Three Takeaways from the Oklahoma State-West Virginia Rewatch

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Before Saturday night, the Cowboys’ last Big 12 win put them in the Big 12 title game.

Although Saturday’s win might’ve not carried those kind of consequences, after two long years, it might be just as important.

Oklahoma State beat West Virginia 41-24 on Saturday night in Morgantown. I already laid out 10 thoughts from the Milan Puskar Stadium press box, but having rewatched the game (on my flight home), here are three more things that stood out.

1. To the Left, to the Left

With the Mountaineers trying to defend the deep ball, the Cowboys were pounding the rock in the first half, particularly to the left side.

Per PFF, of Caleb Hawkins’ 180 yards, 105 came when he ran to the left of the center, and Hawkins averaged 5.5 yards a carry while rushing to that left side.

Hawkins obviously deserves credit for such a feat, but so do some of the guys creating the creases over there.

Shaun Torgeson played left tackle, and Johnny Dickson returned to left guard after filling in for Joseph Hanson on the right side for the past few weeks. Those two often had it blocked up pretty good, but when the Mountaineers would overpursue that side, Hawkins would coolly hit a cutback for just as good of yardage.

There was also at least one instance on an outside zone play early that Miles Coleman came flying in from the slot and boxed the linebacker to the inside long enough for Hawkins to race by.

2. Hawkins Had Some Strong Pass Pro Reps

What will go unnoticed in Hawkins’ fantastic day is that though he didn’t have a catch, the Cowboy running back contributed to the Cowboys’ pass game.

If it means anything to you, PFF graded Hawkins’ eight pass block snaps out at a 65.7, which was a notable improvement from what the service graded him against Tula (11.7) and Oregon (29.5).

But more than grades, Hawkins’ work in pass pro made an impact.

On a 3rd-and-9 late in the first half, West Virginia brought a blitz from the right side that Hawkins stepped into, giving Drew Mestemaker the extra time he needed to step up and hit Wyatt Young for a 21-yard gain. That play would help set up the Cowboys’ first touchdown of the night.

Then on a 2nd-and-5 late in the third quarter, Hawkins worked across Mestemaker to pick up a blitz coming from the left side, which gave Mestemaker the opportunity to hit Young for a 48-yard gain. Hawkins scored from 22 yards out on the next play.

So, yeah, Hawkins had no receiving yards in Morgantown, but he was still a key component to a few of OSU’s big passing plays.

3. Sam Keltner Has Rocked

I’ve been meaning to get Sam Keltner in thoughts, but with so much happening (especially compared to the past two seasons), it’s been difficult.

He was again a rock star on Saturday night and was so in front of a hostile crowd.

Keltner was 4-for-4 in Morgantown, hitting from 30, 19, 29 and 47.

The 47-yarder was the most impressive not only because of the distance but also because of the spot it came in.

OSU was leading 38-24 with just under three minutes to go. That’s obviously a good spot to be in if you’re the Cowboys, but had Keltner missed it, WVU would’ve taken over in decent field position down two scores.

But he made it, pushing it from a two-score game to a three-score game, essentially putting it on ice. That’s a big-time kick, especially on the road.

Keltner, an SMU transfer, is now 10-for-10 on the year, including 5-for-5 from 30+ yards and 2-for-2 from 40+ yards.