Monday, September 20, 2021
OSU VS BOISE STATE 21 20 Sanders stumbles amid sparse receiving corps Dean Ruhl Sports Editor
Building blocks
OSU Athletics
Cowboys take rollercoaster offense, strong defense into Big 12 play begin the year. The Cowboys were in a similar situation in the 2020 campaign, but that time it was on the offensive line, which hasn’t been the healthiest group either. The Cowboys have to meet Chris Becker the circumstances head on and Assistant Sports Editor continue to march forward. “I looked at the scoreboard Oklahoma State escaped its (at halftime) and we were ahead by nonconference schedule with an one, but it just didn’t feel that way. undefeated record, but it was not These guys do a good job. We have pretty. a culture in place that allows guys OSU, especially offensively, to ignore the conditions and keep has been struck with injuries playing, and that’s what they did,” throughout the first three games, Gundy said. and it didn’t get better on the The Cowboys offensive Cowboys trip to Boise State. The line had struggled in the first Cowboys entered the game without two games for the Cowboys, but their leading receiver Jaden Bray, against the Broncos the line added starting right guard Hunter Woodstarter Z-receiver Tay Martin, ard back into the fold. The CowBraydon Johnson and Langston Anderson, all of which were listed boys run blocking improved, but pass blocking, although in limited on the two-deep depth chart to
numbers, struggled to protect Spencer Sanders. “I think they were better (on Saturday). I could see pretty good from the angle I had tonight, and I thought we were much better with our schemes,” Gundy said. The Cowboys will now turn their attention to No. 25 Kansas State, and will look to continue building on their run game against a Wildcat defense allowing less than 60 rushing yards per game. “We kind of dialed in a little bit on some of the schemes,” offensive coordinator Kasey Dunn said. “This was the first time we had some consistency up front on the offensive line. Consistency at quarterback. (The line) did a great job. Our offensive line did a great job of moving their front and creating seams.”
It was the hit heard ‘round Treasure Valley. Late in the third quarter, Oklahoma State quarterback Spencer Sanders quickly tossed a pass to running back Dominic Richardson, who lateraled the ball to receiver Brennan Presley running in the opposite direction. Presley wrapped around the blocking offensive linemen, turned up field, and ran into a brick wall named JL Skinner. Skinner, a Boise State safety, throttled the much smaller Presley, colliding the crown of his helmet into Presley’s, a questionable no-call from the officiating crew on what looked like obvious targeting. Presley’s feet swung out from under him, and Skinner, arms wrapped around Presley, bodied him into the blue turf at Albertson’s Stadium. It looked more akin to something seen on a WWE program than a college football game. Presley, midair, cleats several feet off the turf, is reminiscent of the OSU passing game Saturday. They never quite were able to get their footing right to do something. Sanders threw for a career-low six receptions in the Cowboys 21-20 victory over the Broncos in Boise. See Sanders on 2
Finding a way without Tre sports.ed@ocolly.com
OSU Athletics
Defense stymies Broncos offense in second half without their star player, allowing 234 yards in the first half. The second half was completely different. Coach Mike Gundy congratulated his defense for their performance in the second half. “I thought our coaches made Chris Becker really good adjustments at halftime, Assistant Sports Editor particularly defensively,” Gundy said. “For them to pitch a shutout in the second half in Boise, and shut down some The first 25 minutes were ugly. of the things that were hurting us in the The Boise State Broncos galloped first half... is how we won the game. to a 20-7 lead over Oklahoma State In the first half we never really slowed halfway through the second quarter. them down much. We made some really Then it all clicked. good adjustments at halftime, and it The Cowboys defense went on to worked.” hold the Broncos to 81 total yards and Defensive coordinator Jim zero points for the remainder of the Knowles applauded the resiliency of his game. defense. This allowed the Cowboys offense “I thought it was a great perforto take a 21-20 lead at halftime. The mance by our guys,” Knowles said. score would remain the same for the “They never backed down. We got a entire second half, resulting in another good group of guys with great leaderclose Cowboy victory. ship. Once we had things under control The OSU defense was without from a defensive standpoint, we had the safety Tre Sterling tonight, who did not game under control.” travel with the team to Boise due to an The OSU defense will have to injury. It took the defense time to adjust continue to play without Sterling, who
Rodriguez said. “We just go out there and try to get three-and-outs to get the offense the ball back.” OSU’s front six did not let Boise State quarterback Hank Bachmeier leave without a scratch. The Cowboys sacked Bachmeier four times, and knocked him down fifteen times. Sterling’s replacement, Jason Taylor, blocked a Boise State field goal with two minutes left in the game which could have put them in the lead. “We came out and made plays,” Gundy said. “I don’t want to take OSU Athletics anything away from what these guys accomplished, by coming up here and was announced to be out for the year. “Tre is done for the year,” Gundy finding a way to win the game.” The Cowboys will miss Sterling, said. “It’s unfortunate.” however Gundy is calling for the next Linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez, the leading tackler in the NCAA head- man up. “Jason (Taylor) has been in there,” ing into the game with 28, totaled eight more against Boise State, and a forced Gundy said. “He played some last year fumble. Kolby Harvell-Peel captured a and he’s been getting reps. I hate that key interception with less than five min- for Tre and I hate he’s done for the year, but that is a position we got some guys.” utes remaining in the fourth quarter. Rodriguez credited the entire defense for getting key stops when the offense needed the ball back. “We got a lot of playmakers,” sports.ed@ocolly.com