Claremore Daily Progress

Sports

October 30, 2012

OSU faces big test: Cowboys prep for Kansas State offense

JASON ELMQUIST CNHI News Services

STILLWATER — We’ve seen the scenario before between Oklahoma State and Kansas State. One team on the cusp of a BCS Championship berth and the other coming in as a top 25 opponent attempting to pull the upset.



Except this time, the roles will be reversed. Saturday it will be Oklahoma State, ranked 24th in the recent BCS rankings, going on the road against Kansas State, who is ranked second in the BCS.



“I don’t think it’s a mystery to anyone that the team we are playing is very good and very deserving of their national ranking,” OSU coach Mike Gundy said. “... They’re sound and have only given up 17 points per game. They’re the third team in a row that we’ve played that’s given up 17 points per game. ...



“This will be a good challenge to face a team averaging 45 points a game. We’ll find out if we’ve gotten anywhere near where we need to be.”



While a lot of the focus around Kansas State is their BCS championship chances, Oklahoma State still has BCS aspirations still alive as well. The Cowboys, like K-State, control their own destiny for the rest of the season. The winner of this game will be in the driver seat to become Big 12 champions – and receive the automatic berth to the BCS Fiesta Bowl.



“We take it pretty much one game at a time. The biggest game is always the next game, so we’re preparing for Kansas State as the biggest game so far this year,” OSU cornerback Justin Gilbert said.



Obviously the biggest difference for OSU heading into this year’s matchup with the Wildcats is at the quarterback position. Instead of a first-round draft pick like Brandon Weeden, taking snaps for the Cowboys will be true freshman Wes Lunt in his second game back from a knee injury.



While OSU is young at some key places, the Cowboys still have plenty of veterans who have experience of vying for a conference crown late into the season.



“We’re fortunate that last year we were in the same situation and we’ve just got to show the young guys how much you have to prepare each week,” senior offensive lineman Lane Taylor said.



Oklahoma State may have the experience, the talent is clearly in Kansas State’s favor. The unbeaten Wildcats showcase an offense that is highlighted by Collin Klein, who rushed for 144 yards and three touchdowns in last year’s game that came down to the wire. He also threw for 231 yards and a touchdown.



Klein comes into the contest with the Cowboys averaging 79.2 yards rushing – fourth in the Big 12 among all rushers – with 16 touchdowns. He also is the league’s most efficient passer with at 175.5 passing efficiency, throwing for 1,630 yards and 12 touchdowns to just two interceptions.



“The big thing about him is, I don't know if you can really stop him – you just try to contain him as best as you can,” OSU defensive coordinator Bill Young said. “You try to minimize the offensive plays and yardage he gets.”



As far as rankings go for the Cowboys, who finally got back into the top 25 thanks to Saturday’s rout of Texas Christian University, they aren’t worrying about what the BCS or any other ranking may have them pegged at.



“I really didn’t know about any of this. I didn’t know if we were ranked at all or not because I don’t really pay attention to the rankings,” Gilbert said. “I feel like some people may be overlooking us because we’re a young team and our offense and defense lost some key players from last year. I think we’re going to be overlooked a little bit all year but we’re still going to win some games.”

Text Only
Sports
  • Gasso trusts that Ricketts will find her timing again

    Oklahoma pitcher Keilani Ricketts was not at her best on Sunday. The defending USA Softball Player of the Year didn’t give up a run in her two and two-thirds innings of work, but she was far from the dominant pitcher who tossed a no-hitter last week.

    May 20, 2013

  • Sooners claim regular season finale with win over K-State

    Oklahoma managed to end the regular season on a positive note Sunday. Kolbey Carpenter went 2 for 4 and drove in three runs to help power the Sooners to a 7-3 victory over Kansas State at Tointon Stadium.

    May 20, 2013

  • Chamberlain's curtain call only the beginning

    The chant reaching near-deafening levels, Lauren Chamberlain finally realized what she was supposed to do.

    Moments after blasting a three-run home run that broke open what had been a close regional final, the sophomore tepidly stepped up out of the dugout and waved to the home crowd, enjoying the first curtain call of her career.

    May 20, 2013

  • OU's dominant victory a shining example of how tough Sooners are in softball

    On the first day Oklahoma softball coach Patty Gasso thought it was better to go with Michelle Gascoigne over Keilani Ricketts against Arkansas’ bats, the Sooners beat the Razorbacks by five runs.

    A day later Gasso had the same thought. OU prevailed by 13 runs.

    May 20, 2013

  • Cowboys fall short in Big 12 regular season finale

    Oklahoma State University played catch up the entire game of Saturday’s series finale with West Virginia at Allie P. Reynolds, and never could quite get over the hump.
    The Cowboys would respond after each Mountaineer score but it wouldn’t be enough as they lost the finale 5-4 on Senior Day.

    May 20, 2013

  • Referees stop Lake Eufaula Classic with South on top

     It was an outcome unlike any in the 29 years of the Lake Eufaula Classic, and a bruise different than any player has ever departed with.

    Officials, following the second serious skirmish of the game, walked off the field and the game was called, the South leading the North 12-10 at Paul Bell Stadium.

    May 20, 2013

  • Grand Junction Bound: Connors State advances to JUCO World Series

    All season long, Connors State coach Perry Keith has said his team was winning a lot of ball games ugly.

    On Saturday, the game between the Cowboys and No. 1 Delgado (La.) was anything but as Connors beat the Dolphins 3-1 to capture the South Central district championship and a berth in next week’s NJCAA College World Series.

    May 20, 2013

  • Young Americans waste no time qualifying for Indy 500

    Bump Day at Indianapolis followed the script.
    No surprises, no drama and no drivers getting bumped.
    On a day devoid of tension and rumors, all nine drivers who made attempts on the second and final day of Indianapolis 500 qualifications made it into the 33-car field, led by two young Americans - Josef Newgarden and Graham Rahal - who easily had the two fastest cars on the track.

    May 20, 2013

  • NCAA WOMEN'S BB: Texas Tech hires OSU assistant Candi Whitaker

    Texas Tech has hired Oklahoma State assistant Candi Whitaker to coach its women's basketball team.
    The school announced Monday that the former Lady Raiders player would return to her alma mater as coach. The move comes about a week after Kristy Curry left for Alabama.

    May 20, 2013

  • Pacers, Heat start bracing to square off again

    A year ago when Miami and Indiana faced off in the postseason, there were blood-drawing hits, flagrant fouls, technical fouls, choke signs being directed toward LeBron James and more than a few sharp-tongued comments.
    Here they possibly go again, at least on the comment front.
    The Eastern Conference finals between the Heat and Pacers won't begin until Wednesday night, but there's already signs that the animosity present throughout last season's Miami-Indiana second-round series will likely return this time around.

    May 20, 2013