Instant Recap: Cowboys Come Back to Beat West Virginia in Mike Gundy’s 400th Game

In his 400th game associated with Oklahoma State as a coach or player, Mike Gundy secured his 161st win as a head coach on Saturday.

Gundy’s 238th game leading the Cowboys was a 48-34 victory over West Virginia in Morgantown to give OSU its third straight win and improve the Pokes to 5-2. Four weeks ago, it was doubtful if OSU would even make a bowl game and extend Gundy’s 17-year streak. Now, the Cowboys are a win away and should be favored against Cincinnati next week during America’s Greatest Homecoming.

Saturday was the type of close game Gundy’s teams seem to excel in, although it wasn’t that way by the time the clock was at zeroes. The Cowboys needed a fourth-quarter comeback down 24-20 at the start of the frame. Ollie Gordon gave OSU its first fourth-quarter lead with a 16-yard touchdown run with 13:16 left to put his team ahead 20-17. WVU quickly tied it with a field goal, though.

The Pokes didn’t slow down, though, and found pay dirt on back-to-back drives for the only time Saturday. Brennan Presley looked stuck on a short dump off before a spin move had him free and accelerating for a 29-yard touchdown reception and a 34-27 lead with seven minutes left.

After a stop by the defense, Gordon ultimately had the dagger with a 46-yard touchdown run. It was Gordon’s third score of the day and the run put him over 200 rushing yards.

WVU did find the end zone again after Gordon’s long run, but it was too little too late after a failed onside kick attempt put the ball back into Gordon’s hands. Two plays and one cut later, Gordon was sprinting toward his fourth touchdown of the day– a 53-yarder that made the count 48-34 with 1:40 left.

There’s no one word to describe Gordon’s performance (other than maybe Heisman?). Gordon rushed for 282 yards and four touchdowns on 29 carries, averaging 9.7 yards an attempt. The 282-yard mark put Gordon ninth all-time in OSU history for most rushing yards in a game. He did this after totaling 168 rushing and 116 receiving yards last week against Kansas.

OSU started the game with a 10-0 lead thanks to an early Alex Hale field goal and Gordon’s first touchdown of the game. WVU was forced to punt on its first drive but Presley muffed the punt and the Mountaineers recovered to continue their first drive on OSU’s 33. However, two plays later, Kendal Daniels popped the ball out of Kole Taylor’s grasp and recovered it to give OSU the ball for the first time in the game.

The Cowboys’ first drive ended with a 37-yard field goal from Hale. After Korie Black pulled in an interception WVU’s next possession, OSU started its second drive inside Mountaineer territory. Gordon turned the turnover into seven points with a two-yard rushing touchdown

WVU answered with a touchdown on its next drive, then forced OSU to punt and added a field goal to tie the game at 10-10 with 8:49 left in the first half. The Cowboys answered with another Hale field goal from 29 yards before WVU led 17-13 at halftime after Garrett Greene hit Devin Carter for a 45-yard score.

The third quarter didn’t get the game anywhere before a wild last quarter, as both teams exchanged touchdowns. Alan Bowman connected with Jaden Bray for a five-yard touchdown to put OSU ahead again, 20-17. The Mountaineers answered with a touchdown, though, to start the fourth with a 24-20 lead.

Riding a three-game winning streak, OSU will host Cincinnati under the lights of Boone Pickens Stadium at 7 p.m. Saturday for America’s Greatest Homecoming Celebration.