Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys Fall to Streaking Aggies
June 21, 1999 | Cowboy Football
October 31, 1998
STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) - Chris Taylor caught a touchdown pass and set up another score with a long kickoff return Saturday night, and No. 8 Texas A&M got another strong defensive effort to beat Oklahoma State 17-6.
The Aggies (8-1, 5-0 Big 12) won their eighth straight despite losing tailback Dante Hall and quarterback Randy McCown to shoulder injuries.
Hall, averaging a team-high 94 yards per game rushing, left in the first half after carrying three times but fullback Ja'Mar Toombs supplied 111 yards on 23 carries. McCown left with a bruise early in the third quarter, and Branndon Stewart came off the bench and threw a touchdown pass on his first play.
Oklahoma State (3-5, 2-4) managed just two first-half field goals and went nowhere in the second half. The Cowboys were outgained 345-172 and managed just 54 yards in the final 30 minutes.
The Aggies fell behind 6-0 in the first half, which was played in occasional heavy rain. But they scored on their final two possessions of the half to take a 10-6 lead and added their final score on the first drive of the second half.
An 84-yard kick return by Taylor set up a 7-yard pass from McCown to Matt Bumgardner that made the score 7-6 with 6:44 left before halftime.
McCown hit Taylor on a 19-yard completion on A&M's next series, helping lead to a 37-yard field goal by Russell Bynum.
On Stewart's first snap after McCown was hurt, he hit Taylor for a 34-yard touchdown on third-and-17 to make it 17-6. The Aggies had converted on two other third downs in the drive, including a 20-yard completion to Derrick Spiller on third-and-14.
Oklahoma State started third-quarter drives at their 48, the Aggies' 44 and A&M's 47, but netted just 37 yards.
The Cowboys moved the ball well early, but wound up with two field goals after driving deep into A&M territory.
Tony Lindsay completed his first four passes but finished 7-of-17 for just 56 yards and an interception. He was held to 15 yards on 10 carries one week after gaining 99 against Oklahoma.
Lindsay had completions of 20 and 15 yards on Oklahoma State's first series, when the Cowboys reached the A&M 26 before an illegal procedure penalty helped stall the drive, which ended with a 37-yard field goal by Tim Sydnes.
A 38-yard gain by Nathan Simmons after an interception gave the Cowboys first-and-goal at the 6 in the second quarter. But an illegal procedure penalty on first down led to another field goal.
By OWEN CANFIELD
AP Sports Writer
