OSU just kept gaining confidence
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BY RYLY JANE HAMBLETON / Lincoln Journal Star
When Oklahoma State took a 17-0 lead against Nebraska in the first quarter, Cowboy offensive coordinator Larry Fedora couldn’t shake the feeling of deja vu.
“It was 17-nothing last week at halftime and we didn’t do much after that,” he said of the Cowboys’ 24-23 loss to Texas A&M. “I don’t think anybody said a word, but I know in my mind, when it was 17-nothing, all I wanted to do was get the ball in the end zone again.
“I believe there was something there that those guys didn’t want that number sticking around there very long.”
The Huskers mounted their only threat of the first half at that point, driving to the OSU 10-yard line before turning the ball over on downs. Then, the Cowboys needed just six plays and less than two minutes to increase their lead to 24-0 on Kendall Hunter’s 33-yard jaunt.
Oklahoma State stretched the lead to 38-0 at halftime before posting a 45-14 victory. It was the Cowboys’ first win in Lincoln in 47 years.
“I felt we had a shot to win the game today if we played well. I’m just glad we finally finished it and played well,” said head coach Mike Gundy. “We had a shot up here in ’88 and we didn’t play well. We had a shot up here whatever year (2003) we opened up here and we turned the ball over five times and took ourselves out of the game.
“I told the guys it was the first time in 41 years but then somebody told me it’s been 47. I guess once it gets past about 20, it all runs together.”
Linebacker Rodrick Johnson said when Oklahoma State stopped that threat by Nebraska, it gave the Cowboys a shot of confidence.
“With that drive, they got some of the momentum going their way,” he said. “After we stopped them on fourth down, the momentum swung back in our favor and we just took off from there. The defense played well. The offense played awesome.
“We had a lot of playmakers today on defense and offense, especially.”
The Cowboys rolled up 551 yards of total offense, Oklahoma State’s most against Nebraska. Senior running back Dantrell Savage eclipsed his career rushing best in the first half (148 yards) and ended up with 212 yards.
“You look at the energy he has out on the field,” Fedora said. “He makes people miss in a phone booth.”
Fedora said the Husker defense wasn’t exactly what the Cowboys saw on film.
“They were probably a lot more simple in their game plan. Going into the game, they blitzed probably 33 percent of the time,” he said. “They may have blitzed us twice the whole game. I think maybe their plan was to play base, let their guys play hard and not give up big plays and hopefully keep the ball away from us.”
Zac Robinson, the Cowboys’ sophomore quarterback, threw for 234 yards, but said success on the ground was the biggest factor for OSU.
“Obviously, running the ball was huge for us. The way our offensive line was playing, I barely got touched,” Robinson said. “The way this offensive line played today definitely made me feel more comfortable. We didn’t have to throw every down and we could run the football.”
Robinson was quicker than a NASCAR driver giving credit to his sponsors in giving praise to his teammates.
“I think I only got hit maybe one time on a pass play. They have some big guys up front, but our offensive line did a good job today. I just have to give the credit to my offensive linemen,” Robinson said. “Brady Bond, Russell Okung, Andrew Lewis, Steve Denning and David Koenig all did a great job today.”
The line created holes for Savage and Hunter and provided Robinson time to throw.
“Our offensive coaches put a game plan together on Sunday and Monday, and we practice it and then try to make adjustments throughout the game,” Gundy said. “You try to get the ball into guys’ hands that can make plays. 22 (Savage), 24 (Hunter), (Brandon) Pettigrew and (Adarius) Bowman, and obviously Zac (Robinson — those guys can make some plays.”
Ryly Jane Hambleton at 473-7314 or rhambleton@journalstar.com.
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