snuffy
10-30-2008, 10:02 AM
Cyclones come calling on ninth-ranked Cowboys
By Sports Network
The Sports Network
http://www.kansascity.com/467/story/864637.html
The ninth-ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys will try to put their first loss behind them and get back on track this weekend, as they entertain the Iowa State Cyclones in Big 12 play at Boone Pickens Stadium. In a battle of undefeated teams and in a game with national title implications, it was OSU that was on the short end of a 28-24 decision to top- ranked Texas last weekend.
"It was a heck of a college football game," said head coach Mike Gundy following the loss. "It was a great setting, great atmosphere. I was very proud of our team today. The guys played with a lot of heart. The guys made good decisions. We played very well as a team."
The heart-breaking loss snapped the team's eight-game winning streak, which dated back to last season, and made it that much tougher for OSU to compete for the South Division title. Still, with a victory this weekend, the Cowboys would reach the eight-win plateau for the first time since 2003. It would mark just the fourth time in the last 20 years that OSU has won eight games in a season.
Getting back on track shouldn't be too hard for the Cowboys, as they are taking on an ISU club that has dropped six straight games since opening the season 2-0. The Cyclones were last in play over the weekend, when they dropped a 49-35 decision to Texas A&M. With the setback, ISU remained winless in league play at 0-4.
As for the all-time series, OSU owns a 23-17-3 edge over ISU, but the Cyclones have come out on top in three of the last four encounters.
Offensively, ISU has lacked consistency this season and is producing 26.6 ppg and 350.9 total ypg, both modest numbers. Last weekend however, the Cyclones erupted for 574 total yards, although they were still on the wrong end of a 49-35 final versus Texas A&M. Quarterback Austen Arnaud had a big performance in the setback, as he threw for 371 yards and score, in addition to rushing for 67 yards and another touchdown. A dual-threat, Arnaud has completed 60.3 percent of his pass attempts with nine touchdowns this season and he has also rushed for 224 yards and a team-high five scores. R.J. Sumrall has been his favorite outlet and he leads the team with 42 receptions for 589 yards and five touchdowns. Last weekend, Sumrall had a big performance, snaring nine passes for 143 yards. Alexan Robinson toted 16 times for 85 yards and a touchdown in the loss last weekend, and he still paces ISU with 419 rushing yards for the season.
The Cyclones haven't had much success trying to slow down the opposition this season and they are currently giving up 31.6 ppg and 422.8 total ypg. The unit has been torched on the ground (170.2 ypg) and through the air (252.5 ypg), although it has compensated for some of those yards by forcing 21 turnovers. Last weekend, ISU generated one turnover and that wasn't nearly enough to make up for the 509 total yards it surrendered to Texas A&M. The defense gave up 381 of those yards through the air and allowed Texas A&M to convert on an efficient 31-of-39 tosses. James Smith had 11 stops in defeat, while Jesse Smith posted 10 tackles. The duo are the top two tacklers on the squad and they have combined for 119 stops on the year.
The Cowboys have moved the ball at will this season and they are beating up opponents for 274.9 rushing ypg and 215.9 passing ypg. The team is averaging a healthy 43.6 ppg and that has something to do with its ability to avoid mistakes, committing just 11 turnovers. Facing its toughest opponent of the season, OSU was productive in gaining 416 total yards, but it wasn't enough in a 28-24 loss to Texas. Kendall Hunter guided the team in defeat with 161 yards and a touchdown on just 18 carries. It was another terrific performance from Hunter, who has rushed for an impressive 1,116 yards and 10 touchdowns on the season. Quarterback Zac Robinson didn't have his best game, but he did do a solid job in throwing for 199 yards and a touchdown on 17-of-26 tosses in the loss to Texas. "We came up a little bit short," said the competitive Robinson. "We were right there. They were the No. 1 team, and we knew we were right there with them. If we played them again, it might have been a different outcome."
Robinson has played a huge part in this unit's success and for the season he has completed an efficient 69.4 percent of his throws for 1,687 yards, with 15 touchdowns and just four picks. He is also a threat to tuck the ball and take off, rushing for 275 yards and five more touchdowns. Dez Bryant has clearly been his main target and ranks among the top wideouts in the nation with 51 catches for 883 yards and 11 touchdowns. He had six receptions for 74 yards last weekend.
OSU's defense has provided a nice complement to its offense and is limiting opponents to 21.5 ppg and 356.9 total ypg. The unit has done better against the run (116.2 ypg) than the pass (240.6 ypg) and has forced 17 turnovers. In last weekend's bout, the Cowboys had some trouble slowing down Texas, allowing it to rack up 504 total yards. The defense gave up 391 of those yards through the air on 38-of-45 tosses, but did force a pair turnovers that helped limit Texas to 28 points, including only seven after the break. Quinton Moore guided the defense with 11 stops and Andre Sexton finished with nine. On the year, Sexton leads the Cowboys with 66 tackles and he has also forced a pair of fumbles.
