The Good, the Bad and the Ugly from OSU’s 66-28 Win at Kansas State

The Cowboys bounced back with a 66-28 win at Kansas State. They’re not quite back in the driver’s seat to Arlington, but they are crammed into the very full back seat. Either way, there’s some meaningful football to be played.

But before we look forward to Texas Tech next weekend, let’s highlight the Good, the Bad and the Ugly from the Pokes’ big trip to the Little Apple.

The Good: 1st Quarter Adjustments

There are plenty of things that I could toss in this first category, from the record-setting offensive numbers to Drew Mestemaker’s showing to Caleb Hawkins’ ability to get more elite as the season goes on.

We’ll continue to talk about all of that, but I think it’s important to recognize this team’s resilience after a tough loss, especially on the defensive side.

After giving up 51 in Ames, the Cowboys’ defense was much-improved, despite a blown play early that gave K-State a 72-yard TD.

To that point, OSU allowed eight plays of at least 20 yards to Iowa State last week. On Saturday in Manhattan, they allowed just two. That early long TD on a busted coverage and a 23-yard rush by Rodney Fields Jr., also early in the first quarter.

After a 10-yard rush by Blake Barnett at the end of the first, the Wildcats didn’t have a double-digit rushing play the next three quarters and had only one passing play of over 15 yards which went for 18.

After giving up 581 total yards and 8.1 yards per play a week prior, the Cowboys allowed only 327 total yards and 4.5 per play to the Wildcats.

The Cowboys’ defense only gave up 21 points which would have been a season-low against an FBS team and, to be frank, it was already over before the Wildcats scored those last two TDs in the third.

Yes, Kansas State had QB issues, but the ability to go out on the road and limit a team like this was a boon, especially as beat-up as the Cowboys are on that side of the ball.

This offense is so fun to watch. If the defense can just get timely stops here and there, they beat the K-State’s and West Virginia’s of the world with relative ease. If they’d play like they did in Manhattan all season, the Cowboys probably have a couple more wins right now.

The Bad: A Couple Turnovers

I know, I know. But it’s harder to come up with bad when you smoke a team by almost 30. Wyatt Young had the type of fumble that just happens sometimes, and it didn’t end up hurting the Pokes.

Young caught a pass on third-and-12 but, while fighting for a couple more yards, a defender dislodged the ball and it was recovered. Maybe in hindsight you tell him to just step out when he has the line to gain, but that would go against the type of drive that makes him such a dangerous weapon.

The Pokes’ defense forced a three-and-out on the next possession, so it had little impact.

But then Drew Mestemaker threw an interception at the worst part of the field.

Backed up to his own 13-yard-line, Mestemaker was looking for Justin Bowick on a go route on the left sideline but did not see K-State safety Logan Bartley fall back into coverage and then leap up and make the play for a pick-six.

His second “pick” was correctly deemed an incomplete pass after a review. It came on fourth-and-long when he was scrambling, but this was one of those that should have been chucked to the Wildcats’ water boy.

The Ugly: That Second-Half Opening Drive

The Cowboys had all the momentum coming out of halftime.

Let me start over.

The Cowboys had essentially won the game at halftime. But there was the slightest bit of doubt that crept in on the first possession of the third quarter.

Normally a second-half team, OSU had its only three-and-out on that opening drive in the third. They started with a holding call that put them behind the chains and then missed on a passing play on third-and-8.

To make things worse on the ensuing punt, William Mason clobbered Sterling Lockett apparently not realizing that he hadn’t caught the punt. The catch interference call gave newly installed QB Dillon Duff a 45-yard field. He was able to cross it in eight plays, leading to a touchdown that pulled K-State within 49-21.

That would not matter ultimately, because OSU answered with a crisp touchdown drive and didn’t look back. But one or two more errors and, who knows, maybe it was more of a game at the end.

Again, seems nit-picky, but I’m a slave to the format and had to find some ugly. All in all, the Cowboys got the win, boosted some draft stocks, and gave Eric Morrs and his staff a few things to coach them up on this week.