Oklahoma State Halts Baylor’s Big-12 Dream
STILLWATER, Okla. (www.okstate.com) – Justin Blackmon had 173 yards receiving and a touchdown and also scored on a 69-yard run in his return from a suspension, leading No. 19 Oklahoma State past No. 22 Baylor 55-28 Saturday with first place in the Big 12 South on the line.
Brandon Weeden threw for a school-record 435 yards and three scores and Kendall Hunter rammed in a pair of 1-yard touchdown runs for Oklahoma State (8-1, 4-1 Big 12), which opened a 34-0 lead as it moved past the Bears (7-3, 4-2) in the conference standings.
The Bears and Cowboys were picked to finish at bottom of the division at the start of the season. It was clear pretty early which of the surprise teams was better on Saturday, as Cowboy players turned in a handful of career bests and school records.
Blackmon came back from a one-game suspension stemming from his arrest on a charge and surpassed 100 yards receiving for the eighth straight time, tying the school record set by Hart Lee Dykes in 1988.
He also added to the nation’s best receiving average, which had been 158.9 yards per game, and tied his career best with 13 receptions. Bo Bowling set a new career high for the second straight week with 101 yards receiving, and Colton Chelf and Josh Cooper added touchdown catches.
Weeden was 34 for 42 to break the school record for completions in a game. He threw an 8-yard pass to Chelf to start the Cowboys’ final drive and break Zac Robinson’s record of 430 yards against Texas in 2007.
Oklahoma State piled up 725 yards to break the school record for total offense for the second time this season and took a half-game lead over No. 11 Oklahoma (7-1, 3-1), which played later Saturday at Texas A&M.
Until midway through the third quarter, only one of the Big 12’s top two offenses could get anything done.
The Cowboys pulled out to a 24-0 halftime lead by scoring on four of their six first-half possessions – and they had chances to score on the other two.
Weeden’s would-be touchdown pass down the right sideline dropped in over Blackmon’s shoulder and went through his arms before falling in complete, and kicker Dan Bailey was wide right from 31 yards out to end the half. It was his first miss in 11 field goal tries this season.
The Cowboys still had plenty of cushion, though.
Blackmon caught a 5-yard TD pass on a fade from Weeden in the back, right corner of the end zone to go with Hunter’s two first-half TDs.
Johnny Thomas then prevented the Bears from getting on the scoreboard by cutting in front of a seemingly open Krys Buerck in the end zone to intercept Griffin’s pass for Baylor’s third turnover of the half. Brodrick Brown also stripped Josh Gordon and Shaun Lewis knocked the ball free from Finley.
Blackmon tacked on another score on the first play of the second half, taking a pitch from Weeden and racing 69 yards down the left sideline for his first career rushing touchdown. He was leading the nation in TD catches this season before adding his 15th against the Bears.
Bailey’s 23-yard field goal made it 34-0 before Baylor finally was able to respond.
Robert Griffin had 267 yards on 30 for 48 passing but Baylor’s dual-threat quarterback was largely contained by the Cowboys. Terrance Ganaway and Jay Finley each had two rushing TDs for the Bears, who were seeking their first four-game conference winning streak since 1986-87.
vs. Baylor
Nov. 6, 2010
Postgame Quotes
Oklahoma State Players and Coordinators
Offensive Coordinator Dana Holgorsen
On the offensive performance
“We are always searching for it to be a little bit better than it was. I thought we left 14 points out there in the first half and it seemed to me like it would have been easy to put up 14 more. Once we hit a couple of big plays in the third quarter we turned the ball over and then we had a three-and-out. So then they got some momentum and we weren’t too happy with that. There is always stuff that you can do better.”
On Justin Blackmon being back
“It is just the security of your last read more than anything. Brandon knowing that he is there. For me, calling plays is easier because if their safeties are playing hard then we can get it down field. He is a great player. He finishes things, he attacks the ball on third down.”
On Brandon Weeden setting the record
“We wanted him to pass (Coach) Gundy, that is for sure. He played well. He gets better each week. He was comfortable in the pocket, he was extremely accurate two weeks in a row, and he took care of the football. He played really well. We knew he needed about four yards there so we gave it to him.”
Defensive Coordinator Bill Young
On the defensive ends performance against Griffin
“I think they did a pretty good job, but we didn’t get enough pressure and I don’t think we knocked him down enough times. But at the same time he didn’t run out of the pocket that often.”
On keeping big plays down
“We had some coverage that we thought would match up with what they did and we tried to get some zone blitzes that we haven’t called. We tried to mix it up a bit and used plays that would put us in the best position.”
On the game as a whole
“Well that was a great win, but we are still the ones in control of our own destiny. That is all you could ask for at this time of the year. We have a big game at Texas and then we have to go to Kansas and play a big game here against Oklahoma. We have a long road ahead of us.”
Safety Markelle Martin
On the defensive performance
“I think that each week we have a set goal to go out there and prove to our self that we can be better than we were the week before. It is something that we like to accomplish.”
On playing Texas in Austin
“We understand it will be a different environment. We have to play our best game in a hostile environment. We know that they are capable of putting up points so we just have to take it as another challenge.”
On being the frontrunners of the Big 12 South
“I think we will just let that take care of itself and continue to work.”
Linebacker Orie Lemon
On playing against another fast quarterback…
“It gives us a little more motivation. We missed a few tackles when we played against Martinez and Nebraska so we knew that Robert Griffin was a good quarterback and he could do the same things as Martinez. We just tackled and played defense.”
On Brandon Weeden
“He has been great for us as a leader. He even works with the defense and if he sees something wrong he tells us, he says ‘Orie do this, Orie try this’ and helps me get better as a middle linebacker. He has been a great leader on the team and a great quarterback.”
Quarterback Brandon Weeden
On breaking the record
“We knew about it. It is an honor to be mentioned with those guys and have the record. It is a testament though to those guys that went out there and made plays today. We came out with a huge win.”
On the team’s performance
“I think special teams played great today. Our defense played excellent. They scored late and we had some younger guys in there. And we did some good things on offense. So yeah, on a whole, I would say this is the most solid game we have played.”
On Justin Blackmon
“He is such a good guy. He knew he made a mistake, but he was ready to come back and play this week. He can really stretch the field vertically. He is dangerous and I was glad to have him back.”
Updated 11-07-2010
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