WACO, Texas — Oklahoma country quarterback Spencer Sanders made a range of critical performs inside the ninth-ranked Cowboys’ 36-25 win over No. Sixteen Baylor on Saturday at McLane Stadium.
Massive throws. Spectacular runs.
However his largest moment may’ve come when the redshirt senior should’ve been in statement mode on a run play with the aid of real freshman Ollie Gordon.
But when Baylor defender Christian Morgan’s helmet drilled into Gordon’s left side, it popped the ball lower back in Sanders’ route.
Extra:Oklahoma nation football ends Baylor’s home win streak & extra key stats from Cowboys-Bears
The quarterback dove in head first to comfortable the ball. Two performs later, the Cowboys kicked a discipline aim for a two-score benefit, 36-25.
With a chaotic begin to the big 12 season, Saturday’s win changed into a sturdy early declaration for an OSU crew that has hopes of having lower back to the big 12 title recreation once more this season.
Sanders completed with 181 passing yards and 75 dashing yards, and two total touchdowns.
“He performed proper,” OSU head train Mike Gundy said. “He converts a whole lot of plays along with his legs. What he brings to the desk is, he can convert first downs and keep the chains moving together with his legs.
“Spencer’s a aggressive dude, now. For a few cause, humans do not supply him enough credit score.”
Junior strolling lower back Dominic Richardson didn’t publish eye-popping stats, but his tough strolling — specially between the tackles, where Baylor’s defense is strongest — changed into vital.
Richardson finished with seventy three yards on 24 incorporates with one touchdown.
Pick party for Oklahoma country…
Oklahoma state hadn’t intercepted a skip since the first game of the season, but a pair of senior safeties came up with fourth-sector interceptions to help put the sport away.
Thomas Harper picked off a bypass near midfield and lower back it to the Baylor 28, setting up a Cowboy area goal for the 36-25 lead.
It was Harper’s second interception of his career and first of the season.
“doing all your activity, sometimes the ball just hits you in the face,” OSU defensive coordinator Derek Mason stated. “You don’t ought to make a fantastic play. Sometimes, being inside the proper vicinity on the proper time, you’ll make performs.”
On Baylor’s subsequent pressure, with the Bears transferring down the field, Jason Taylor II stepped in front of a deep throw by way of quarterback Blake Shapen. Taylor pulled inside the bypass and barely got a foot down as his momentum carried him out of bounds with 2:55 to play.
The Cowboys milked most of the clock and pressure Baylor to use all of its timeouts on the following pressure.
Taylor has proven a knack for big plays at key times, like his fumble go back landing in a decent win at Kansas state years ago, his blocked subject goal at Boise country and his choose-six at Texas last season.
“he is greedy,” Mason stated. “He confirmed the arms that he has, the range that he has. He is were given A-plus ball skills, and what I accept as true with is, as he continues to get cozy with the men around him, you are gonna see him keep to make performs, due to the fact he will realize what he can do and what he cannot do.”
Bryson inexperienced’s awareness…
Sophomore receiver Bryson inexperienced had crucial receptions, one which went for a landing and any other that installation a field aim.
On OSU’s first drive of the sport, green were given a step in advance of his man on a 3rd-and-four play from the Baylor 8. He leapt for the pass from Sanders, bobbled it before everything, but pulled it in earlier than landing in the long run quarter for the score.
In the third area, OSU ran a trick play with slot receiver John Paul Richardson taking the ball on a reverse, then setting up to throw deep. He lofted the ball at the back of a extensive-open inexperienced, who adjusted and pulled within the throw, getting his left foot inbounds simply before his proper knee hit out of bounds at the two-yard line.
‘special’ moments
Oklahoma country’s unique teams gadgets came up with a couple of key plays on Saturday.
Dealing with a fourth-and-4 at the Baylor 39, OSU elected to punt in preference to cross for it in opposing territory.
Punter Tom Hutton sent a punt toward the proper corner of the sector, in which actual freshman receiver Braylin Presley become ready, catching the ball to down it at the 2.
On the next snap, Baylor quarterback Blake Shapen tossed to Richard Reese, who turned into compelled deep into the quit quarter by way of protecting give up Brock Martin, putting in a address by way of Kendal Daniels for a safety and a nine-three lead.
The Cowboy special teams got here up with another massive play to start the third zone. Redshirt freshman strolling back Jaden Nixon took the kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown and a 23-three lead. Nixon slipped through a gap within the middle of the sphere, were given tripped up but kept his footing, then outran the Bears to the stop region.
“The most effective factor i used to be wondering changed into, preserve your ft,” said Brennan Presley, who Nixon had replaced as kick returner on that play. “I realize if he gets in the front of you, you’re no longer catching him. We had just pointed out coming out and starting the half of proper, getting a landing and looking to get a 14-factor swing. Once he did that, it became all excitement from there.”
Mason Cobb’s key address
Getting into the game, Baylor become tied for seventh nationally in general fourth-down attempts with eleven thru 4 video games. The Bears had converted seven of them.
With the Cowboys leading 9-3 in the 2d quarter, Baylor had pushed inside the OSU 10 earlier than locating itself in a fourth-and-1 at the 7.
Strolling left, it seemed like Reese had open area for the primary down and maybe a landing. But OSU linebacker Mason Cobb slipped off a block and tackled Reese for no gain and a turnover on downs.
