LAWRENCE (AP) — Mason Rudolph threw for 220 yards and one touchdown, Jalen McCleskey caught six passes for 129 yards, Justice Hill ran for 162 yards and Oklahoma State extinguished Kansas’ homecoming excitement, winning 44-20 on Saturday.
With less than four minutes remaining in the third quarter, Kansas (1-6, 0-4 Big 12) quarterback Montell Cozart was pressed on third-and-7 deep in Jayhawk territory and threw an interception straight into the hands of Oklahoma State defensive tackle DeQuinton Osborne. Osborne, standing at 6-foot and weighing 310 pounds, ran down to Kansas sideline to the 1-yard line. On the following play, Oklahoma State running back Rennie Childs punched in the ball to put the Cowboys (5-2, 3-1) up 31-20.
Then things got weird.
Six plays later, Cozart threw another interception.
The deep pass was intended for wide receiver LaQuvionte Gonzalez, but he batted the ball up and Oklahoma State free safety Jordan Sterns brought it down. Sterns scrambled up the field for 21 yards and then lateraled the ball to defensive tackle Vincent Taylor. Taylor then ran for 14 yards before lateraling to defensive end Jarrell Owens. Owens ran for another 29 yards before being brought down by Gonzalez at the Kansas 16. Oklahoma State chipped in a 25-yard field goal a few plays after the chaos.
Kansas started off hot, scoring first halfway through the first quarter by a Cozart-to-Gonzalez 68-yard pass. The Jayhawks held a lead until three minutes before halftime when Hill inched in a 1-yard touchdown run to make the score 17-13.
Kansas came close to getting within one point, as the Jayhawks prepared to attempt a 59-yard field goal as time expired before halftime. With five seconds remaining in the half, Oklahoma State’s Motekiai Maile blocked the kick. Kansas couldn’t recover, scoring only one more time before the game ended.
Cozart threw for 250 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, Ke’aun Kinner rushed for 145 yards, and Gonzalez hauled in six passes for 106 yards in the Jayhawks’ 21st-straight loss to FBS opponents.
THE TAKEAWAY
Kansas: The Kansas defense sacked Mason Rudolph five times, the most a Jayhawk squad has brought down a Cowboy quarterback in program history. Dorance Armstrong sacked Rudolph once, extending his sack streak to five-straight games.
Oklahoma State: The Cowboys scored 17 points off Jayhawk turnovers.
Kansas travels to Oklahoma t0 play the Sooners on Oct. 29.
Oklahoma State hosts West Virginia on Oct. 29.
