Oklahoma State 59, Texas Tech 21
STILLWATER, Okla. -- Isaiah Anderson's final season at Oklahoma State was beginning to look quite forgettable.
A big Senior Day spun it memorable.
The Cowboys wide receiver caught three long touchdown passes -- his first scores of the season -- leading No. 24 OSU to a 59-21 rout over No. 23 Texas Tech on Saturday at Boone Pickens Stadium.
A key game in the Big 12 for bowl positioning purposes, with both teams entering with four conference wins, the Cowboys rolled to a 35-14 halftime lead and were never threatened in the second half.
Oklahoma State improved to 7-3 overall and 5-2 in the conference. The Red Raiders fell to 7-4 and 4-4.
Injuries, including a fractured finger recently, had hampered Anderson's availability and efficiency. Before Saturday, he'd totaled just 10 catches for 123 yards. Clearly healthy against Tech, Anderson had 174 receiving yards and all three scores by halftime. He also ran for 26 yards on a reverse.
The touchdowns: 60, 33 and 66 yards. The last TD went for more yards than Anderson had ever totaled in a game (63).
The Cowboys, who have started three quarterbacks due to injuries, used two for strategic reasons against Tech. Clint Chelf and J.W. Walsh played key roles as OSU marched to a touchdown on the game's opening drive. Chelf, the starter, threw for 47 yards, while Walsh entered on short yardage and again when the Cowboys reached the Tech 5. From there, Walsh ran for three yards, then tossed a 2-yard scoring pass to fullback Kye Staley.
Tech tied the game on the first snap of the second quarter, completing an 81-yard drive. Red Raiders quarterback Seth Doege hit Darrin Moore for a 57-yard gain for the big play, which went to the Cowboys' 2.
Two plays later, running back Eric Stephens took a direct snap and dashed in from the 1.
Tech was back even at 7-7 and seemed to have momentum. But the Cowboys scored the next 28 points, with Anderson striking for his three deep balls and Walsh running for another TD on a 2-yard quarterback sweep.
Doege did engineer a 13-play, 95-yard drive for a touchdown just before halftime, throwing to Tyson Williams from 2 yards out to make it 35-14.
But OSU extended the lead with a 17-0 third quarter without completing a pass, then tacked on more in the fourth quarter.
Tech got a late touchdown pass from backup quarterback Michael Brewer.
NOTES: Anderson became the fifth Cowboys receiver this season to crack the 100-yard receiving mark. That's a school record. ... In their last two games against Texas Tech, the Cowboys have scored 125 points. OSU won 66-6 in Lubbock in 2011. ... With 230 yards Saturday, Doege moved into fourth place on Tech's all-time passing yardage list at 8,006, passing Taylor Potts (7,835) and Robert Hall (7,908). ... Tech closes its regular season next Saturday at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. OSU visits Oklahoma.
