Five Key Plays From Oklahoma State's Loss to South Alabama
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Oklahoma State’s game against South Alabama had plenty of big plays but rarely in favor of the Cowboys.
OSU dropped its first game of the season to USA 33-7 to make it 2-1. OSU had few positives throughout the game after digging a significant hole in the first half.
The Cowboys’ offensive struggles made gaining any traction against the Jaguars nearly impossible. But big plays given up by the Cowboys’ defense made any deficit too great to come back from.
Here’s a look at five key plays that led to OSU’s loss:
Jaden Bray’s drop
After Alan Bowman got his second straight start, his first drive leading OSU looked promising. Bowman threw three completions to start the drive and had OSU across midfield.
On the first play in Jaguars’ territory, Bowman threw a pass to an open Jaden Bray on the right side of the field. The pass hit Bray in stride and may have ended in an early score for the Cowboys, but Bray dropped it.
That drop killed OSU’s offense early. Bowman threw two more incompletions leading to a punt, including the play where one of OSU’s leading receivers, De’Zhaun Stribling, suffered an injury.
Alan Bowman’s interception
Bowman’s third drive against USA was cut short. On third-and-eight, Bowman tried to find receiver Talyn Shettron on the right side, but the pass never arrived.
The Jaguars’ Marquise Robinson picked off Bowman and set his team up in excellent field position. La’Damian Webb cashed in on Bowman’s mistake by getting in the endzone on the first play of the ensuing drive to put the Jaguars up 16-0.
South Alabama’s dagger before halftime
USA got the football back with just over two minutes left in the first half after forcing OSU to punt again. On third-and-eight, USA quarterback Carter Bradley flung a pass deep downfield to Caullin Lacy for a 57-yard touchdown.
Lacy got behind the OSU secondary and made the play that may have ended OSU’s chance of winning. OSU coach Mike Gundy said that OSU did not have enough time to establish a running game in the second half because of the deficit, and this play likely caused that thought process.
Brennan Presley’s muffed punt
The Cowboys’ defense followed up the team’s first score of the night with a three-and-out as they finally were building momentum. In the past, Brennan Presley has shown his ability as an electric returner who can change the outlook of a game in just one play.
He certainly changed the game's outlook, but not in typical fashion. Presley muffed the punt and was recovered by the Jaguars, setting up a field goal to push their lead to 26-7 in the fourth quarter and effectively end the Cowboys’ night.
Garret Rangel’s insertion
Not a play per se, but a significant turn of events nonetheless. After the muffed punt and field goal to push the OSU deficit to 19, Garret Rangel came onto the field for his first reps of the night.
Gunnar Gundy had just accounted for 54 yards on OSU’s lone scoring drive and seemed to be getting into a rhythm. Although it would have been an impossible task for any of the quarterbacks to get OSU back in the game at that point, keeping Gundy on the field was probably OSU’s best shot at building offensive momentum before conference play.
Instead, it was a reminder that seemingly no progress has been made in the quarterback race.
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