Oklahoma State vs. West Virginia football: Five takeaways from Cowboys' loss to Mountaineers
STILLWATER — Ollie Gordon was the brightest star in an Oklahoma State jersey, but he still couldn’t save the day.
The Cowboys called three passing plays to their true freshman running back in critical moments, but none of them landed and OSU suffered a 24-19 loss to West Virginia on Saturday at Boone Pickens Stadium.
The Cowboys have lost four of the final five games of the season and conclude the regular season at 7-5.
Gordon didn’t touch the ball until the second quarter, but finished with the best Cowboy rushing performance of the season, going for 136 yards on 17 carries with a touchdown. He also caught one pass for 10.
But he and quarterback Garret Rangel could not connect on a two-point conversion try that would’ve tied the game late in the third quarter. Then he was the target on two fourth-down throws in the fourth quarter that could’ve kept drives alive.
On fourth-and-10 near midfield, OSU called a swing pass to Gordon behind the line of scrimmage, but it dropped incomplete to seal the West Virginia upset.
The loss was the Cowboys’ first at home in the last 15 games, dating back to a Halloween loss to Texas in 2020.
Here are four more takeaways from OSU’s defeat:
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Oklahoma State defense gashed in third quarter vs. West Virginia
West Virginia got three touchdowns on rushing plays of 36 yards or more, but it was a pair of big runs by Jaylen Anderson in the third quarter that doomed the Cowboys.
The redshirt freshman had TD runs of 54 and 57 yards that gave West Virginia a 21-13 lead and OSU never recovered.
Overall, the OSU defense allowed 327 yards, but 250 of that came on the ground, with just 77 through the air as West Virginia went most of the way with its third-string quarterback.
West Virginia averaged 5.1 yards per play and 6.1 yards per rush.
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Newcomers provide sparks for OSU
Gordon wasn’t the only first-year Cowboy to generate offense for the Cowboys.
Rangel went the distance at quarterback in place of injured Spencer Sanders, who was among the 26 players honored on Senior Day.
Rangel came out slinging the ball early, going 15-of-27 for 158 yards in the first half, before the Cowboys went to the ground game in the heavier rain after halftime.
Redshirt sophomore Jason Brooks Jr. — a first-year transfer from Vanderbilt — was said to be out according to Dave Hunziker on the OSU radio pregame show. But he entered in the second half at left guard in place of Taylor Miterko.
While you can’t credit all of the rushing success to one lineman, the group began blocking better upon his entrance.
Another first-year transfer, Deondre Jackson from Texas A&M, had 56 yards on 12 carries, including a late 21-yarder.
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Jason Taylor II gets sixth pick
Redshirt senior Jason Taylor II might’ve been playing his last game at Boone Pickens Stadium, and if so, he ended his home-field career with yet another interception.
Taylor, who is a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award given to the nation’s best defensive back, had an interception in the second quarter. It’s his sixth of the year and he has one in each of the last three games.
The last Cowboy to have interceptions in three consecutive games was A.J. Green in 2017. Green is now playing for the Cleveland Browns.
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Injuries keep piling up for OSU football
The OSU secondary entered without starting safety Thomas Harper, then lost two more starters during the game. Cornerback Korie Black and safety Kendal Daniels both exited, being replaced by Cam Smith and Lyric Rawls, respectively.
The defensive line was again without Tyler Lacy and Trace Ford while the offensive line was missing Hunter Woodard.
In the backfield, not only was Sanders out, but so was starting running back Dominic Richardson. His backup, Jaden Nixon, suffered an injury on the opening kickoff of the second half and did not return.
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Oklahoma State vs. West Virginia live updates
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OSU vs. West Virginia football: Mountaineers beat Cowboys in finale