By Sports Network
The Sports Network
http://www.kansascity.com/467/story/864637.html
The ninth-ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys will try to put their first loss behind them and get back on track this weekend, as they entertain the Iowa State Cyclones in Big 12 play at Boone Pickens Stadium. In a battle of undefeated teams and in a game with national title implications, it was OSU that was on the short end of a 28-24 decision to top- ranked Texas last weekend.
"It was a heck of a college football game," said head coach Mike Gundy following the loss. "It was a great setting, great atmosphere. I was very proud of our team today. The guys played with a lot of heart. The guys made good decisions. We played very well as a team."
The heart-breaking loss snapped the team's eight-game winning streak, which dated back to last season, and made it that much tougher for OSU to compete for the South Division title. Still, with a victory this weekend, the Cowboys would reach the eight-win plateau for the first time since 2003. It would mark just the fourth time in the last 20 years that OSU has won eight games in a season.
Getting back on track shouldn't be too hard for the Cowboys, as they are taking on an ISU club that has dropped six straight games since opening the season 2-0. The Cyclones were last in play over the weekend, when they dropped a 49-35 decision to Texas A&M. With the setback, ISU remained winless in league play at 0-4.
As for the all-time series, OSU owns a 23-17-3 edge over ISU, but the Cyclones have come out on top in three of the last four encounters.
Offensively, ISU has lacked consistency this season and is producing 26.6 ppg and 350.9 total ypg, both modest numbers. Last weekend however, the Cyclones erupted for 574 total yards, although they were still on the wrong end of a 49-35 final versus Texas A&M. Quarterback Austen Arnaud had a big performance in the setback, as he threw for 371 yards and score, in addition to rushing for 67 yards and another touchdown. A dual-threat, Arnaud has completed 60.3 percent of his pass attempts with nine touchdowns this season and he has also rushed for 224 yards and a team-high five scores. R.J. Sumrall has been his favorite outlet and he leads the team with 42 receptions for 589 yards and five touchdowns. Last weekend, Sumrall had a big performance, snaring nine passes for 143 yards. Alexan Robinson toted 16 times for 85 yards and a touchdown in the loss last weekend, and he still paces ISU with 419 rushing yards for the season.
The Cyclones haven't had much success trying to slow down the opposition this season and they are currently giving up 31.6 ppg and 422.8 total ypg. The unit has been torched on the ground (170.2 ypg) and through the air (252.5 ypg), although it has compensated for some of those yards by forcing 21 turnovers. Last weekend, ISU generated one turnover and that wasn't nearly enough to make up for the 509 total yards it surrendered to Texas A&M. The defense gave up 381 of those yards through the air and allowed Texas A&M to convert on an efficient 31-of-39 tosses. James Smith had 11 stops in defeat, while Jesse Smith posted 10 tackles. The duo are the top two tacklers on the squad and they have combined for 119 stops on the year.
The Cowboys have moved the ball at will this season and they are beating up opponents for 274.9 rushing ypg and 215.9 passing ypg. The team is averaging a healthy 43.6 ppg and that has something to do with its ability to avoid mistakes, committing just 11 turnovers. Facing its toughest opponent of the season, OSU was productive in gaining 416 total yards, but it wasn't enough in a 28-24 loss to Texas. Kendall Hunter guided the team in defeat with 161 yards and a touchdown on just 18 carries. It was another terrific performance from Hunter, who has rushed for an impressive 1,116 yards and 10 touchdowns on the season. Quarterback Zac Robinson didn't have his best game, but he did do a solid job in throwing for 199 yards and a touchdown on 17-of-26 tosses in the loss to Texas. "We came up a little bit short," said the competitive Robinson. "We were right there. They were the No. 1 team, and we knew we were right there with them. If we played them again, it might have been a different outcome."
Robinson has played a huge part in this unit's success and for the season he has completed an efficient 69.4 percent of his throws for 1,687 yards, with 15 touchdowns and just four picks. He is also a threat to tuck the ball and take off, rushing for 275 yards and five more touchdowns. Dez Bryant has clearly been his main target and ranks among the top wideouts in the nation with 51 catches for 883 yards and 11 touchdowns. He had six receptions for 74 yards last weekend.
OSU's defense has provided a nice complement to its offense and is limiting opponents to 21.5 ppg and 356.9 total ypg. The unit has done better against the run (116.2 ypg) than the pass (240.6 ypg) and has forced 17 turnovers. In last weekend's bout, the Cowboys had some trouble slowing down Texas, allowing it to rack up 504 total yards. The defense gave up 391 of those yards through the air on 38-of-45 tosses, but did force a pair turnovers that helped limit Texas to 28 points, including only seven after the break. Quinton Moore guided the defense with 11 stops and Andre Sexton finished with nine. On the year, Sexton leads the Cowboys with 66 tackles and he has also forced a pair of fumbles.