No. 14 Oklahoma State rallies for 20-18 win at Kansas State

No. 14 Oklahoma State used two turnovers to its advantage to pick up a 20-18 win against Kansas State on Saturday in Manhattan.

The key play came with just under seven minutes left in regulation when Israel Antwine stripped K-State quarterback Will Howard in the red zone. Then, Jason Taylor returned it 85 yards in a play that wound up likely being a 14-point swing in favor of the Cowboys.

Howard sealed the Wildcats’ fate by throwing an interception to Trey Sterling with under two minutes left. That defensive performance left one injured Cowboy, Kolby Harvell-Peel, in an array of emotions.

Kansas State (4-3, 4-2) nearly Kansas State’d its way into a win, using a full compliment of fullbacks, tight ends, quarterback runs, i-formations and the likes. Howard finished with nearly as many rushing yards (125) as the entire OSU offense (148) from his spot at quarterback.

The Wildcats will likely come away feeling about how OSU (5-1, 4-1 Big 12) did against Texas last weekend. K-State out-gained OSU 370-256 but lost the turnover battle 2-0, with both coming in the fourth quarter.

OSU was dormant on offense in the first half after playing nearly all backups on the offensive line after an ankle injury to Teven Jenkins — that is evidenced by the 83 total first half yards. Of course, an injured Chuba Hubbard (six carries for 31 yards) and Tylan Wallace (played one snap) did not help.

Spencer Sanders threw for 108 yards on 14-for-23, no touchdowns and no turnovers. The game was won on defense and the legs of LD Brown — originally reported to be out — who carried 15 times for 110 yards. The Cowboys’ two touchdowns were career firsts’ for Taylor on the “scoop”-and-score and Brennan Presley on a third quarter jet sweep.

Dillon Stoner stepped up in Wallace’s absence to lead the receivers with seven catches for 62 yards. The Cowboys will relish the opportunity to get guys healthy during the upcoming bye week; it was reported pre-game that Tylan Wallace should be available for OSU’s next game: Bedlam on the road.

Top level troll, IMO.

Up next

As mentioned, the Cowboys will travel to Norman to take on Oklahoma (5-2, 4-2) on Nov. 21 after the upcoming bye week. OSU will need to beat OU to retain control of its own destiny. A loss would give each team two in the conference with OU holding a tie-breaking win.

A Cowboy win in Norman would likely eliminate the Sooners from Big 12 championship game contention while giving OSU an edge on the rest of the conference to assume a spot. OSU will play Texas Tech, at TCU and at Baylor to close out the season.