K-State, Oklahoma State Tied 7-7 After One Quarter Of Play
By Dave Thoman
Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports
With K-State opting to defer after winning the coin flip, Oklahoma State took the ball first and moved the ball easily into K-State territory, but on 3rd-and-1 Blake Slaughter destroyed any attempts to block him, dropping Desmond Roland for no gain. Oklahoma State punted, dropping the Wildcats at the two.
K-State’s baffling quarterback usage continued, and appeared to play for K-State’s benefit. After Jake Waters took the field and handed off to John Hubert for a short game, Daniel Sams came on the offense’s second play, throwing a short completion to John Lockett and then a first down to Curry Sexton. A false start by Cornelius Lucas shoved K-State back, and a second false start pushed K-State back to 2nd-and-17. A ten yard throw to Sexton by Sams got K-State moving, and then Sams rushed eight yards and had a diving finish to pick up the team’s second first down.
K-State’s drive ended when the Tavon Rooks committed the third false start of the drive, and on third and long Sams missed Torell Miller on a home run throw. However, Ty Zimmerman provided excellent coverage on the punt, knocking Josh Stewart back two yards to the Oklahoma State 12.
Following a drive in which Oklahoma State quarterback J.W. Walsh utterly failed to find any accuracy, Tyler Lockett fair caught the punt, giving K-State the ball on their own 33. Then Daniel Sams threw the ball again. This time, he found fullback Glenn Gronkowski for a 67-yard touchdown. 7-0 K-State.
Oklahoma State started this season rivaling Baylor for the fastest offense in the conference. After a facemask put the Pokes 45 yards from the end zone, Oklahoma State ran a flea-flicker, and the trick play went for 43 yards. Jeremy Smith punched it in on the next play, tying the game at 7-7.
Tyler Locket had a huge return on the kick-off return, but penalties once again seriously hurt the team, as a holding penalty brought K-State back about 50 yards to the 12. K-State looked to scare the Cowboys a little, bringing in both Waters and Sams for the first time all year. However, there was no trickery – Waters handed off to Sams for one yard to end the second quarter.