it didn’t happen. He’s got a good temperament. He’s humble and a hard worker.”
The upset of the Longhorns was the fourth straight win for Oklahoma State against a ranked opponent and the fourth straight in the series against Texas. It was the kind of outcome that can turn around a season, but the turnaround is far from complete at this stage, especially with the Cowboys still sitting below .500 in Big 12 play.
Baylor, while improved, is coming off its worst defeat, a 58-14 loss at West Virginia in which the Bears were flattened out of the gates. Baylor quarterback Charlie Brewer is undergoing concussion protocol and is questionable. His top target, wide receiver Denzel Mims, was slowed by an injury early in the season and had just two receptions at West Virginia.