Oklahoma State 84, Savannah State 0
STILLWATER, Okla. - Oklahoma State went from having the oldest quarterback in college football to the youngest.
And in the transition, didn't miss a beat, at least not in a mismatched opener, an 84-0 romp past Savannah State at Boone Pickens Stadium.
True freshman Wes Lunt, taking over for Brandon Weeden, kept OSU's offense humming, starting his career with 11 straight completions before exiting in the second quarter to make way for the backups.
Lunt, an 18-year-old rookie from Rochester, Ill., had the Cowboys' no-huddle, spread attack running at the fast and efficient pace so familiar under Weeden, who was 28 as a senior last fall and is now considered an "old" rookie with the Cleveland Browns. Lunt led scoring drives on each of his four first-quarter possessions, throwing for 129 yards with his 11-for-11 passing performance.
The running game was dominant as well, with Joseph Randle, Jeremy Smith and Desmond Roland combining for 293 yards and eight touchdowns - a school record for rushing touchdowns in a game.
The Tigers were playing up in class, making the jump from the FCS level, and it showed.
Savannah State managed only eight first downs and 139 total yards, most of it coming against OSU deep reserves in the second half.
Tigers quarterback Antonio Bostick finished 12-of-25 passing for 81 yards and was intercepted twice. Alex Simmons led Tigers rushers with 36 yards on seven carries.
After one quarter, the rout was already on, as the Cowboys had more points than Savannah State had yards: 35-15.
OSU scored on its first five possessions, with running backs Randle and Smith finishing each drive. Randle had scoring runs of 2 and 40, while Smith went in from the 6, 2 and 1.
Desmond Roland - the Cowboys' third-team back - only continued the production and punishment, scoring two more touchdowns on the ground, pushing the score to the halftime lead of 49-0.
The Tigers, who finished 1-10 overall and last in the MEAC a year ago, took the game as part of a two-week opening grind for paydays that will fund the athletic program. Savannah State visits Florida State next Saturday.
In the second year of a rebuild under Steve Davenport, the Tigers scuffled offensively in the preseason and again against the Cowboys. Their 38 first-half plays netted just 52 yards and their only possession in OSU territory came following a turnover.
NOTES: OSU wide receiver Tracy Moore did not play, sitting out a suspension for violation of team rules. Earlier in the week, Moore was cited on suspicion of providing alcohol to a minor, his third run-in with the law in six months. ... When Roland scored his second TD late in the first half, the Cowboys had tied a school record for rushing TDs in a game with seven. ... Savannah State received a $385,000 payout for the game in Stillwater.
