Verb
09-06-2008, 11:42 PM
Hunter, Bryant have big game as Cowboys beat Houston 56-37
STEPHEN HOLMAN/TULSA WORLD
Oklahoma State's Dez Bryant races to a 71-yard punt return touchdown in the fourth quarter of Saturday's win.
By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
9/6/2008 10:17 PM
Last Modified: 9/6/2008 11:03 PM
STILLWATER – It was a momentous Saturday night for a pair of Oklahoma State sophomores. For the first time in school history, the Cowboys had a 200-yard receiver (Dez Bryant) and a 200-yard rusher (Kendall Hunter).
Playing before a crowd of 45,001 at newly expanded Boone Pickens Stadium (now a 60,000-seat venue), OSU had 699 total yards in a 56-37 victory over the University of Houston.
Hunter rushed for a career-best total of 210 yards and two touchdowns.
Bryant's performance was sensational – 236 receiving yards and three TD receptions, along with a 71-yard punt-return touchdown in the fourth quarter.
With nine receptions, Bryant was the only OSU wide receiver who caught a pass.
Two years ago, Adarius Bowman had a school-record total of 300 receiving yards against Kansas. Bryant's 236-yard total ranks No. 2 on that list.
Cowboy coach Mike Gundy's assessment of Bryant's play: "Obviously, he's got some skills. I hope it keeps getting better. He could run up some pretty big numbers."
The Cowboy offensive breakdown – 379 rushing yards, 320 passing yards. Quarterback Zac Robinson netted 320 passing yards on only 14 completions.
OSU's 699-yard explosion was the second-greatest yardage total in school history. In 1988, the Cowboys had 717 yards against Kansas.
The Cowboys improved to 2-0 in advance of next week's home meeting with Division I-AA Missouri State.
OSU was on its home turf for the first time since the stadium's seating capacity was increased from 44,700 to 60,000. The great majority of the 15,000 new west-end seats were filled, and the crowd was OSU's largest since the 2005 Texas game.
"To see all that orange in the west end zone – wow," Gundy said. "I'm really proud of what Oklahoma State has done. Just tremendous."
While likely dazzled by OSU's offensive display (which included a 10-of-13 success rate on third-down conversions), Cowboy fans may have departed with a concern for the status of the Cowboy defense.
The defense looked mostly solid in the season-opening triumph over Washington State, but on Saturday OSU fell far shy of impressive. Houston quarterback Case Keenum passed for 387 yards and four touchdowns, and the Cougars finished with 483 total yards.
Cowboy backup safety Lucien Antoine sustained a first-half knee injury. Following the game, Gundy announced that Antoine had sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament and will be sidelined for the rest of the season.
While Oklahoma State's offense functioned at a high level during the second half, the Cowboys committed three first-half turnovers. The Cougars capitalized with points following each of those turnovers. Robinson was intercepted twice, and OSU lost a fumble when Robinison and Hunter mishandled a handoff exchange.
The Cowboys struck first, driving 80 yards on only three plays. Hunter broke a 58-yard touchdown run – the longest run of the sophomore running back's career. Less than two minutes into the game, OSU had a 7-0 cushion.
OSU threatened to take a two-touchdown lead, driving from its own 7-yard line to the Cougar 26, but the possession ended when a Robinson pass was intercepted by Houston's Brandon Brinkley in the end zone.
Houston capitalized with an 80-yard, 10-play drive, tying the score on a 2-yard run by Bryce Beall.
Ben Bell's 27-yard field goal gave Houston a 10-7 advantage. OSU trailed for the first time this season. Houston made it a 16-7 difference when Keenum threw a 6-yard TD pass to Mark Hafner.
The Cowboys responded with an eight-play, 80-yard drive, capped by Bryant's 39-yard touchdown reception.
By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
STEPHEN HOLMAN/TULSA WORLD
Oklahoma State's Dez Bryant races to a 71-yard punt return touchdown in the fourth quarter of Saturday's win.
By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
9/6/2008 10:17 PM
Last Modified: 9/6/2008 11:03 PM
STILLWATER – It was a momentous Saturday night for a pair of Oklahoma State sophomores. For the first time in school history, the Cowboys had a 200-yard receiver (Dez Bryant) and a 200-yard rusher (Kendall Hunter).
Playing before a crowd of 45,001 at newly expanded Boone Pickens Stadium (now a 60,000-seat venue), OSU had 699 total yards in a 56-37 victory over the University of Houston.
Hunter rushed for a career-best total of 210 yards and two touchdowns.
Bryant's performance was sensational – 236 receiving yards and three TD receptions, along with a 71-yard punt-return touchdown in the fourth quarter.
With nine receptions, Bryant was the only OSU wide receiver who caught a pass.
Two years ago, Adarius Bowman had a school-record total of 300 receiving yards against Kansas. Bryant's 236-yard total ranks No. 2 on that list.
Cowboy coach Mike Gundy's assessment of Bryant's play: "Obviously, he's got some skills. I hope it keeps getting better. He could run up some pretty big numbers."
The Cowboy offensive breakdown – 379 rushing yards, 320 passing yards. Quarterback Zac Robinson netted 320 passing yards on only 14 completions.
OSU's 699-yard explosion was the second-greatest yardage total in school history. In 1988, the Cowboys had 717 yards against Kansas.
The Cowboys improved to 2-0 in advance of next week's home meeting with Division I-AA Missouri State.
OSU was on its home turf for the first time since the stadium's seating capacity was increased from 44,700 to 60,000. The great majority of the 15,000 new west-end seats were filled, and the crowd was OSU's largest since the 2005 Texas game.
"To see all that orange in the west end zone – wow," Gundy said. "I'm really proud of what Oklahoma State has done. Just tremendous."
While likely dazzled by OSU's offensive display (which included a 10-of-13 success rate on third-down conversions), Cowboy fans may have departed with a concern for the status of the Cowboy defense.
The defense looked mostly solid in the season-opening triumph over Washington State, but on Saturday OSU fell far shy of impressive. Houston quarterback Case Keenum passed for 387 yards and four touchdowns, and the Cougars finished with 483 total yards.
Cowboy backup safety Lucien Antoine sustained a first-half knee injury. Following the game, Gundy announced that Antoine had sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament and will be sidelined for the rest of the season.
While Oklahoma State's offense functioned at a high level during the second half, the Cowboys committed three first-half turnovers. The Cougars capitalized with points following each of those turnovers. Robinson was intercepted twice, and OSU lost a fumble when Robinison and Hunter mishandled a handoff exchange.
The Cowboys struck first, driving 80 yards on only three plays. Hunter broke a 58-yard touchdown run – the longest run of the sophomore running back's career. Less than two minutes into the game, OSU had a 7-0 cushion.
OSU threatened to take a two-touchdown lead, driving from its own 7-yard line to the Cougar 26, but the possession ended when a Robinson pass was intercepted by Houston's Brandon Brinkley in the end zone.
Houston capitalized with an 80-yard, 10-play drive, tying the score on a 2-yard run by Bryce Beall.
Ben Bell's 27-yard field goal gave Houston a 10-7 advantage. OSU trailed for the first time this season. Houston made it a 16-7 difference when Keenum threw a 6-yard TD pass to Mark Hafner.
The Cowboys responded with an eight-play, 80-yard drive, capped by Bryant's 39-yard touchdown reception.
By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer