Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys Back Up Their Ranking
April 14, 2003 | Cowboy Football
The Cowboys' winning score was set up by Maurice Simpson's interception of a John Hessler pass on the Colorado 23-yard line with 2:45 to go.
Lindsay rushed for 126 yards for the second straight game and added a rushing touchdown in addition to the game-winning pass.
The Cowboys are now 6-0 for the first time since 1945 and just the second time in school history. OSU is 3-0 in Big 12 play, marking the first time since 1964 that the Cowboys have started the conference slate with three victories.
The Cowboys' last victory at home over a ranked opponent was Oct. 13, 1984, when OSU upset No. 13 Colorado, 24-20. The victory snapped a 19-game losing streak at home against ranked opponents.
Mayes' TD reception capped a fantastic game that featured five lead changes, including three in the fourth quarter.
After four Tim Sydnes field goals had kept the Cowboys in the game in the first half, Kevin Williams picked off a Hessler pass and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown to give the Cowboys their first lead of the game late in the second half.
OSU went into halftime with a 19-14 advantage, but Colorado put together a brilliant 16-play, 95-yard scoring drive, capped by Hessler's 2-yard run, with 3:55 to go in the third quarter. Hessler's two-point conversion on a fake PAT made it 22-19 Colorado.
The Cowboys answered when Lindsay scored on a one-yard dive with 11:21 to go in the game, but the Buffaloes came back quickly, completing a swing pass to Dwayne Cherrington for a 73-yard score with 9:46 to go.
Trailing 29-26, Oklahoma State appeared to be on the verge of retaking the lead or getting a game-tying field goal when the Cowboys drove to the Colorado 7-yard line, but Lindsay fumbled, and CU's Ryan Sutter recovered on what appeared to be a game-breaking play.
But three plays later, Simpson came up with his interception, and the Cowboys scored two plays later.
OSU is now 6-0 for the first time since the 1945 season and for just the second time in school history.
Colorado falls to 2-3 overall and 0-2 in Big 12 play.
