Texas Tech Red Raiders vs Oklahoma State Cowboys Match Player Stats On Nov 12, 2016

The Sports Xchange
Nov 12, 2016

STILLWATER, Okla. -- Oklahoma State and Texas Tech projected as a shootout. And delivered, with offense on display both ways.

Still, it came down to a kick -- a missed kick -- for the No. 13-ranked Cowboys to survive 45-44 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Big 12 play.

The Red Raiders scored with 1:44 remaining on running back Quinton White's 1-yard run, but kicker Clayton Hatfield pushed the point-after attempt wide right, leaving the Cowboys in front.

Oklahoma State recovered the ensuing onside kick try, then ran out the clock to keep their Big 12 title hopes alive.

The Cowboys won their sixth straight game and improved to 8-2 overall and 6-1 in the Big 12.

Texas Tech lost for the fifth time in six games, falling to 4-6 and 2-5. The Red Raiders must win out to become bowl eligible.

The teams combined for 1,123 yards and 89 points, after entering as two of the nation's top scoring squads -- Texas Tech at No. 4 and the Cowboys No. 13.

In a matchup of two of the Big 12's premier quarterbacks, the Cowboys' Mason Rudolph and Texas Tech's Patrick Mahomes took turns marching their teams to scores.

Rudolph finished 20-of-28 passing for 395 yards and two touchdowns. His 82-yard bomb to wideout James Washington with six seconds left in the third quarter put Oklahoma State up 45-35 and proved to be the winning points.

Mahomes completed 34 of 51 throws for 344 yards and three scores, and added two rushing touchdowns.

The Red Raiders were slow to the shootout in the first half, yet did catch up.

Texas Tech needed four possessions and a fourth-down conversion to record its initial first down, while the Cowboys jumped out to a 14-0 lead behind Rudolph, who threw for one touchdown and ran for another.

Rudolph was sharp, completing 14-of-18 passes for 240 yards and the touchdown, a 26-yard strike to receiver Jalen McCleskey.

Three times in the opening half, the Cowboys owned two-touchdown leads: 14-0, 21-7 and 28-14.

But Mahomes heated up, throwing for 137 yards and three scores on 16-of-22 passing. He also ran for a touchdown.

The Red Raiders ran the ball well overall in the opening half, totaling 124 yards on 28 carries, well above their 101.3-yard average that ranked No. 124 nationally entering the game.

The Cowboys were betrayed by key penalties and a lost fumble that cost them the halftime lead.

Cornerback Ramon Richards was called for a face-mask penalty on a downfield skirmish, when Texas Tech had been stopped on a third down. The Red Raiders went on to score on the drive and cut the lead to 28-21.

With the score still 28-21, Oklahoma State was on the move, and a pass to McCleskey would have given the Cowboys a first down at the Red Raiders 40. But McCleskey fumbled, with Tech linebacker Kris Williams recovering and romping 19 yards to the Cowboys 45.

Six plays later, the Red Raiders were in the end zone and tied, 28-28.

NOTES: Saturday's game in Stillwater marked the beginning of three straight games away from home for Texas Tech. After visiting Oklahoma State, the Red Raiders head to Iowa State and take on Baylor at AT&T Stadium, the home of the Dallas Cowboys, in Arlington, Texas. It marks the first time since 1940 that Tech is playing its final three games outside of Lubbock. ... Rudolph became just the second quarterback in Oklahoma State history to throw for more than 3,000 yards in multiple seasons. Brandon Weeden is the only Cowboy quarterback to surpass 4,000. Rudolph now has 3,384 passing yards, with two regular season games, plus a bowl appearance remaining. ... Oklahoma State played without middle linebacker and third-leading tackler Chad Whitener, who was out with an apparent neck injury. Whitener was in uniform, but never entered the game.