Cowboys Can't Keep Pace With Tech, Lose Eighth Straight

In a game with five ties, Oklahoma State's football team could never take the lead and could not get enough stops, losing to Texas Tech 56-48 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater on Saturday.

It's the most points OSU has allowed since a 62-52 loss to Oklahoma in 2017, and the most combined points in a Cowboys game since then.

Oklahoma State has lost eight straight games, the second longest losing streak in program history and the longest for a single season.

For the fifth time in the last 10 games, OSU allowed at least 500 total yards, with Tech gaining 543 yards, and scoring touchdowns on five of six possessions from late second quarter into the fourth.

Tech had 24 more offensive plays than OSU.

OSU scored five touchdowns in the second half and tied the game four times, but had two turnovers and a missed field goal attempt in the possessions they didn't score.

OSU freshman Maealiuaki Smith got his first career start at quarterback and was 26-for-36 for 326 yards and two touchdowns plus an interception.

Ollie Gordon rushed for 156 yards on 15 carries and had three touchdowns.

Tech had their own 1-2 punch on offense, with Behren Morton completing 35-of-50 passes for 356 yards and four touchdowns, while running back Tahj Brooks 133 yards rushing on 28 carries with three rushing touchdowns and a TD reception.

Texas Tech got the ball first and marched 75 yards in six plays to a touchdown.

Tech quarterback Behren Morton passed to Caleb Douglas for 34 yards on the first play, then the two combined again for a 12-yard touchdown to put the Red Raiders up 7-0 with 13:27 to play in the first quarter.

Maealiuaki Smith got the start at quarterback for Oklahoma State.

On OSU's opening possession, he completed passes for 24 yards to Rashad Owens and 26 to De'Zhaun Stribling.

OSU got to the Tech 35-yard line, but a high snap caused a loss of 19 yards and the Cowboys were forced to punt.

Texas Tech then marched 91 yards in 14 plays to extend their lead.

Morton capped the drive with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Mason Tharp in the right back corner of the end zone and the Red Raiders led 14-0 with 4:04 left in the first quarter.

OSU's next drive gained just seven yards, and on 3rd down, Josh Ford dropped a pass, forcing the Cowboys to punt.

OSU held Tech to just three plays and a punt, and then went 91 yards in just three plays to get their first points.

Ollie Gordon scored on a 68-yard touchdown run to cut Tech's lead in half at 14-7 with 23 seconds left in the first quarter.

The run was Gordon's longest of the season by 18 yards.

After an exchange of punts, the OSU defense got the first turnover of the game, as Parker Robertson intercepted Morton and returned it 21 yards to the Tech 45-yard line.

The Cowboys got tricky from there, as Ollie Gordon played quarterback, and on a flea flicker, passed to Owens for a gain of 27 yards.

Gordon then finished the drive with a one-yard touchdown run on fourth down to tie the game 14-14 with 5:23 to play in the first half.

The two teams traded punts, then Tech marched 92 yards in 12 plays to regain the lead late in the first half.

On 3rd and 10, Morton passed over the middle to running back Tahj Brooks for a 25-yard touchdown to the put the Red Raiders up 21-14 with five seconds left in the first half.

Oklahoma State got the ball to start the second half and went 75 yards in five plays to tie the game.

Smith passed to Gordon for a gain of 22 yards, Gordon ran for 33 yards, then finished the drive with a two-yard touchdown run to make it 21-21 with 13:14 to play in the third quarter.

Tech responded with a 9-play, 81-yard drive to regain the lead.

Morton passed to tight end Jalin Conyers for a 32-yard touchdown to the Red Raiders up 28-21 with 10:26 left in the third quarter.

The Cowboys responded by going 75 yards in four plays to tie it.

Smith passed to Stribling for 35 yards, and finished the drive with a 13-yard touchdown run around the right side for his first career rushing touchdown, tying the game 28-28 with 8:47 to play in the third quarter.

OSU tried to compound their momentum and tried on an onside kick, but Tech's Kelby Valsin fielded it standing up and returned the kick 29 yards to the Cowboys' 18-yard line.

It took the Red Raiders six plays to score from there, with Tajh Brooks scoring on a two-yard touchdown run to put Tech up 35-28 with 6:12 remaining in the third quarter.

OSU moved the ball on their ensuing possession, but had to settle for a 42-yard field goal attempt from Logan Ward.

Ward's kick clanged off the left upright and was no good, keeping the score 35-28 Tech with 2:52 to play in the third quarter.

Tech faced on a 4th and 1 from their own 44-yard line and went for it, but Brooks was stopped for a loss of one with Kendal Daniels leading several Cowboys on the tackle and OSU took over on downs.

A pass interference penalty and defensive holding penalty against Tech helped the Cowboys move closer, and Smith passed to Stribling for a 14-yard touchdown, capping a six-play drive and tying the game 35-35 with 13:19 to play.

Stribling had 7 catches for 133 yards.

Texas Tech responded once again to regain the lead, going 69 yards in five plays.

Facing 4th and 1 from the OSU 40, Tech went for it, and Brooks lined up in the wildcat, took the snap, broke outside right and went untouched for a 40-yard touchdown to make it 42-35 Red Raiders with 10:42 left.

It took OSU just over two minutes to get it tied back up again.

Smith passed to Owens for a gain of 30, then Rodney Fields scored on a 19-yard touchdown run to make it 42-42 with 8:37 remaining.

Tech got a 45-yard kickoff return from Drae McCray on the ensuing kickoff.

The Red Raiders then went 53 yards in seven plays to regain the lead.

On third and 10 from the OSU 36-yard line, Tech ran an option, with Morton pitching to Brooks for 12 yards and a first down.

Morton completed a 21-yard pass to Coy Eakin on the next play to the Cowboys' 2-yard line.

Two plays later, Brooks scored from a yard out to put Tech back up 49-42 with 6:12 remaining.

This time on OSU's ensuing possession, the Cowboys could not tie it back up.

A high shotgun snap went over the head of Smith and rolled into the end zone, where Jacob Rodriguez recovered for the Red Raiders, putting Tech up 56-42 with 4:45 to play.

OSU went 69 yards in eight plays to get within a score.

Smith passed to Owens for a 10-yard touchdown, but Ward's extra point attempt was blocked and it was 56-48 Tech with 2:35 to play.

Owens had six catches for 124 yards.

Tech nearly ran out the clock, but punted to OSU and the Cowboys took over on their own 35-yard line with 13 seconds to play.

On the next play, Jacob Rodriguez intercepted Smith to clinch it with seven seconds left.

OSU had won three in a row and 12 of their last 14 against Texas Tech.

The Cowboys fall to 3-8 on the season, 0-8 in Big 12 play.

OSU ends their season next Friday at Colorado at 11:00 am.