Oklahoma State trailed 0-12 at the half in Manhattan, Kansas, on Saturday against the Kansas State Wildcats, but the Cowboys were able to rally at halftime and come away with the 20-18 victory. The win moves Oklahoma State to 5-1 on the season, and they sit atop the Big 12 headed into Bedlam in just a couple of weeks.
The Good
- The defense as a whole | The Cowboys allowed just 12 points in the first half, and part of that blame can, once again, be placed upon the offense. Still, Oklahoma State’s defense held the Wildcats to just 18 points for the entire game, and they stepped up in the second half in particular, producing a touchdown which was key to the win.
- The secondary | Kolby Harvell-Peel had to sit out another game due to injury (he WAS pretty active on Twitter, though), but the Cowboy secondary was outstanding in his absence. Oklahoma State’s defensive backs held the Wildcats to just 143 passing yards, and Tre Sterling sealed the win with an interception in the final minutes.
- Brennan Presley | Give it up for the true freshman. With star wideout Tylan Wallace sidelined, Presley stepped up when his team needed him, and he managed to find the end zone when the Cowboys desperately needed a touchdown.
The Bad
- The offense as a whole | Oklahoma State’s offense was shut out in the first half for the first time since November 15, 2014 when the Cowboys were held scoreless in the first half by the Texas Longhorns. Year in and year out, Oklahoma State has had one of the nation’s top offenses, but that has not been the case this year.
Yes, the offensive line has dealt with loss after loss, but Spencer Sanders has to be a better decision-maker and take better care of the ball. The run game has been questionable at times, but with talent like Chuba Hubbard and LD Brown, there has to be an answer somewhere. - Injuries | The Cowboys have been bitten by the injury bug in a big way. Tylan Wallace didn’t play (except for the onside kick return play), Teven Jenkins was injured in the first quarter, Chuba Hubbard came into the game banged up, LD Brown struggled towards the end of the game, and the list goes on and on. Injuries are a part of the game, so Oklahoma State needs to do everything they can to get healthy in the next two weeks so they can be ready for Bedlam.
The Ugly
- The offensive line | Between preseason transfers and consistent injuries, Oklahoma State’s offensive line has been the weak link by far from day 1. It’s going to be tough for them to get better immediately, but they have to find out a way to improve. It doesn’t really matter what skill players are available or which quarterback is on the field if the line cannot keep the opposing defense at bay.
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