How OSU shut down Vaughn, K-State
STILLWATER — Oklahoma State safety Kolby Harvell-Peel had never looked at a printed stat sheet following a game. He wanted his own, but found one on the interview podium.
He surveyed the various stats and one jumped out to him — 2 for 12. As in, Kansas State was rarely successful on third down.
“We were really good on third down last year,” Harvell-Peel said. “It made us a great defense. And so far this year, we've been good again.
“So, yeah, 2 for 12. You win a lot of games … when you play well like that.”
Asked what the secret is to OSU's third-down success, Harvell-Peel had the answer. A gray-haired, professorlike defensive coordinator.
“Jim Knowles,” he said.
On a night the Cowboys progressed even more with a 31-20 win over No. 25ranked Kansas State, their defense again shined. It overwhelmed the Wildcats.
OSU held Kansas State to just 260 total yards, well below its average of 374 in the first three games. OSU limited the stout rushing attack of the Wildcats to just 62 yards, including minus-3 in the final half.
“We were able to crowd the line of scrimmage because we were playing really well on our corners and our coverage,” Knowles said. “(Will Howard) going out for a little bit — and I think he was banged up — so that took away a lot of the quarterback-run game. That made them one-dimensional.”
Wildcats star running back Deuce Vaughn was limited to just 22 yards on 13 carries. He did have a 55-yard touchdown reception in the third on a wild pass from Jaren Lewis as he was being sacked.
The Cowboys forced two turnovers, too.
One was a touchdown, a fumble recovery by linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez in the end zone in the first quarter. The other was an interception by Harvell-Peel for the second straight game.
Defensive end Tyler Lacy also had a strip sack on Kansas State's final possession that ultimately forced a punt.
“It's something that we go for,” Knowles said about the turnovers. “It's something that we practice and preach. But our players have made it their own.”
Cowboys honor Pittman
OSU wide receiver Tay Martin never knew much about Chester Pittman.
But when he received a gray hoodie featuring a white helmet with No. 23 in the middle on it, he started to learn about the Cowboys' first Black football player.
“You can imagine how much motivation I got,” Martin said. “It pushed me, for sure.”
The Cowboys honored Pittman, who died in December at age 83. Pittman broke the color barrier in 1958.
OSU wore the hoodies. Each helmet featured a commemorative sticker on the back.
It was a strong tribute.
“That was great,” Martin said. “I was proud to wear this today. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be standing here today.”
Barr moves to Cowboy back
OSU has a new tight end. Offensive lineman Silas Barr took the field in a new jersey number and position. He switched from No. 54 to No. 48 and lined up as a Cowboy back for the first time in his career.
“It's long-term now,” Gundy said. Barr, a 6-foot-5, 285-pound freshman, served as a blocker. The move was made this week out of necessity. Primary tight end Braden Cassity was wearing down with an injury to veteran Logan Carter, who has yet to play this season, and the late arrival of Austin Jarrard. “Silas can come in and help us at that position because he's pretty mobile for his size,” Gundy said.
Gundy said Barr caught a pass in practice this week — a first in his life.
“I told him he needs to get 50 jugs a day, just in case somebody makes a mistake and we throw him another one,” Gundy said.
Cassity did have two catches for 14 yards, the first receptions of his career and first for a tight end this season.
Martin suffers injury
Defensive end Brock Martin is expected to miss a few weeks after suffering an arm injury in the third quarter.
“I think that he will be back in a few weeks,” Gundy said. “I don't think it was something that would end the season.”
Martin, who finished with a tackle, suffered the injury running into teammate Jayden Jernigan in pursuit of quarterback Jaren Lewis.
Martin has dealt with shoulder issues throughout his career. “I think he's got it dinged up again,” Gundy said.