High marks for De’Zhaun Stribling in return to action
STILLWATER — Saturday wasn’t supposed to be as easy as Oklahoma State made it look.
South Dakota State, the back-to-back FCS national champions, rolled into Stillwater on a 29-game winning streak. So much for that. Oklahoma State was bigger, faster and stronger. If a statement could be made by beating an FCS team, this was it — a 44-20 win against the mightiest second-division team in the land.
Let’s get to the grades.
Mother Nature: A
Eighty-two degrees and cloudy for a 1 p.m., Aug. 31 kickoff.
Come on. How good is that?
The on-field temperature was of course higher, but it could have been worse. Way worse.
Ollie Gordon II, OSU run game: C
Credit the Jackrabbits for containing the ever-dangerous Ollie Gordon II. A 12yard run was Gordon’s longest of the game.
OSU’s run game was effective, but it was a slow burn as the veteran Cowboys’ offensive line wore down South Dakota’s defensive front.
Gordon averaged 4.3 yards per carry. He rushed 27 times for 104 yards and two touchdowns. Gordon has crossed the century mark in 10 of his previous 11 games.
Mike Gundy said the Cowboys need to be better on the ground.
Jackrabbits fans: A+
South Dakota State filled two sections of Boone Pickens Stadium, and there was a smattering of blue throughout the crowd.
There were chants of “Let’s go Rabbits” and T-shirts with “Ears Up.”
This was a destination game for South Dakota State fans, and they showed out. Few Big 12 teams will travel as many fans as South Dakota State did Saturday.
It’s a nine and a half hour drive from Brookings, South Dakota, to Stillwater.
OSU kicker Logan Ward: A+
Junior Logan Ward put OSU on the scoreboard with a 42-yard field goal in the first quarter. Ward went 7 of 7 on extra points a season ago, but that was his first field-goal attempt as a Cowboy. Ward was just getting started. The walk-on from Deer Creek High School drilled a 52-yarder early in the fourth quarter and finished his day with a 25-yard make to go 3 for 3.
Ward also made a tackle on a kickoff. Always good to see a kicker get in on the action.
OSU WR De’Zhaun Stribling: A
In the first quarter, Stribling made a toe-tap catch on the sideline. In the second quarter, Stribling snagged a bullet pass that was thrown a step behind him. In the third quarter, he made a tough catch on a flea flicker.
Stribling did have a drop, but he caught six of his eight targets.
Stribling’s 2023 season was cut short due to a broken wrist. Now healthy, he looks like he’ll be one of Alan Bowman’s favorite targets.
Stribling led OSU in receiving yards with 81. His six catches trailed only Brennan Presley, who caught seven passes for only 35 yards.
OSU’s late-down defense: B+
OSU only outgained South Dakota State by 6 yards: 394 to 388.
But the Cowboys defense limited the Jackrabbits in big spots.
South Dakota State went 3 of 13 on third-down conversions and 0 of 4 on fourth downs.
OSU put South Dakota State in a lot of third-and-longs. SDSU’s average distance to go on third downs was 7.9 yards compared to OSU’s 4.9 yards.
Penalty-free football: A
OSU was penalized once, a 10-yard defensive holding call against cornerback Cam Smith.
South Dakota State was penalized five times for 32 yards.