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Cowboys rally past Texas A&M

  • Associated Press
  • Published Sunday, Sep. 25, 2011, at 12:09 a.m.

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Oklahoma State didn't panic when it was down by 17 points to eighth-ranked Texas A&M at halftime on Saturday.

It wasn't anything new to the seventh-ranked Cowboys, after they bounced back from a big first-half deficit last year to beat the Aggies.

Brandon Weeden threw for a school-record 438 yards and two scores and Justin Blackmon and Josh Cooper combined for 244 yards receiving as Oklahoma State rallied for a 30-29 win over Texas A&M.

"We came out confident in the second half," Blackmon said. "We knew we could come back if we played our game and executed the game plan (and) that's what we did."

The Aggies built a 20-3 halftime lead before the Cowboys (4-0, 1-0 Big 12) took advantage of three Texas A&M turnovers and numerous penalties to reel off 27 straight points to take a 30-20 lead.

"The way they handled that situation was beautiful," Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy said of his team's second half. "And the win makes it's special. The way they fought back as a group shows a lot about their character and who they are."

Jeff Fuller caught a 4-yard touchdown pass with 2:20 remaining for A&M's first score since the second quarter to get A&M within 30-27.

A&M's defense forced a punt and the Aggies (2-1, 0-1) got the ball back with almost two minutes remaining, but Ryan Tannehill threw his third interception to seal the Cowboys' win.

Blackmon ran 39 yards into A&M's end zone for a safety as time expired to finish off the victory.

Oklahoma State won its fourth straight in the series and its seventh overall on the road in the first top 10 matchup at Kyle Field since 1975. It marks the first time the Cowboys have won consecutive games in College Station.

It could be the last time these teams meet in conference play with the Aggies likely headed to the Southeastern Conference next season. It was a fact not lost on the few Oklahoma State fans in attendance who chanted, "Big 12, Big 12" as the final seconds of the game ticked away.

The matchup was oddly similar to last year's matchup between these teams when A&M led 21-7 at halftime before errors led to a 38-35 Oklahoma State win in Stillwater.

The Aggies talked about what happened last year in hopes that they wouldn't suffer the same fate on Saturday. It didn't help.

"We gave the game away," Aggies safety Hunter said. "We didn't step up and play with the same passion we did in the first half. We weren't going out with that same fire and we weren't ready to fight. Regardless of what they did in the second half... we just didn't go out and want to win."

Oklahoma St. 3 0 21 6 — 30 Texas A&M 10 10 0 9 — 29

First Quarter

TAM—Tannehill 65 run (Bullock kick), 13:59.

OkSt—FG Sharp 27, 9:38.

TAM—FG Bullock 43, 1:35.

Second Quarter

TAM—Fuller 17 pass from Tannehill (Bullock kick), 10:34.

TAM—FG Bullock 35, 1:51.

Third Quarter

OkSt—J.Smith 13 run (Sharp kick), 12:24.

OkSt—Blackmon 11 pass from Weeden (Sharp kick), 7:34.

OkSt—T.Moore 4 pass from Weeden (Sharp kick), 3:33.

Fourth Quarter

OkSt—FG Sharp 24, 14:06.

OkSt—FG Sharp 18, 6:24.

TAM—Fuller 4 pass from Tannehill (Bullock kick), 2:20.

TAM—Safety, :00.

A—87,358.

OkStTAM

First downs3325

Rushes-yards35-4627-162

Passing438309

Comp-Att-Int47-60-028-47-3

Return Yards89

Punts-Avg. 4-45.03-41.0

Fumbles-Lost1-12-1

Penalties-Yards11-9510-82

Time of Possession33:0326:57

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing—Oklahoma St., Randle 21-83, J.Smith 6-39, Weeden 4-(minus 26), Team 4-(minus 50). Texas A&M, Tannehill 7-69, Michael 6-62, Gray 13-35, R.Swope 1-(minus 4).

Passing—Oklahoma St., Weeden 47-60-0-438. Texas A&M, Tannehill 28-47-3-309.

Receiving—Oklahoma St., J.Cooper 11-123, Blackmon 11-121, Anyiam 10-92, Randle 4-4, T.Moore 3-20, Co.Chelf 2-21, Harrison 2-9, Stewart 1-28, Staley 1-11, Anderson 1-5, Horton 1-4. Texas A&M, R.Swope 7-105, Fuller 6-55, McNeal 4-65, Nwachukwu 4-37, Branda.Jackson 3-32, Gray 3-9, Michael 1-6.

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