OT interception enables No. 10 Oklahoma State to beat Texas
AUSTIN, TX - OCTOBER 21: Ramon Richards of Oklahoma State intercepts a pass intended for Dorian Leonard of Texas in overtime at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on October 21, 2017 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - During his 13 seasons as Oklahoma State football coach, Mike Gundy has built a reputation for producing dynamic offenses and less than impressive defenses.
On Saturday, the Cowboys leaned on their defense.
Ramon Richards intercepted Sam Ehlinger's pass in the end zone in overtime, after Matt Ammendola kicked a field goal, giving No. 10 Oklahoma State a 13-10 victory over Texas.
Those 13 points were 36 below the Cowboys' average and their fewest since a 28-7 loss to Texas in 2014. Oklahoma State averaged 611 yards a game before Saturday, best in the nation, but gained 428 against Texas.
The Cowboys (6-1, 3-1 Big 12) scored the winning points on Ammendola's 34-yard field goal on the first possession of OT. He missed a 29-yard attempt in the fourth quarter.
Though the field goal came first, Richards didn't realize the game ended with his play.
"I thought the offense had to come back," Richards said.
Texas (3-4, 2-2) had a first down on the Oklahoma State 12 after a pass interference penalty against A.J. Green. But on third-and-4 from the 6, Ehlinger, a freshman, scrambled and floated a pass to the only player in the area, Richards.
"I thought Jerrod (Heard) was going to circle back up to the back of the end zone for a jump ball," Ehlinger said. "That's why I put it up there for him for a chance to win. I just made a mistake."
Oklahoma State's Mason Rudolph passed for 282 yards, failing to reach 300 for the first time in eight games. The Cowboys were without two, sometimes three, injured starting offensive linemen, and Texas dared them to run by dropping defenders into pass coverage.
"Forever around here, it's been the offense saved us," Gundy said. "For six, eight years defense can't stop anybody, offense saved 'em. So (Saturday) the offense stumbled over their own feet, couldn't make a play, and the defense did."
THE TAKEAWAY
Oklahoma State: Though they struggled on offense, the Cowboys remained in the race for a Big 12 championship. They haven't dropped out of the national playoff picture, either. Oklahoma State beat Texas for the fifth straight time in Austin, the most ever by a Longhorns opponent.
Texas: The Longhorns had losing seasons the last three years under coach Charlie Strong. They need to win three of their next five to avoid another. Coach Tom Herman was 6-0 against teams ranked in The Associated Press Top 25 the last two seasons while coaching Houston. He's 0-3 in his first season at Texas, all by five points or fewer.
Texas has most of its difficulty on offense, Herman's specialty as a former offensive coordinator.
"I take a lot of responsibility for that," Herman said "Monumental effort by our defense. We gotta help them more on offense."
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Oklahoma State might not move much, having won a close game against an unranked team that now has a losing record.
KEY NUMBERS
OKLAHOMA STATE: Running back Justice Hill rushed for 117 yards, his fourth straight game exceeding 100. Recievers Marcell Ateman and James Washington gained 87 and 32 yards, respectively, marking the first time in five games both failed to reach 100.
TEXAS: John Burt's 90-yard reception the second quarter was the sixth-longest in school history and the longest that did not result in a touchdown. Texas did score its only touchdown on the drive, though.
INJURY REPORT: In addition to playing without some offensive linemen, the Cowboys were without starting linebacker Kenneth Edison-McGruder, who missed the game with an injury. Texas tailback Kyle Porter, who started three games this season, missed the game with a chest injury. Longhorn receiver and punt returner Reggie Hemphill-Mapps left with a knee injury in the third quarter and did not return. Texas guard Patrick Vahe missed parts of the game with an illness, leaving Texas without three offensive linemen who were supposed to start this season. Two are injured, including All-American Connor Williams, who only played in the first three games.
UP NEXT
Oklahoma State: The Cowboys are at West Virginia on Saturday Oklahoma State has won two straight against the Mountaineers.
Texas: The Longhorns are at Baylor on Saturday. Texas has won two straight against the Bears, including a 35-34 victory last season thanks to a 39-yard field goal by Trent Dominigue with 46 seconds remaining.
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