Oklahoma State vs. Texas Tech football: Five takeaways from Cowboys' win over Red Raiders

STILLWATER — For two-and-a-half quarters, the Oklahoma State Cowboys’ six-shooters appeared to be aimed directly at their own feet.

Poor tackling. Unforced errors. Missed offensive opportunities.

But in the third quarter, with Texas Tech holding an eight-point lead, the seventh-ranked Cowboys found balance on both sides of the ball, scoring 18 unanswered points on the way to a 41-31 win on Saturday at Boone Pickens Stadium.

OSU quarterback Spencer Sanders and running back Dominic Richardson had second-half rushing touchdowns. Jaden Bray took in a two-point conversion. And kicker Tanner Brown was perfect on four field goal attempts.

After allowing Texas Tech to score on four consecutive possessions in the second and third quarters, the OSU defense didn’t allow a point over Tech’s final six drives, with an interception, two punts and three consecutive turnovers on downs to end the game.

Sanders threw for 297 yards and a TD, rushed for 56 and two scores, and became the No. 2 man on OSU’s all-time wins list as a starting quarterback. It was Sanders’ 29th win guiding the Pokes, moving him ahead of current Cowboy coach Mike Gundy and leaving him three victories behind leader Mason Rudolph.

Here are four more takeaways from the Cowboy victory:

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A punt and a pick

Texas Tech scored on its first possession in the third quarter to take a 31-23 lead, and the OSU offense stalled out near midfield on the following drive.

OSU’s Tom Hutton punted, which was fair caught at the 5-yard line. And that turned out to be the boost the Cowboy defense needed.

OSU forced an immediate three-and-out, setting up a 53-yard touchdown drive. Spencer Sanders powered his way into the end zone for a 2-yard touchdown run. Then Sanders popped a short pass to Jaden Bray, who was speeding across the formation and ran in for the two-point conversion to tie the game at 31.

On Texas Tech’s next possession, OSU linebacker Mason Cobb drifted back into coverage and intercepted a pass by Tech’s Behren Morton. Cobb returned the pick to the Tech 19, and the Pokes ended up with a 24-yard Tanner Brown field goal for a 34-31 lead.

It was the first Cowboy lead since early in the second quarter.

The first interception of Cobb's career couldn't have come at a better time. The junior, who was playing just his second Big 12 game as a starter, drifted back into coverage as he was supposed to, then reacted to what he saw from Morton to step in front of the throw.

"He was a floater," defensive coordinator Derek Mason said. "Just read the eyes of the quarterback. The quarterback saw (Cobb) step away initially, so he thought he had it. (Cobb) played right off the quarterback's eyes, went right where he was supposed to go. Sometimes when you're doing your job, the ball just hits you in the face."

Kendal Daniels ejected

In the moment, Kendal Daniels’ third-down sack of Morton at the 1-yard line looked like a huge defensive play. But a late flag came floating in, and Daniels was called for targeting because of a helmet-to-helmet hit.

Review upheld the call, and Daniels — a redshirt freshman safety who doesn’t start but plays frequently — was ejected. Because the penalty happened in the second half, the 6-foot-4, 205-pound Daniels will be suspended for the first half of next week’s road game at TCU.

Though OSU allowed the Red Raiders to get to midfield after the penalty, the defense held and forced a turnover on downs. It was the first fourth-down stop for OSU in the game. Tech had converted its previous four attempts on fourth down.

"It was targeting," Gundy said. "It's a tough game, but the way the rule is set up, that was targeting. You cannot lower your head, and they know it. But he's young.

"In the heat of the moment, all he knows is he had a dead shot at the quarterback in the end zone. The rule is put in place to protect and it's a good rule. Nobody likes the rule, because people think it's football. Football's football. Until that's your kid that's getting hit. It was the correct call. He needs to learn to keep his face up."

Gundy's only frustration with the targeting rule is the carry-over of the suspension to the first half of the next game.

"I don't make the rules," Gundy said. "It's fair for everybody, but that carry-over, I have never liked that. But we know going in where it's at. It's an easy solution. Keep your head up, keep your eyes up. Can't lower your head."

Onside kick catch interference

Texas Tech scored on its first possession of the game, then tried to steal some momentum with a sneak onside kick.

A Tech player caught the ball in the air, but OSU’s Demarco Jones had waved for a fair catch — a highly intelligent play that prevented a big swing.

The Tech player was flagged for kick catch interference. OSU responded by scoring a touchdown two plays later to tie the game.

"As soon as you kick it, if you show fair catch, they can't catch it," Gundy said. "Pretty smart, huh?

"We've practiced it and talked about it. We were fortunate enough we had a guy that plays a ton of special teams for a long time. He's mature and he made a good play."

Injury woes impact defense

OSU came into the game in good health, getting the return of receiver Jaden Bray.

But injury issues cropped up early for the Cowboys, particularly on defense.

Starting cornerback Korie Black suffered what was reported on the OSU radio broadcast as a hamstring injury and did not play after Texas Tech’s first offensive possession. His backup, Demarco Jones also suffered an injury, leaving third-string redshirt freshman Cam Smith in the lineup.

True freshman D.J. McKinney also saw time at cornerback.

Linebacker Xavier Benson was in and out of the lineup in the first half with a lower leg injury, though he played much of the second half.

On offense, center Preston Wilson suffered a second-quarter injury and did not return, being replaced by Joe Michalski. While the Cowboys did not have any major snap issues, the shotgun snaps were not as crisp with Michalski.

Leading receiver Braydon Johnson left the game in the first quarter. It was reported by the OSU radio network that Johnson appeared to be in concussion protocol, though Gundy said he was unaware of Johnson's injury status.

"I don't know for sure what happened to him," Gundy said. "He didn't play much in the second half. I need to check on that."

Johnson's regular backup, Langston Anderson, was not suited up because of injury, so Jaden Bray switched positions in his first game of the season, returning from a thumb injury suffered in August..

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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma State football beats Texas Tech with second-half comeback