Instacap: Oklahoma State Defeats Miami 37-34 to Win Cheez-It Bowl

No. 21 Oklahoma State outlasted No. 18 Miami to win the Cheez-It Bowl 37-34 and finish the season 8-3.

In a game full of twists and turns — and even more offensive dry spells by the Cowboys offense — OSU never trailed, won the turnover battle 2-0 and relied on its defense to save the day.

The Cowboys came out throwing with 10 throws and no rushes on a game-opening scoring drive punctuated by a TD pass to rookie Brennan Presley, his second catch of the season.

Two more scoring drives, separated by quick stops by OSUs defense — and bookended by Presley’s second catch for a TD on the night — saw the Pokes build a 21-0 lead in the first quarter.

The Hurricanes found some life late in the first, however, getting deep in Cowboy territory and setting up an early second-quarter TD. 21-7, Cowboys.

The Cowboys stalled in the red zone and then a false start penalty turned a 28-yard field goal attempt into a 33-yard field goal miss.

D’Eriq King waltzed into the end zone on a drive extended by OSU penalties, but a holding call saw the score run back. A couple plays later, King took a Tre Sterling helmet to the knee and went down with a knee injury, and did not return. Miami settled for a field goal. 21-10, Cowboys.

After starting out white hot, scoring TDs on their first three drives, the Cowboys offense sputtered. The next three ended with a missed FG attempt and three-straight three-and-outs. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes, sans starting QB D’Eriq, scored on consecutive drives to pull within two. 21-19, Cowboys.

A Crazy Chain of Events

Nursing a battered and bleeding right hand, Spencer Sanders found Tay Martin for a nice first-down pickup which was called back for questionable block-in-the-back penalty. Then on the next play, Sanders’ pass to Martin pops loose and is intercepted, before being called back due to a defensive pass interference which shouldn’t have been, as the crew pointed out on replay that the ball was tipped by a Miami defender.

The drive would last 17 plays and include five penalties before the Pokes settled for a field goal deep in the red zone.

But a second turnover by Miami would turn into points when the Cowboys marched right back into Hurricane territory and this time pay it off with a 5-yard TD to Dillon Stoner to put the Pokes up 31-19 early in the fourth.

The Canes and Cowboys would trade TDs in consecutive series resulting in the Cowboys pulling to within 37-34 with 5:39 remaining after converting their second 2-point attempt.

The Cowboys badly needed to sustain a drive up just three, but mustered just one yard on three plays while burning just a minute. But the Cowboys defense had plenty left in the tank, forcing the Hurricanes’ first three-and-out of the night giving its offense back the ball with 4:14 left.

After another three-and-out by the offense, Jim Knowles’ squad forced a turnover on downs, securing Mike Gundy’s 10th bowl win in 15 consecutive tries.

It was feast or famine for the Cowboys offense which scored all five of OSU’s touchdowns in the first and fourth quarters. But it was a consecutives stops by the OSU defense that sealed the win.

Spencer Sanders finished 27-for-40 for 305 yards and four touchdowns and no turnovers, though he had a couple of close calls. Overall, he captained the offense well and made plays when he had to. Sanders was also the Pokes’ leading rusher with 45 yards.

In a breakout performance, true freshman Brennan Presley led the way with six catches for 118 yards and three scores. He had one rush and one catch in the regular season. Behind him, transfer wideout Tay Martin nearly matches his regular season total with 73 yards on six catches of his own.

You could do worse than give the game ball to Tre Sterling who led the game with 13 total tackles, a 0.5 sack, 2.5 tackles for loss and a pass breakup while generally being everywhere the Hurricanes didn’t want him to be.