Short-handed No. 16 Oklahoma State runs past Grambling State 56-6 without injured starters

No. 16 Oklahoma St. runs past Grambling St. 56-6

STILLWATER, Okla. — Keith Toston ran for 84 yards and three first-half touchdowns, and No. 16 Oklahoma State overpowered Grambling State 56-6 on Saturday night even without its star running back and wide receiver.

All-America receiver Dez Bryant and all-Big 12 tailback Kendall Hunter watched from the sidelines as the Cowboys (3-1) piled up 587 yards of total offense, including 321 on the ground, against their only Football Championship Subdivision opponent this season.

It was the most lopsided win for Oklahoma State since a 59-7 victory over SMU in 2004, the year before Mike Gundy took over as coach.

Freshman Dameron Fooks made the first four receptions of his career and scored twice. He caught a 24-yard toss from Zac Robinson in the first half and walked into the end zone for a 19-yard score from third-stringer Brandon Weeden in the third quarter.

Fellow freshman Jeremy Smith had runs of 69 and 51 yards in the most prolific college debut for an Oklahoma State rusher. He finished with 160 yards on 15 carries and scored his first touchdown on a 5-yard run in the fourth quarter.

The only lingering concern for the Cowboys was a pair of turnovers by Robinson, who threw a first-quarter interception and fumbled a snap to set up the Tigers’ first field goal. Backup Alex Cate replaced him in the second half and also fumbled on his second play from scrimmage. Cate didn’t return after trainers attended to him on the field.

Weeden played the rest of the game, with Cate joining a slew of injured starters — Bryant, Hunter, cornerback Perrish Cox and defensive end Jermiah Price — on the sidelines. The group had stayed there during halftime to watch as Grambling’s marching band performed a tribute to Michael Jackson, including a dance-along to “Thriller.”

That was one of few highlights for the Tigers, who had won 12 of their previous 13 games.

Grambling didn’t pick up a first down until more than 5 minutes into the second quarter. By then, Oklahoma State had already scored on four of its first five possessions and was up 28-0.

Robinson’s fumble, recovered by Derrick Johnson, gave Grambling the ball at the 49-yard line. Greg Dillon then got the Tigers into position to break up the shutout with back-to-back completions and a 14-yard scramble on third down.

Dillon was 8 for 17 for 75 yards but left the game with Grambling facing third-and-4 at the 8-yard line and didn’t return to play the fourth quarter.

Ari Johnson had field goals from 38 and 25 yards for Grambling.

Oklahoma State discounted tickets in hopes of selling out Boone Pickens Stadium for the first time since a renovation that pushed capacity to approximately 60,000 and drew a record crowd of 56,901.