Defense opens door for OSU win

STILLWATER — A final score of 56-28 is going to tell you that the game was one-sided. That certainly was the case in Oklahoma State’s victory over Texas A&M Saturday night at Boone Pickens Stadium.
It also tells you it was another night of high productivity from the Cowboy offense. Well, that was the case too. But not totally.
The Pokes  only had 146 yards by halftime and finished being outdistanced by the Aggies, 402-401.
What made the difference was the first-half performance of the defense and special teams.
OSU was up 28-7 at halftime with two scores made off the return of interceptions from Ugo Chinasa and Patrick Lavine. And there was the 78-yard punt return from Dez Bryant. 
The Cowboys’ defense also forced turnovers off three fumbles. So it was truly a big night for this unit.
And the margin could have been larger.
Texas A&M, which received the opening kickoff, was producing a good drive to the OSU 44-yard line before an Aggie fumble forced by Jacob Lacey was scooped up by Chinasa, who returned it 35 yards to the A&M 21.
OSU nearly capitalized with a TD when it appeared that Kendall Hunter crossed the plane of the goal line on a fourth-and-goal play. The officials thought otherwise and not even replay convinced them.
So, instead, OSU turned the ball over on downs.
However, Chinasa did another number when he picked off a pass by quarterback Jerrod Johnson, taking the ball home from four yards. Bryant scored TD No. 2 on a 29-yard strike from Cowboy quarterback Zac Robinson, and got No. 3 on the long punt return.
After A&M got on the soreboard with an 80-yard scamper by Mike Goodson, Lavine followed up with his score, a 22-yard interception return.
With all that, it was clear the Cowboy defense and special teams kick-started the game for the offense to roll in the second half.
And Lavine agreed.
“”Definitely,” he said. “With Ugo’s interception, and mine as well, just putting us into get good field position, those are things you want to do — putting our team into better field position, as well as special teams”
With the win over A&M, the Cowboys are 5-0 for the first time since 2004 and the ninth time in school history. It also sets up a big Saturday showdown on the road with No. 4 Missouri, also unbeaten.
“At least we know what our defense is and we know what our offense is,” Lavine said. “The offense started off slow in this game. Our defense stepped up and it opened a lot of eyes. It showed people that we do have a good offense as well.”