Instant Recap: Oklahoma State Survives Scare in Manhattan 43-37

After giving up an 11-play methodical drive with zero pass attempts from the Kansas State Wildcats on the opening possession of the game, Oklahoma State seemed to be out-manned in the running game on defense all day — but still found a way to overcome the mismatch.

The Cats took advantage of a fast start to race ahead to a 13-0 lead, but strong play from Mason Rudolph and his receiving corps. sparked a resurgence with two straight scores to put the good guys ahead, 14-13 with 14:00 left to play in the second quarter. Jhajuan Seales was active, Chris Carson made several impressive appearances in the running and passing game, but it was the play of Blake Jarwin that helped OSU in the most surprising way. Going into the half, Jarwin lead OSU in receiving with 2 receptions for 96 yards and a TD — where he finished the day and notched a career high.

https://vine.co/v/5DVZ2bYbX7x

The Cowboys secured a 21-16 lead at the half, and took the ball the first out of the gate in the second half. But the offense sputtered in the third quarter and was littered by miscues; first, a muffed punt by Barry J. Sanders; then, a pick-six thrown by Mason Rudolph that handed K-State the lead. And to add to the disastrous third, Oklahoma State had a punt blocked that gave the Cats field position in favorable territory along with the momentum.

Kansas State capitalized on the turnover and, on the ensuing offensive possession, marched down for a rushing touchdown to take a commanding 30-21 lead.

But the Cowboys weren’t done yet, as they responded with a score of their own to bring it to 30-28, and battled back and forth offensively late into the fourth. It was Junkyard James Washington who blew the game wide open with a monstrous 82-yard reception to put them within two with 7:45 to play in the fourth.

Ohhhhhhh boy. pic.twitter.com/HLW8PyzeUE

— Pistols Firing (@pistolsguys) November 5, 2016

After a much needed stop late in the fourth, the Cowboys took over possession on offense with around 6:00 left on the clock, and drained it all the way down on a 3:39 second drive that netted OSU 8 points — first on a powerful Chris Carson touchdown run that was capped by a Jalen McCleskey duck that somehow landed in the hands of Rennie Childs to convert the two-point conversion and put them up by six.

K-State took over possession and marched all the way down the field to the four-yard line with less than 10 seconds to go, but an OFFENSIVE pass interference call backed the Cats up 15 yards and on the final play of the game, Kansas State’s pass attempt to the end zone was picked off by Jordan Sterns. Pokes now move to 7-2 with Texas Tech coming to town next weekend.