Trick or treat: Oklahoma St. gets chance to end disappointments against Texas on Halloween

Oklahoma State looks to end hex against Texas

WACO, Texas — Oklahoma State now gets a chance to erase the curse of recent seasons past against Texas.

“I haven’t beat them since I’ve been here, same for the guys in there,” quarterback Zac Robinson said outside the Cowboys locker room after a 34-7 victory at Baylor on Saturday. “It’s a little extra motivation obviously with what’s on the line and both teams playing well right now. Having them at our place will be a lot of fun.”

The most significant treat for the winner in the Halloween night game in Stillwater: the lead in the Big 12 South, and control of its own destiny.

“Not a bad way to spend it,” linebacker Donald Booker said. “I’ll be in my Oklahoma State football player costume.”

The Cowboys (6-1, 3-0 Big 12) have a five-game winning streak, winning the last four without injured running back Kendall Hunter and suspended receiver Dez Bryant largely because of how well Robinson is playing. They moved up a spot to 13th in the new AP poll Sunday.

The only other Big 12 team without a conference loss is No. 3 Texas (7-0, 4-0), which has a seven-game winning streak after its 41-7 victory at Missouri on Saturday night — and the team Oklahoma State has certainly had circled on its calendar.

“We’re going to step up to the challenge and be ready to play a good game,” said Keith Toston, who ran for 109 yards and a touchdown against Baylor.

The Cowboys have lost 11 straight games to Texas, and the way a few of the losses have come has been downright scary.

Two years ago in the last meeting at Stillwater, the Cowboys took a 35-14 lead into the fourth quarter and lost 38-35. There was a three-game stretch from 2003-05 when Oklahoma State led at halftime each time, only to be outscored a combined 118-0 after that.

The Cowboys led 28-9 in 2005 before Texas scored the last 38 points of the game. In 2004, Oklahoma State led 35-7 before halftime and lost 56-35.

Last year was a slugfest that had the then-No. 1 Longhorns on the ropes before they won 28-24. Just another heartbreaker for Oklahoma State when Robinson’s heave on the final play came up short of the end zone and got intercepted after the defense had two red zone stops in the fourth quarter.

“Being an OSU fan growing up, I’ve experienced those games where we came close and we’ve not come away with a ‘W,’” redshirt freshman tight end Cooper Bassett said. “Now I get to experience the rivalry as a player and I’m very excited and very confident in our team’s ability. … With a game like this, the coaches don’t even have to be on us too much. “

Bassett and fellow tight end Wilson Youman each got their first career touchdown catches Saturday at Baylor. They were among nine different players who caught passes.

Robinson completed 23 of 27 passes for 250 yards and a season-high three touchdowns, his 85-percent completion rate the best-ever for an Oklahoma State quarterback with at least 20 attempts. That broke the record his coach, Mike Gundy, set by hitting 27 of 35 passes (77 percent) against Kansas in 1989.

In Big 12 games, Robinson is 59 of 87 (68 percent) for 756 yards with six TDs and one interception.

With the trio of Robinson, Bryant and Hunter last season, the Cowboys reached the Top 10 for the first time in 20 years and averaged 41 points a game. While missing both Bryant and Hunter the last four games, Oklahoma State has still averaged 40 points a game.

Bryant, who has missed four games, has asked the NCAA to reinstate him from his suspension for lying about an offseason meeting with former NFL player Deion Sanders. Hunter took part in pregame warmups Saturday but didn’t play for the fifth straight game because of a nagging ankle-foot injury.

“Kendall’s not ready to go. Medically, he’s been cleared and he’s practiced the last few weeks,” Gundy said. “When he feels good and he’s comfortable in playing, then he’ll let us know and we’ll play him. He gets a little bit better each week.”