
The challenges dealing with Saturday’s recreation in Tulsa aren’t essentially what the Golden Hurricane could have deliberate on offense or protection, based on Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy.
That is why his No. 13 group was capable of bounce again after needing two overtimes to beat Arkansas 39-31 final week.
“School soccer is a game-by-season recreation,” Gundy stated. “The sport begins on Sunday and ends after the sport on Saturday in Tulsa. You must get better bodily and mentally. You must hydrate, eat, sleep, research. You must do the identical issues each week to maximise Personal.
“For those who’re not mature sufficient to know that, then you are going to get into bother.”
Gundy hopes his group’s sixth- and seventh-year seniors will mature and never overlook an in-state rival who simply needs to get the group going earlier than subsequent week’s Massive 12 Convention opener in opposition to Utah State suffered a tragic loss.
One factor the Cowboys (2-0) wish to enhance is the working recreation, which was presupposed to be their power however hasn’t actually been what some thought it could be. Ollie Gordon II, thought of a Heisman Trophy candidate earlier than the season, managed simply 49 yards on 17 carries final week, though he did have a 12-yard run Scored the profitable landing.
“On the finish of the day, it’s a must to take into consideration the group,” Gordon stated. “This isn’t ‘your’ sport, it is ‘our’ sport. Simply holding that in thoughts, I really feel like that is why we get by means of this.”
Gordon rushed for 175 yards on 45 carries, averaging 3.9 yards. He plans to complete his job early and attempt to set up the working recreation on the street.
Tulsa (1-1) may have saved a clear sheet on this recreation, however misplaced to Arkansas State 28-24 final week with a 10-point halftime lead. The outcome spoiled a giant recreation from Kamdyn Benjamin, who caught six passes for 131 yards and a landing.
“We left some factors on the board,” Golden Hurricane coach Kevin Wilson stated. “Within the third quarter, we bought kicked. We had been exhausting to cease within the second half. We made some errors, some dangerous playcalling. We have to go residence and see what we bought.”
Tulsa has taken quite a lot of offense up to now. Averaging 43 factors in two video games, Wilson exemplified the offensive steadiness attribute of his time as Oklahoma State coordinator and Indiana head coach. Benjamin has over 1,000 yards receiving and quarterback Kirk Francis is averaging a formidable 12.8 yards per catch.
Of larger concern are the protection and particular groups. The Golden Hurricane had bother down the sphere final week, delivering eight of 17 passes on third down and permitting a 77-yard punt return in Arkansas’ 21-point third quarter. Rating factors.
Oklahoma State leads the all-time sequence 44-27-5, together with a 28-23 win the final time these two groups met in Tulsa three years in the past.
–Scene-level media