OSU Cowboys outlast Arkansas Razorbacks in 2 OTs

STILLWATER — In a thrilling game, the Oklahoma State Cowboys rallied from a 14-0 first-quarter deficit to outlast the Arkansas Razorbacks 39-31 in double overtime before 52,202 fans at Boone Pickens Stadium.

With the game tied at 31-all at the end of regulation, the Razorbacks (1-1) got the ball first and got as deep as the OSU 13, but on third down, Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green was sacked by OSU linebacker Obi Ezeigbo at the OSU 28. Arkansas place-kicker Kyle Ramsey missed a 46-yard field goal, his second miss of the game, to give the Cowboys (2-0) the shot at winning it.

On OSU’s OT possession, place-kicker Logan Ward misfired wide right on a 41-yard field goal to force the second overtime.

OSU got the first possession in the second OT period. Aided by a personal foul penalty on Arkansas, the Pokes cashed in the possession on a 12-yard touchdown run by Ollie Gordon II. OSU had to go for two points, and got them, as quarterback Alan Bowman hit Gordon II to give OSU a 39-31 lead.

On the second OT possession for Arkansas, the Hogs got down to the OSU 6. Facing a fourth-and-1, Arkansas running back Rodney HIll was stopped for a loss to end the game, and help OSU survive.

The Razorbacks struck first as Ja’Quinden Jackson took it in from five yards out. Ramsey’s extra point put Arkansas on top 7-0 with 5:52 left in the opening quarter.

After stopping OSU on its next drive, the Hogs took over at their own 17 and marched 83 yards in eight plays as Jackson scored his second TD of the period on another 5-yard run with 1:33 remaining in the quarter. Ramsey’s PAT gave Arkansas a 14-0 lead after the first 15 minutes of action.

The Cowboys were needing to find a spark, and their defense provided it.

With the Razorbacks marching down field and into OSU territory, Green’s pass was picked off by Kale Smith, who went untouched 73 yards to paydirt. Ward’s extra point cut OSU’s deficit in half at 14-7 with 8:50 left before halftime.

It had appeared as if the OSU defense struck once more. Jackson got to the OSU 28 and was met by OSU rover Dylan Smith. It looked like he might have fumbled at that spot, with linebacker Nick Martin making the recovery with 6:50 remaining in the first half. After a review, it was ruled Jackson was down before he fumbled, so the drive continued.

Three plays later, Jackson recorded a first-half hat trick in TDs as he went 11 yards for the score with 5:05 remaining before halftime. Ramsey’s PAT increased the Arkansas lead to 21-7, which was the score at the break.

At the half, the statistics showed just how dominant the Hogs were and the Pokes were not.

Arkansas had 158 yards rushing and 193 yards passing for a total of 351 yards.

On the other hand, OSU only had a total of 77 yards of offense in the first half — 13 rushing and 64 passing. Gordon II only had six rushes for 11 yards in the first 30 minutes of action.

After the Pokes stopped the Hogs on the opening possession of the second half, OSU got the ball at its own 10.

The Cowboys drove as deep as the Arkansas 8 thanks to a fourth-down conversion run by Bowman. On the next play, it looked like Bowman hit wide receiver Brennan Presley on a fade route in the back corner of the end zone for a TD. However, fullback Jake Schultz was penalized 15 yards for a chop block, then OSU was called on a false start — both of which put a screeching halt to the drive.

OSU had to settle for a 45-yard field goal by Ward to cut the Arkansas advantage to 21-10 with 6:45 left in the third quarter.

OSU’s defense kept making plays to give its offense a shot at continuing the comeback attempt.

Jackson this time did fumble, with OSU defensive end Kody Walterscheid making the recovery at the Arkansas 49 with 3:25 remaining in the period.

The Cowboys drove as deep as the Arkansas 18, but once again miscues doomed the drive. A pass interference penalty on wide receiver Rashod Owens sitting a pick forced the Pokes back. OSU had to settle for a 35-yard field goal by Ward with 39 seconds left in the period to cut the OSU deficit to 21-13 after three quarters.

The Razorbacks responded by driving from their own 25 to the OSU 20, but a bad snap to Green stymied the drive, forcing a 41-yard field goal attempt from Ramsey. However, his attempt went wide right, keeping OSU down just one score with 11:44 left in the game.

OSU initially was forced to punt on the ensuing drive, but Arkansas return man Isaiah Satenga muffed the punt and OSU’s Shea Freibaum recovered the fumble at the Arkansas 25-yard line with 10:23 remaining to play.

Two plays later, Bowman hit De’Zhaun Stribling on a 7-yard touchdown pass. Then, Bowman hit Stribling on the two-point conversion pass to knot the game at 21all with 9:37 remaining in the game.

Arkansas took the ensuing kickoff at the 35-yard line after the kickoff went out of bounds. The Hogs drove into OSU’s red zone. On fourth-and-4 from the OSU 23, Green tried to run for it, but was stopped a yard short at the OSU 20 with 6:45 left to play.

Thanks to a 63-yard flea flicker pass from Bowman to Schultz to get the Pokes down to the Arkansas 8, the Cowboys looked like they converted the drive for their first lead of the game as Bowman connected with tight end Josh Ford on a 5-yard touchdown pass. However, after review, it was determined Ford stepped out at the Arkansas 3.

On the next play, Presley scored on an end-around play to give OSU its first lead of the day. Ward hit the point after to put the Pokes ahead 28-21 with 5:13 remaining in the game.

The Hogs responded, and did so quickly. The Razorbacks needed only three plays to get the game tied as Green hit tight end Luke Hasz on a 43-yard TD pass. Ramsey’s PAT knotted the game at 28-all with 4:01 left in the game.

The Cowboys started the ensuing drive at their own 25. Thanks to a 36-yard pass from Bowman to Presley, OSU got down to the Arkansas 8 with 1:48 remaining to play.

However, at the end of the play, Bowman was penalized for taunting, thus moving the Pokes back to the Arkansas 21.

Then, after Gordon II got the ball down to the Arkansas 15, OSU was called for a false start, moving the ball back to the Arkansas 20.

However, it did not matter as Ward hit a 38-yard field goal with 55 seconds left to regain the lead for the Cowboys at 31-28.

The Hogs had one last shot. Arkansas got the ball at its own 25 and got down to the OSU 27 with two seconds left. Ramsey hit the game-tying field goal from 45 yards out to force overtime with the game tied at 31-all.