OSU vs. Texas Tech football: Five takeaways from Cowboys' win over Red Raiders to earn Big 12 title trip
LUBBOCK, Texas — It was a shutout on the South Plains.
Ninth-ranked Oklahoma State fired a shutout over a conference opponent for the first time since 1995 — a 23-0 win over Texas Tech, holding the Red Raiders to 108 total yards, a week after they had 529 yards in an upset of Iowa State.
The Cowboys improved to 10-1 and clinched a spot in the Big 12 championship game on Dec. 4 in Arlington, Texas. It will be the first time the Cowboys have played in the conference title game. But first, the Cowboys have Bedlam, next Saturday in Stillwater.
With just under five minutes remaining on Saturday night, Texas Tech finally surpassed the 100-yard mark for the game, and it only reached Oklahoma State territory three times in the game.
Texas Tech had not been shut out since 1997 at Nebraska.
Here are four more takeaways from the Cowboys’ win:
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Run game comes alive in second half
Oklahoma State rushed for just 60 yards in the first half, but more than doubled that number in the third quarter alone.
With starter Jaylen Warren playing sparingly, Dominic Richardson led the way.
The sophomore from Oklahoma City finished with 20 carries for 84 yards, while quarterback Spencer Sanders added 48 yards on six carries, with a 9-yard touchdown run.
In all, the Cowboys rushed for 188 yards. Sanders threw for 239 and a touchdown on 19-of-38 passing.
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John Paul Richardson stellar as fill-in
With Brennan Presley limited to strictly punt return duty because of injury, true freshman John Paul Richardson had the biggest game of his young career.
The 6-foot, 180-pound slot receiver was targeted 10 times, pulling in six catches for 41 yards and a touchdown.
He was an ideal complement for outside receiver Tay Martin, who had seven catches for 130 yards, despite dropping a potential touchdown catch in the third quarter.
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Tanner Brown has perfect night
With the OSU offense stalling out in the red zone on occasion, kicker Tanner Brown provided the points the Cowboys needed.
Brown, the senior walk-on transfer from UNLV, hit field goals from 24, 33 and 19 yards.
He would’ve had an attempt from 44 yards, but Texas Tech was flagged for calling out signals similar to those of the offense. The penalty gave OSU a first down, and the drive ultimately ended in a 9-yard touchdown run by Spencer Sanders.
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Danny Godlevske out, Josh Sills returns
At the start of the game, it looked as though OSU was going to be without two interior offensive linemen because of injury — center Danny Godlevske and left guard Josh Sills.
But after starting left guard Tyrese Williams had his ankle rolled up on during the Cowboys’ first series, Sills entered the game on the next possession.
Sills missed last week’s game against TCU with a foot injury. Godlevske was injured last week against TCU.
Redshirt sophomore Joe Michalski filled in for Godlevske at center.
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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OSU vs Texas Tech football score, recap, Cowboys' win over Red Raiders
