Jacob Lacey (17), Quinton Moore (26) and Andre Sexton (20) celebrate a third down stop (possibly the first three and out of the season) in the first half as Oklahoma State University Cowboys ( OSU) plays the University of Missouri Tigers (MIZZOU) at Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo. on Saturday October 11, 2008. Photo by Steve Sisney
COLUMBIA, Mo. — We all know how the race between the tortoise and the hare turned out.
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But instead of a turtle, what if it had just been a couple of Peter Cottontails blazing down the bunny trail? You wouldn’t expect either one to be relaxing under a tree, would you?
That’s the kind of frantic, fast-paced sprint to the finish we could be looking at tonight when No. 17 Oklahoma State and No. 3 Missouri kick off at 7 p.m. on Faurot Field.
And if the Cowboys aren’t careful, they could spend all night chasing Chase Daniel and the Tigers. If Missouri is on top of its game, can the Cowboys keep up?
Both offenses are explosive; the numbers through five games prove that. Only Tulsa (56.4) averages more points per game than Missouri (53.4) and Oklahoma State (52.6).
Both have similar talent sets, each with a playmaker at quarterback, running back, receiver and tight end.
But Oklahoma State might need to score on every possession to keep up with the potent Tiger attack.
While OSU’s offensive players are confident they can outscore anyone in the country, they aren’t going into this game thinking they must score every time they get the ball.
"We’re gonna continue to do what we do, play the way we play,” OSU sophomore receiver Dez Bryant said.
"We’re not gonna change our style, no matter who it is. We’re just gonna go out there and execute like we’ve been doing against whoever.”
Missouri’s offense has proven itself against slightly better opponents so far, namely Illinois, which hung around in the top 25 the first few weeks of the season. But the defenses Missouri has faced rank worse on average than OSU’s foes. Troy is the only defense on either team’s schedule that ranks in the top 70 nationally in total defense or scoring defense.
Defensively, Missouri has been giving up yards (367.6 per game, 83rd nationally), but not a lot of points (20.0 per game, 45th). OSU ranks 51st in total yardage (338.6) and 54th in scoring defense (23.0).
It seems to be a trendy opinion that defense will decide tonight’s game.
But if that proves true, it’s because the offenses are in a mad dash for the finish line, and whoever can slow up the other at the most crucial time will win.
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Now that’s how a REAL TEAM\MAN takes care of business, for all of the good ol boy teams in the Big 12 get ready because Boone Pickens didn’t spend all that money for nothing we are GONNA BEAT texASS and u0 FOR THE FORSEEABLE FUTURE !!! DAMM texASS and u0 BAD LUCK!!!!!!!! LONG EARED DONKIES.
I've been watching the game non-stop! I'm so stoked. I was a little nervous especially when the offense did so poorly but the defense really did fabulous & overcompensated which saved us. Patrick Lavine really saved the day for us at the tail end w/ 2 min to go. It's gonna be an orange X-Mas baby! What's even better is OU sucked today against UT. I can't wait till tomorrow to boast n brag. Ole Mike needs to work w/ the offense more & help the defense realize the season's not over. Don't boast too much. Keep working Cowboys & let them show all what the show-me-state's about!
Bob Davie said that the defenses that oSu has faced were much worse than Mizzery. I'm guessing that Scott Wright did his homework and Bob Davie did not. The bottom line . . . this is why they play the games. Go Pokes Go
nearly midway thru the season, oSu is on track to meet the preseason goal of being a top 50 defense. tonite would be a BIG step forward in meeting that goal, and if the offense continues clicking, and really hits its stride [something i don't think has quite happened yet, as impressive as the numbers are so far] a top-50 D could carry the pokes a looooong way. hopefully, oSu will remind the rest of the nation that the big XII north is still, well, the big XII north. go pokes!
Unless we can get two or three turnovers, I just don't know how we're going to pull this off, but it is college football and crazy things happen...especially to teams like Missou, who aren't usually ranked this high. I'll be standing in the living room the entire game. GO POKES!
Missouri roster 10/11/2008
1
Jimmy Jackson
RB
5-9
200
Sr.
1
William Moore
S
6-1
230
Sr.
2
Brian Coulter
DE
6-4
250
Jr.
2
La’Roderick Thomas
WR
6-0
195
So.
3
Gahn...
Missouri depth chart 10/11/2008
QB
10
Chase Daniel
6-0
225
Sr.
14
Chase Patton
6-5
225
Sr.
RB
24
Derrick Washington
5-11
225
So.
1
Jimmy Jackson
5-9
200
Sr.
X
4
Jared Perry
6-1...
Missouri leaders 10/11/2008 PASSING
Comp
Att
Int
Yds
TD
Chase Daniel
119
156
1
1665
15
Chase Patton
10
13
0
144
0
RUSHING
No
Yds
TD
Derrick Washington
67
500...
OSU leaders 10/11/2008 PASSING
Comp
Att
Int
Yds
TD
Zac Robinson
62
86
3
1035
10
Brandon Weeden
1
3
0
8
0
Alex Cate
2
3
0
32
0
RUSHING
No
Yds
TD
Kendall...
It’s open season on quarterbacks 10/11/2008 Tonight’s LSU-Florida game, which needed little spice in the first place, got some anyway from LSU defensive tackle Ricky Jean-Francois.
In a moment...
Laying it on the line against Tigers 10/11/2008 COLUMBIA, Mo. — Andre Sexton has heard the questions so often that he knows their rhythm.
Before the season, everyone wants to know if Oklahoma...
OSU roster 10/11/2008
No.
Name
Pos.
Ht.
Wt.
Yr.
1
Dez Bryant
WR
6-2
210
So.
2
Beau Johnson
RB
5-10
210
Jr.
3
Alex Cate
QB
6-1
195
So.
3
Victor...
OSU depth chart 10/11/2008
QB
11
Zac Robinson
6-3
210
Jr.
3
Alex Cate
6-1
200
So.
RB
24
Kendall Hunter
5-8
190
So.
2
Beau Johnson
5-10
197
Jr.
FB
37
Bryant Ward
5-11
215
So....
OSU Point-Counterpoint: Which receiver would you... 10/11/2008 Scott Wright: I think Dez Bryant is a star and he's going to have a long career in football, but right now, I'd take Jeremy Maclin. You can't coach speed and...
Tale of the tape: Oklahoma State vs. Missouri 10/11/2008 Quarterback
Often, success at the quarterback position is tied to wins and losses, which is why Missouri's Chase Daniel is in the Heisman Trophy race. OSU's...
WTMW: Ben Bailey, OSU TE 10/11/2008 With the way Oklahoma State's offense has been clicking, everybody's getting a turn at making a play. Bailey is still patiently waiting for his shot.
Things...
OSU Blitz package: Man in motion 10/11/2008 Brandon Pettigrew, TE, OSU: Tight end Brandon Pettigrew sat out Oklahoma State's last two games with an ankle injury but is expected to play Saturday. The...
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Leave a comment. Log in below or sign up (it's free).Editor's note: It is not our intent to offer comments on crime or fatality stories.