Cameron Epps picked off two first-half passes from Will Howard, including a pick-6, as Oklahoma State knocked off Kansas State 29-21 on Friday in Stillwater, Okla.
Ollie Gordon II rushed for 136 yards against the Kansas State team that came into the game ranked sixth in FBS in rushing defense. Alan Bowman completed 19 of 35 passes for 235 yards for Oklahoma State (3-2, 1-1 Big 12).
But it was Epps, Nickolas Martin and the defense that shined for the Cowboys. Martin led Oklahoma State with 17 tackles and a pick. The Cowboys held Howard to 15-of-34 passing for 152 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions for Kansas State (3-2, 1-1 Big 12).
Oklahoma State’s Alex Hale tied his career-long with a 53-yard field goal to open the second-half scoring, putting the hosts up 23-7. Kansas State then marched deep into Oklahoma State territory but turned it over on downs. The Cowboys responded with another Hale field goal.
Treshaun Ward’s 11-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter cut it to 26-15 when Howard ran for the two-point conversion. The Cowboys got Hale’s fifth field goal after Kansas State failed on fourth-and-3 on its own 26-yard line.
Howard’s 6-yard touchdown run with 8:56 left cut it to a one-score game, 29-21. Kansas State stopped the Cowboys on back-to-back drives, the second time taking over at their own 25 with 3:00 left. But the Wildcats couldn’t get past midfield.
After holding Kansas State to its first opening drive without a touchdown this season, Oklahoma State scored its first opening-drive touchdown. Gordon punched it in from the 2-yard line to cap a 15-play, 72-yard drive. The Cowboys were 3-for-3 on third downs on the march.
On the next drive, Epps picked off Howard, the fifth straight game Howard has thrown a first-half interception. The Cowboys could not capitalize, but after another three-and-out, a Hale 43-yard field goal gave Oklahoma City a 10-0 lead.
The Wildcats finally got on the board on a 1-yard pass from Howard to Ben Sinnott early in the second quarter. Two plays earlier, out of an empty backfield with trips to the left, Howard went around the right side and raced untouched 70 yards to the 1-yard line.
Hale’s 34-yard field goal with 55 seconds left in the quarter gave the Cowboys a 13-7 lead. Epps then grabbed his second interception of the half and returned it for a 35-yard touchdown and a 20-7 halftime lead.
The Cowboys have won eight of the teams’ past nine meetings in Stillwater.
–Field Level Media
