Cowboys tame K-State in 31-20 win

With questions surrounding Mike Gundy, Kasey Dunn and the Cowboy offense after the past three games, the Cowboys started the first half off with a bang. Scoring 24 of the Cowboys 31 points in the game. (Malcolm Rodriguez recovered a fumble in the end zone for the other touchdown.) The Cowboys did not score in the second half for the second straight week but still covered against the Wildcats from Little Manhattan, 31-20.

Spencer Sanders played his best game of the year thus far. Throwing 34 times and completing 22 passes for 344 yards and two touchdowns. Additionally, Sanders ran for one touchdown to go with 18 rushing yards.

But it wasn’t just Sanders on the offensive end. Jaylen Warren had another solid game after his monster outing at Boise. The Utah State transfer carried the ball 27 times and ran for 123 yards as well as four catches for 81 yards. Tay Martin returned in a big way after missing the last two games and had the most receptions out of any receiver in the game with nine. Martin also had 100 yards and a touchdown. Rashad Owens and Brendan Presley also had solid showings with Owens having three receptions for 49 yards and Presley having two catches, 53 yards and a touchdown of his own.

For the majority of the game, Kansas State was playing with their third string QB Jaden Lewis who went 10 of 19 with 148 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Will Howard started the game, and returned in the second half for one drive before being relieved by Lewis both times. Howard, threw 12 times and completed four of them for 50 yards.

But K-State’s spark plug on offense, Deuce Vaughn, was silent for most of the night, at least rushing wise he was. 13 carries for just a measly 22 yards. He made up for it on the receiving end, catching the ball five times, including a 55-yard touchdown reception on what could have easily been a tackle for loss from the Cowboy defense.

The defense had another stellar performance, led by senior safety Kolby Harvell-Peel. The College Station product led the team with 8 total tackles and his second interception of the season in the 11 point win. Malcolm Rodriguez made a little history tonight, jumping up to number eight on Oklahoma State’s all time leading tacklers list and still climbing. The super senior had seven total tackles, six solo and one tackle for loss.

Two more big performers for the Cowboy defense were Israel Antwine and Jarrick Bernard-Converse. Bernard-Converse had three pass deflections to go with four tackles and Israel Antwine, who had three tackles and one of the Cowboy’s two sacks on the game.

The Cowboys remain undefeated at 4-0 and will likely be ranked in the AP Poll for the first time all season. They host another undefeated team, Baylor. The Bears upset Iowa State 31-29 today on the banks of the Brazos. That game will take place next Saturday at 6pm CT on ESPN2.