Oklahoma State’s defense, usually playing second fiddle to their explosive offense, stepped up huge on Saturday, holding Central Florida to just seven points in the second half and scoring a critical touchdown on a fumble return to beat the Knights 42-28. That defensive gem, an Evan Jackson 28-yard scoop-and-score, gave the No. 18 ranked Cowboys a 35-21 lead in the fourth quarter, putting the game out of reach with 10:32 left.
Defense Clamps Down in the Crucial Second Half
This win wasn’t all about the offense, even though Oklahoma State entered the day ranked second nationally in total offense under first-year coach Eric Morris. After the teams traded blows and went into halftime tied at 21, the Cowboys’ defense completely flipped the script. They stifled UCF’s attack when it mattered most, allowing only a single touchdown in the final two quarters. That included the wild play where UCF’s Keyone Jenkins threw a backwards pass, and Evan Jackson was right there to scoop it up and take it to the house. What a momentum swing that was!
Mestemaker Keeps Rolling, Despite the Scares
Even with the defense pulling out heroics, Drew Mestemaker and the offense still did their part. Mestemaker put up 304 yards passing with two touchdowns, plus he ran for another score. The guy is a machine! He’s a Unitas Award semifinalist and has already led Oklahoma State past Oregon, even setting a school record against them. But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. On the game’s opening drive, Caleb Hawkins lost a fumble for the first time in over 350 college touches, and UCF capitalized immediately with a 1-yard touchdown catch from Grayson Brousseau. Later, there was a real head-scratcher when Mestemaker threw to Terrance Lewis in the final minute, Lewis caught it out of bounds, and then took a late hit that wasn’t called. The boos from the Oklahoma State fans were definitely justified on that one. But even with those moments, Mestemaker kept his cool and kept the offense moving.
Central Florida’s Keyone Jenkins threw for 265 yards and four touchdowns, and Josh Derry grabbed 11 catches for 84 yards and a score, proving they could hang in the first half. But that second-half defensive stand by Oklahoma State was just too much for them to overcome.
Oklahoma State is now 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the Big 12, riding a four-game winning streak. They’re playing lights-out football, and after showing they can win with their defense, this team looks even scarier. What’s next for this squad as they continue their climb up the rankings? It’s going to be exciting to watch.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
Leave a Reply