Instant Recap: Oklahoma State Falls to No. 14 Texas Tech 42-0

BOXSCORE

The result may have been expected, but this one didn’t follow the typical script.

Oklahoma State fell to No. 14 Texas Tech 42-0. By the scoreboard, this one was pretty much over before halftime, but the Pokes’ defense at least showed some fight.

Things couldn’t have started worse for OSU, and it was caused by a pair of early special teams snafus that landed the Pokes in a deep hole before things really got started.

After winning the toss and deferring, OSU coaches watched Texas Tech running back J’Koby Williams return the opening kickoff 99 yards for a house call. The Cowboys then went three-and-out, but that punt was blocked and then returned to the Cowboys’ 26-yard-line. Then on Tech’s first snap, Williams took a pass all the way. Two touches, two scores.

Despite the lopsided scoreboard, the Cowboys’ defense did perform well for much of the first half until they just ran out of steam. If we include the Sesi Vailahi strip-fumble/score by Jacob Rodriguez, three of Tech’s touchdowns were either non-offensive scores or were not the defense’s fault.

After those first two scores, OSU held Tech to a three-and-out. On the next drive, OSU had Tech in a third-and-long that Will Hammond converted a big play to Reggie Virgil. They would end up scoring a touchdown on that drive, before OSU forced three straight stops before halftime with a fumble, a turnover-on-downs and then a punt.

The Cowboys held Tech to just 7 points in the second quarter but were down 28-zip at the break and never really got close to touching the scoreboard.

On offense, it was a two-quarterback platoon, as Doug Meacham alluded to. It was just two different QBs than we expected. Zane Flores did not see the field. Instead, Sam Jackson V started his third straight game and then Noah Walters came in, and the two jockeyed back and forth before Walters took over in the third.

The Cowboys managed just 182 total yards and nine first downs. The Red Raiders totaled 370 and 5.4 yards per play, but they were basically in run-the-clock mode by halftime.

Jackson finished 9-of-19 for 48 yards and no scores or picks. Walters went 5-for-12 for 39 yards. Trent Howland led the Cowboys with 58 yards rushing at 4.5 yards per attempt, and Gavin Freeman topped the receivers with six catches for 47 yards.

Parker Robertson led the Cowboys and shared the game lead with 10 total tackles. Taje McCoy, Mordecai McDaniel and Aiden Kelly each recorded a sack. Wendell Gregory had a nice tackle for loss.

While the Cowboys’ defenders showed some fight, Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez showed why he’s one of the best in the nation. In addition to his fumble-score, he had 10 tackles and six solo takedowns.

Will Hammond went down with a foot injury late in the second quarter and was replaced by Mitch Griffis. Griffis scored both of the Red Raiders’ second-half touchdowns, one a 42-yard pass to Caleb Douglas and the other a 1-yard rush. It was 42-0 with 3:17 left in the third quarter and that’s where it stayed. Tech did attempt a 45-yard field goal with 5:54 left in the fourth, but it was no good.

With the loss, the Cowboys fall to 1-7 and 0-5 in Big 12 play. Texas Tech moves to 7-1 on the season. Next up, the Cowboys face the Jayhawks on the road. OSU and Kansas will kick off at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1 in Lawrence.