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Instant Recap: Oklahoma State Defeats UT-Martin 27-7 in Season Opener

The Cowboys got the win… and more QB questions.

Published

8 months ago

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[Devin Wilber/PFB]

BOXSCORE

Here we go, again?

Oklahoma State defeated UT-Martin 27-7 after an exciting start, a disappointing middle and a slow burn finish, with of course quarterback ramifications peppered throughout.

In the Cowboy record books this will go down merely as a 20-point decision over an FCS team and Mike Gundy’s 21st-straight Week 1 win. But the evening’s headline focuses on the potential for another QB injury and the ensuing carousel.

Here’s how it played out.

In the first two drives, the Pokes’ offense looked as good as we’ve seen it maybe in a calendar year, all FCS caveats notwithstanding. OSU went with TCU transfer Hauss Hejny to start, and he immediately injected life into the crowd at BPS.

Hejny’s first college pass attempt started with a scramble and ended 34 yards down the field in the mitts of UCO transfer Terrill Davis. Davis looked like a dude, leading all receivers with 75 yards (on two catches).

Four plays later, Hejny picked up a rushing touchdown. On the next drive he had a 41-yard pass to former Purdue receiver Shamar Rigby. Then Hejny found Gavin Freeman for a 10-yard TD to give the Cowboys a 14-zip lead after two tries.

But Hejny took a hit during his third drive, a three-and-out, and headed to the locker room with a reported lower leg injury. He was done for the night. Enter Zane Flores.

The third-year Cowboy was also seeing his first action in an orange jersey. Without the same run threat, UT-Martin’s defense was able to bottle up the Flores-led Pokes for a couple more three-and-outs before he finally engineered a field goal drive late in the second.

UT-Martin was able to remain within 17-7 at the half thanks to a trick-play double-pass that amounted to a 39-yard touchdown.

On the opening drive of the third quarter, UT-Martin made it to 4th-and-5 on the Cowboys’ 33-yard line and was looking to go for it before a false start forced the punt. The second-best drive of the night was thwarted by the yips.

But the Cowboys weren’t without their own warts. With all the new players on both sides of the ball, some might have been expected.

Aside from Hejny’s four rushes, the Cowboys mustered just 100 rushing yards on 2.6 yards per carry. The Skyhawks were good against the run in the FCS last year, but that’s not going to cut it in the Big 12. And it’s not going to cut next week in Eugene.

Other than allowing the big scoring play, OSU’s defense was 6-of-15 on third downs, and was called for five penalties, including two horse-collar fouls in the first quarter.

The Cowboys were able to manage another field goal to take a 20-7 lead into the fourth quarter and then an early interception by Kale Smith. Sesi Vailahi pushed the Cowboys’ lead to 24-7 with just over four minutes to go to essentially seal the win.

Another QB Question?

While the length and severity of Hejny’s injury is merely the stuff of speculation, the Cowboy fanbase released a collective here-we-go-again groan once the report circulated around the interwebs that he would not return.

It would be hard not to draw comparisons between the two quarterbacks, even if one had a much bigger opportunity to show his inexperience.

Hauss Hejny: 5/10, 96 yards passing, 27 yards rushing, two total TDs, 163.6 passer rating
Zane Flores: 13/20, 136 yards passing, zero TDs, 122.1 passer rating

Flores did break free on a couple of runs, even lumbering for a pair of first downs, but OSU missed Hejny’s wheels. In two scoring opportunities led by him, the Pokes scored two redzone touchdowns. In two of his scoring opportunities with Flores, they settled for two field goals.

Flores was able to show off his arm a bit. Did I mention TD was a dude?

To be fair to Flores, he was one Sesi Vailahi dropped pass and one Vailahi sideline step away from throwing two TDs in his debut. Vailahi would make it up later. But the offense was clearly different once No. 6 came in for No. 8.

While Hejny threatened to be a star QB, another OSU newcomer was making plays in the backfield.

Wendell Gregory tied a Big 12 freshman record with three sacks in his OSU debut. In a redshirt season at South Carolina, Gregory had just one total tackle in two outings. On Thursday night, he looked like the second coming of Collin Oliver. For reference, the Cowboys’ sack leader Kendal Daniels had 5.5 last year and the leading DE was Obi Ezeigbo had three all of 2024.

Bryan McCoy Jr. led the way with 14 total tackles, and Brandon Rawls added 11 tackles and a sack.

With the win, the Cowboys move to 1-0 on the year and break a nine-game, 348-day victory drought that dated all the way back to September 14, 2024.

Next up, the Cowboys head to the Pacific Northwest next weekend for a real challenge. Oklahoma State will play No. 7 Oregon in Eugene at 2:30 pm on Saturday.

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