Oklahoma State 31, Iowa State 10
STILLWATER, Okla. - It wasn't exactly full revenge, yet Oklahoma State will take it, especially this season.
The Cowboys, seeking traction in their follow act to winning the 2011 Big 12 Conference championship, beat the only team able to take them down a year ago, pulling away from Iowa State, 31-10, on Saturday at Boone Pickens Stadium.
Oklahoma State improved to 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the Big 12, with quarterback J.W. Walsh passing for 415 yards and a touchdown and running for another score.
The Cowboys also got 151 yards rushing from Joseph Randle and 129 yards receiving from Charlie Moore, rallying from an early deficit to win going away.
Iowa State fell to 3-3, 1-2.
Cyclones quarterback Jared Barnett had the offense rolling early, directing Iowa State to a 7-0 first-quarter lead. He completed 19-of-39 passes for 206 yards and a touchdown, but also threw a key interception before being replaced by Steele Jantz in the fourth quarter.
Iowa State's 37-31 double overtime upset of Oklahoma State in Ames a year ago proved to be the difference in the Cowboys' BCS title game hopes. Saturday's game couldn't wipe away all that anguish, but Oklahoma State players admitted to approaching the rematch with much anticipation.
The Cowboys trailed, 7-0 and 10-7, in the first quarter, before taking control on both sides of the ball.
Oklahoma State's defense forced five consecutive punts to end the half, while Quinn Sharp's field goal and Moore's biggest play, a 74-yard scoring reception, sent the Cowboys ahead, 17-10, at the half.
On the touchdown, Walsh rolled right, allowing Moore to get behind his defender, then led his receiver perfectly down the sideline and he reached the end zone untouched.
The Cowboys boosted the lead to 24-10 early in the third quarter, after the defense set up a short touchdown drive on Daytawion Lowe's interception of Barnett's pass at the Iowa State 44.
From there, Oklahoma Statee used seven plays to score, with Joseph Randle covering the final 12 yards on a blast off tackle.
Iowa State started strong, winning the coin toss and electing to receive, then marching 75 yards for a touchdown on the game's opening possession.
Barnett hit Josh Lenz for 25 yards on the first snap from scrimmage and added a 20-yard run on a keeper to spark the drive. Barnett's option pitch to Jeff Woody produced the touchdown on a two-yard run.
After the Cowboys tied the score on Randle's one-yard touchdown run, the Cyclones took their final lead on Edwin Arceo's 41-yard field goal.
NOTES: The Cowboys played shorthanded Saturday. Among the missing were starting quarterback Wes Lunt and receivers Tracy Moore and Isaiah Anderson. Backup running back Jeremy Smith returned from injury, carried once, then limped off. . ... The Cyclones entered the game at No. 24 in the BCS Standings, their first ever appearance in the BCS rankings. ... Charlie Moore's 74-yard touchdown reception is Oklahoma State's longest play from scrimmage this season. Moore had the previous long, a 72-yard scoring catch against Kansas last week. ... Iowa State's magic number of sorts remains 24 points. When holding teams under 24, the Cyclones have won 19 of the last 20 games. They dropped to 3-22 when allowing more than 24.
