Cowboys Surge in Fourth Quarter, Hold Off Tulsa Late
Oklahoma State's football team and Tulsa are scoreless after one quarter at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater.
Oklahoma State's football team scored 21 of their 28 points in the fourth quarter to beat Tulsa 28-23 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater on Saturday.
The Cowboys' offense struggled through three quarters, with seven punts and an interception, then came alive with a pair of touchdowns sandwiched around a big special teams play to take control of the game.
It appeared OSU had scored first when Jason Taylor intercepted a pass by Davis Brin and returned it 39 yards for an apparent touchdown.
The play was called back for a penalty on OSU's Tanner McCalister for defensive holding.
Spencer Sanders returned as the Cowboys' starting quarterback after missing last weekend due to COVID-19 protocols.
He was 15-for-26 passing for 173 yards, 2 touchdowns and an interception.
He also had 10 carries for 62 yards rushing.
The Cowboys were forced to punt on their first four possessions, then finally put a scoring drive together in the second quarter, going 80 yards in eight plays.
Sanders passed to Jaden Bray, who broke a tackle at the 10-yard line and went 26 yards for the touchdown to give OSU a 7-0 lead with 4:05 to play in the first half.
The Cowboys forced a Tulsa punt after three downs, and got the ball back with a chance to add to the lead late in the first half.
Sanders was intercepted by TU linebacker Justin Wright, who ran it back 55 yards for a touchdown to tie the game 7-7 with 1:44 to play in the second quarter.
Both teams were forced to punt on their first two possessions of the third quarter, then Tulsa took the lead with a 7-play, 80-yard scoring drive.
Davis Brin passed to Sam Crawford for a gain of 40 yards, setting up a three-yard touchdown run by Deneric Prince to give the Golden Hurricane a 14-7 lead with 5:37 to play in the third quarter.
OSU tied it up early in the fourth quarter, as Sanders passed to Bryson Green for a 16-yard touchdown.
It was originally ruled incomplete, with officials saying Green didn't catch the ball with a foot down in the end zone, but the play was overturned on replay review.
It capped a 13-play, 76-yard drive and tied the game at 14-14 with 14:52 to play in the fourth quarter.
Tulsa responded with a drive to take the lead, as Brin completed passes for 37 yards to JuanCarlos Santana and 28 yards to Josh Johnson.
Brin was 19-for-27 passing for 224 yards.
TU had to settle for a 20-yard field goal by Zack Long to take a 17-14 lead with 10:56 to play.
OSU answered on the ensuing kickoff, as L.D. Brown returned it 98 yards for the touchdown to give the Cowboys the lead 21-17 with 10:41 to play.
Tulsa punted after four plays, and then OSU added to their lead with a 7-play, 72-yard drive.
Sanders gained 37 yards to the Tulsa 8, but fumbled and Tulsa recovered at the one-yard line.
The play was overturned on replay review after it was determined the TU player touched the ball while out of bounds.
The Cowboys then scored on an 11-yard touchdown run by Jaylen Warren to make it 28-17 OSU with 4:59 to play.
Tulsa answered in just 1:53, going 75 yards in 7 plays, with Anthony Watkins scoring on a 4-yard touchdown run.
TU went for two points but threw incomplete and OSU led 28-23 with 3:06 to play.
The Cowboys then ran out the clock to clinch the win.
Tulsa outgained OSU 347 yards to 313.
OSU has won nine straight meetings with Tulsa, and 23 in a row over the Golden Hurricane in Stillwater.
The Cowboys improved to 2-0 and will finish non-conference play at Boise State next Saturday at 8:00 pm central time.