STILLWATER — Oklahoma State loves Friday nights.
The Cowboys defeated Kansas State 29-21 under the lights at Boone Pickens Stadium, ending a two-game losing streak and improving to 1-1 in Big 12 play.
Here’s a look at the victory through the numbers:
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10: The Cowboys went several games without a kickoff, but the streak was snapped when Ollie Gordon II rushed for a 2-yard touchdown on OSU’s first drive . Prior to that, the Cowboys kicked a FG on October 22, 2022 to open a win over Texas.
17: Gordon surpassed the magic number of 100 yards rushing. Every time a running back has reached at least that total (three times since Friday), he’s reached triple digits. He rushed 21 times for 136 yards that night, setting a career high.
179: The Cowboys’ rushing yards were well above Kansas State’s season average allowed. The Wildcats lead the Big 12 with 73.3 rushing yards per game.
238: The Cowboys’ passing yards are just shy of the Wildcats’ average of 264.3 yards per game. That average was the worst in the league entering the game.
2: The Cowboys had different quarterbacks that night – Aaron Bowman and Brennan Pressley. Pressley passed the ball to Bowman in a smart way. With Gordon at quarterback, nearly a third of the way, he was whistled for a false start.
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Cameron Epps, Nick Martin spark OSU defense
year 2010: The last time a freshman had two interceptions in a game against the Cowboys. Shaun Lewis played twice that season against Bedlam rival OU. Redshirt freshman Cameron Epps had two interceptions in the first half on Friday, including a pick-six.
Year 2014: Speaking of Epps’ sixth pick, he became the first freshman to perform like this since Ramon Richards returned an interception for a touchdown against Kansas State University on November 1, 2014.
17: OSU linebacker Nick Martin led all players in tackles. The redshirt sophomore was also sacked, his third of the season.
3: Cowboys interception, Martin sealed the game late in the fourth quarter with an interception. This is the first choice of his career.
11: Tackle for Cowboys safety Trey Rucker, who played nearly two weeks after being arrested and charged with driving under the influence. The total is a career-high for the former Wake Forest transfer.
372: Kansas State’s total yardage is well below its season average of 482.3 yards per game. OSU limited Howard to 152 yards passing, and he completed 34 touchdown passes and 15 of 3 picks.
220: The Wildcats had 104 rushing yards, with Howard scoring once and capping off a 70-yard run that initially was a touchdown but was tipped over after review and gained 1 yard.
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Alex Hale had a special night for Cowboys
13: OSU won back-to-back red zone possessions and scored until Alex Hale’s field goal was blocked in the second quarter. Entering the game, only seven teams in the country were perfectly in the red zone.
5: Hale’s field goal tied the school’s single-game record. Quinn Sharp (2012 vs. TCU) and Larry Roach (1982 vs. Missouri) each scored 5 points. Had the kick not been blocked, Hale would have had a chance to break the record. His six field goal attempts tied the mark set by Cary Blanchard in 1990 against Northern Iowa.
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friday night lights
4: Beating Kansas State coach Chris Klieman, who has yet to win in Stillwater. Kansas State’s only win came last season in Manhattan.
1956: The Cowboys’ home game last Friday will be against Kansas at 2 p.m. Oregon State’s record in Friday’s game was 58-46-7.
—Jacob Unruh, Staff Writer
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