By Krista Pirtle
Sports Editor
Baylor football can finally say it beat the Oklahoma State Cowboys, 41-34.
“Last year, we had a great season, outstanding season, Heisman trophy winner and all that kind of stuff, but I wouldn’t trade this season for the world,” sophomore nickel back Ahmad Dixon said. “These seniors and these other guys that are here with me, we have grown tremendously, speaking for myself not just as a football player but as a young man. These guys, in our down times have taught me so much. Looking to these guys when I needed them, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
Senior quarterback Nick Florence took control in his last game at Floyd Casey, throwing for 296 yards and a touchdown and contributing to the ground game with 71 yards and a touchdown.
Sophomore running back Lache Seastrunk recorded 178 total yards on the afternoon with a touchdown of his own.
Junior receiver Tevin Reese leads the passing attack with 108 yards and a score.
With his 71 yards, senior wide receiver Terrance Williams is No. 1 on the single-season all-purpose yard list with 1,778 yards. He passed Kendall Wright’s record of 1.772.
Baylor’s defense won the turnover battle 2-1, and allowed the Cowboys to convert on only seven of their 15 third downs.
Junior linebacker Eddie Lackey had a career-high 15 tackles, including a career-high 12 solo tackles.
Both teams started the game settling for field goals.
With the game tied at three with eight minutes to play in the first quarter, Terrance Loyd put some pressure on Oklahoma State junior quarterback Clint Chelf.
That pressure turned into prime opportunity for the Baylor defense when junior linebacker Eddie Lackey intercepted the pass and took it 26 yards to the house to put Baylor up 10-3.
“I would vote for Eddie lackey again for player of the week,” senior safety Mike Hicks said. “Three interceptions in two weeks. He is a heck of a player.”
The Bears weren’t done scoring in the first half.
After four and a half minutes of possession, junior running back Glasco Martin punched the ball in two yards to put Baylor up 17-3 to end the first half.
The Bears continued their offensive force with a 75-yard touchdown reception by Reese, a career long, making the score 24-3.
Oklahoma State answered with a four-yard quarterback draw by freshman J.W. Walsh.
The play was reviewed and reversed.
So, the Cowboys ran the same play and scored again, making the score 24-10.
Baylor’s next drive was moving methodically down the field, but a fumble by Seastrunk fumbled the ball, giving Oklahoma State enough momentum to cap off the drive with a 14-yard touchdown reception by Josh Stewart, making the score 24-17.
Florence would step up for Baylor’s next drive, running for 32 yards on the ground out of the 75 total yards of the drive.
He would cap off the drive with a 3-yard run, making the score 31-17.
The Cowboys wouldn’t make it very far on their next drive, however, as senior safety Mike Hicks intercepted Chelf’s pass at the Baylor 40 and returned it to the Oklahoma State 21-yard line.
Baylor’s final possession of the half, however, brought no points for the Bears.
Junior Aaron Jones’ 34-yard field goal to end the half was blocked.
Jones would miss again from 41 yards out to start out the third quarter after junior Darius Jones returned the kickoff 73 yards.
Oklahoma State would also have to settle for a 43-yard field goal, making the score 31-20.
Baylor would fight back and also be forced to kick the field goal.
Jones would make this one from 23 yards out and put the Bears up by 14.
The game would come to a lull with Baylor’s defensive stops and conservative play calling.
The Cowboys broke the silence with a four-yard punch by Walsh for the touchdown, bringing Oklahoma State to within seven.
It only took Baylor 19 seconds to answer with a Seastrunk 76 yard touchdown.
The impressive part of the run was the cramp he caught in his left hamstring in the middle of it.
Oklahoma State found the end zone one more time with an 18-yard pass to bring the score to 41-34.
“Congratulations to our football team, our players,” head coach Art Briles said. “What they’ve accomplished in my mind is just I think is a story of heart and belief and effort. And that’s what makes my position so worthwhile. You have the privilege to hang around people that do extraordinary things and figure it’s ordinary effort.”
Baylor is 7-5 on the season and awaits a bowl bid.
