No. 17 Cowboys use strong run game, sturdy defense to hold off Texas Tech 24-17

No. 17 Cowboys rely on D in 24-17 win over Tech

STILLWATER, Okla. — Patrick Lavine scored on a 21-yard interception return, and No. 17 Oklahoma State came up with a final defensive stand to keep its slim hopes for a Big 12 championship alive with a 24-17 win against Texas Tech on Saturday night.

After allowing some rare pressure against quarterback Zac Robinson in the first half, the Cowboys (8-2, 5-1) relied on their Big 12-leading rushing attack to drain the clock in the second half. Oklahoma State piled up 207 yards on the ground after halftime and controlled the ball for 22 minutes.

Tech (6-4, 3-3) got one last chance after Robinson fumbled with 98 seconds left on a play that left both him and defender Jamar Wall shaken up.

Tramain Swindall dropped Taylor Potts’ fourth-down pass to doom the final drive by the Red Raiders.

The game marked the series’ first return to Stillwater since 2007, when OSU coach Mike Gundy delivered his “I’m a man! I’m 40!” tirade after the game and Texas Tech replaced its defensive coordinator after returning home.

This one lacked the fireworks of that 49-45 Cowboys’ victory, but still had the same fourth-quarter drama.

Keith Toston put Oklahoma State up 17-10 with his touchdown run early in the fourth quarter, one play after his fumble inside the 1 was overturned by instant replay and two plays after he plunged forward for a 2-yard gain to convert a fourth-and-1 at the 6.

Lavine followed that by stepping in front of Steven Sheffield’s pass to tailback Baron Batch and racing up the OSU sideline for the score.

Potts, benched in favor of Sheffield in the first half, led the Red Raiders right back with a scoring drive that took only 67 seconds. He finished it off with a 24-yard TD pass to Edward Britton to bring Tech within 24-17.

Potts had one last chance after Robinson’s fumble on a scary collision with Wall. Robinson sat up immediately, but then lay back down and stayed that way for a few minutes as a handful of teammates gathered around. He eventually walked to the bench with the help of team trainers.

Potts got Texas Tech to midfield with 58 seconds left but that’s where the drive stalled. Swindall dropped a short pass on fourth-and-4 and OSU ran out the final 16 seconds.

The loss denied Mike Leach his 83rd win at Tech, which would have pushed him past Spike Dykes for the most in school history.

Sheffield had provided a spark for Tech after a slow start, leading his team downfield before throwing an interception to Perrish Cox at the Cowboys 2. Tech’s defense forced a three-and-out, and Sheffield came right back to hit Alex Torres for a 12-yard scoring pass to cap a 32-yard drive and put the Red Raiders up 10-7.

He couldn’t do much after that and finished with 117 yards on 16 for 23 passing with two interceptions. Potts was 19 for 35 for 190 yards with one touchdown and one pick — also by Cox.

Robinson had 99 yards rushing and 90 yards passing for OSU. Toston had 76 yards and Kendall Hunter 68 as the Cowboys finished with 243 yards on the ground.

Oklahoma State had its first scoring drive extended twice by penalties — roughing the passer on third-and-14 and pass interference on fourth-and-4 — before Robinson connected on a 19-yard touchdown pass to Hubert Anyiam.