Oklahoma State vs. Arizona State football: Five takeaways from Cowboys' Week 2 win
Scott WrightOklahoman
STILLWATER — It wasn’t his most statistically impressive game as an Oklahoma State running back, but it was Dominic Richardson’s most valuable performance.
Richardson powered the No. 11-ranked Cowboys to a 34-17 win over Arizona State on what turned out to be a rainy Saturday night at Boone Pickens Stadium.
The junior from Oklahoma City rushed for 131 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries, seeming to get stronger as the game went. It didn’t quite match the 169 yards he rushed for in a 2020 game at Baylor, but the Pokes would’ve won that game regardless.
On Saturday, Richardson’s hard running swung things for the Cowboys. He had four carries on a five-play, 37-yard drive that gave OSU its first lead. And he pounded his way through holes to run the clock in the second half.
OSU quarterback Spencer Sanders was 21-of-38 passing for 268 yards and two touchdowns — both in the fourth quarter to help the Cowboys close the door.
Here are four more takeaways from the Pokes’ victory:
Fumble turns tide for Oklahoma State vs. Arizona State
OSU seemed to be struggling all the way around, trailing 3-0 midway through the second quarter.But when Cowboy defensive end Brock Martin laid a fierce hit on Arizona State running back Xazavian Valladay, knocking the ball loose for Tyler Lacy to recover, OSU swung the momentum swiftly.
The Cowboy offense went 37 yards in five plays for a 7-3 lead, then had a 96-yard touchdown drive on its next possession, ending the half with a field goal for a 17-3 lead.
Arizona State rallied to get within three points early in the fourth quarter, but couldn’t overcome the lead OSU had built.
Cowboy trickery
Needing a big play with Arizona State climbing back into the game, OSU offensive coordinator Kasey Dunn picked out a perfect one. With the offense in a three-back formation, Sanders handed to Richardson, who tossed it back to his quarterback.One receiver, Braydon Johnson sprinted down the middle of the field, drawing the attention of Arizona State defenders, while the other wideout, Bryson Green slipped across the middle of the field.
Green got wide-open and caught the throw for a 31-yard touchdown to answer Arizona State’s rally that had cut the lead to three.
Ollie, Ollie, running free
True freshman running back Ollie Gordon scored the first touchdown of his young career, one play after perhaps the most important play he’s had as a Cowboy.Gordon got a handoff going left on third-and-2 with the Cowboys in Arizona State territory midway through the fourth quarter. Two defenders appeared to have him pinned for a loss, but he got outside of both, then turned upfield for a gain of 6 yards and a first down.
On the next play, Sanders faked a handoff to Gordon, who slipped out of the backfield into wide-open space, catching a pass and coasting into the end zone for a 34-17 lead.
Cowboys handle health issues
A couple of injuries popped up for the Cowboys, in addition to three absences that were expected.Running back Dominic Richardson missed part of the final drive of the second quarter, then all of the first drive of the third with an ankle injury, as reported on the OSU radio broadcast, but he returned and looked mostly healthy through a strong second half.
Defensive tackle Brendon Evers suffered a shoulder injury in the third quarter and did not return. Another defensive tackle, Sione Asi, also had to be helped off in the third.
In their absence, OSU went with a defensive line that consisted mostly of defensive ends, with Lacy playing on the interior along with Brock Martin, Collin Oliver and Trace Ford.
Three offensive players were absent as they were in the season opener. Receiver Jaden Bray remains out with a thumb injury, tight end Blaine Green was out again because of a wrist injury and running back Deondre Jackson did not play because of a lingering transcript issue following his transfer from Texas A&M over the summer.
