Six Reasons Why Oklahoma State's Win Over Pitt Mattered

STILLWATER - The Oklahoma State football program picked up a 45-38 win over Pitt Saturday, improving to 2-1 on the season. The Cowboys set several school records in the game, including team total offense in a half, individual receiving yards in a half, individual yards per reception in a game and individual passing yards in a game and in a half. Some other key notes on the win:

The Oklahoma State win…
• Improved OSU to 23-5 in its last 28 non-conference games.
• Improved the Cowboys to 48-6 in their last 53 games against unranked opponents, dating back to 2010.
• Brought Mike Gundy to within four victories of the 100-win mark for his career.
• Was OSU's 16th in its last 17 non-conference games played in Boone Pickens Stadium, dating back to a 2009 loss to Houston. The Cowboys are 26-2 in non-conference home games under Mike Gundy (2005-present).
• Was OSU's 48th in its last 54 games against unranked opponents.
• Was OSU's 14th in its last 18 games overall, dating back to the end of the 2014 season.

Standout performers included the following:

Offense
Mason Rudolph | Quarterback | 6-5 | 235 | Junior | Rock Hill, S.C./Northwestern
• The 540 passing yards by Oklahoma State quarterback Mason Rudolph in the Cowboys' thrilling 45-38 win over Pittsburgh not only set a school record, but also represented the highest single-game figure in the nation this season. Rudolph's 540 yards in a single game ranks as the 11th-highest total in Big 12 history.
• Rudolph completed 26-of-46 passes for two touchdowns with no interceptions in the game. His 20.77 yards per completion set a single-game school record (min. 20 completions) and his 46 pass attempts without a single interception rank as the fourth-best single-game mark in school history. Making that even more impressive is the fact that the bulk of Rudolph's 46 attempts against Pittsburgh were downfield shots, as opposed to quick, safe routes.
• Rudolph set the tone immediately by completing a 91-yard touchdown pass to James Washington on the first play of the game. That 91-yard strike was the second-longest pass completion in school history. He later connected with Jhajuan Seales on an 86-yard completion with the score tied and less than two minutes left. That 86-yard connection was the fourth-longest completion in school history and was crucial to the Cowboys' victory.

James Washington | Receiver | 6-0 | 205 | Junior | Stamford, Texas/Stamford
• Oklahoma State receiver James Washington turned in a historic performance with nine catches for 296 yards and two touchdowns to help lead the Cowboys to victory over previously-unbeaten Pittsburgh.
• Washington's 296 receiving yards are by far the most in a single game for any player in the nation this season, 83 yards greater than the second-highest total. Washington's figure is the most for any FBS player since Michigan's Jeremy Gallon had 369 receiving yards against Indiana on Oct. 19, 2013.
• Washington's 296 receiving yards ranks as the second-highest single-game mark in school history and is fourth in Big 12 history. 296 receiving yards is the most for a Big 12 player since 2012.
• His 32.9 yards per reception set a single-game school record (min. seven catches). It also marked the third time in his career that he has averaged more than 32 yards per catch in a game. No other Cowboy has accomplished that feat more than once.
• Washington opened the game in style, running down a deep post from Mason Rudolph and taking it to the end zone for a 91-yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage. It was the second-longest pass reception in school history. He later added catches of 50 yards, 43 yards, 35 yards, 29 yards and 25 yards, among other receptions.

Defense
Cole Walterscheid | Defensive End | 6-5 | 255 | RSo. | Muenster, Texas/Muenster
• Sophomore defensive end Cole Walterscheid erupted in Oklahoma State's thrilling 45-38 win over Pittsburgh, setting career highs with four tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks and a quarterback hurry.
• Walterscheid's four tackles for loss matched the eighth-highest figure in school history. Only twice since 2007 has a Cowboy had more in a game.
• Making his day even more impressive is the fact that it was truly Walterscheid's coming-out party. Prior to his effort against Pittsburgh, his career totals consisted of three tackles, one tackle for loss and zero sacks.

Special Teams
Zach Sinor | Punter | 5-10 | 215 | RSo. | Castroville, Texas/Medina Valley
• In a game loaded with historical performances, punter Zach Sinor was one of the unsung heroes in Oklahoma State's 45-38 win over Pittsburgh. Sinor punted six times for an average of 47.7 yards. Four of his six punts were downed inside the 20 and two of his punts were longer than 50 yards, including a 65-yard blast that matched his career long. Sinor's four punts downed inside the 20 yard line matched the fifth-best single-game total in school history.
• With the game on the line in the fourth quarter, Sinor punted three times – the first of which was a 46-yarder that was downed by his teammates, the second was a 51-yarder that was fair caught at the 10 yard line and the third was a 34-yarder that utilized expert hang time to be fair caught at the Pitt 11 yard line. To put that into context, Sinor did not allow a single return yard to Pittsburgh's Quadree Henderson, who ranked second in the ACC and 15th in the nation with 14.5 yards per punt return entering the game, at the time of the game when it was needed most.
• On the year, Sinor has punted 14 times, with 11 of those downed inside the opponents' 20 yard line. His 14 punts have yielded a total of only 16 return yards for the opponents.

Oklahoma State University Athletics

Related News

Players Mentioned

Mason Rudolph

Jhajuan Seales

Zach Sinor

Cole Walterscheid

James Washington

Related Videos