Oklahoma State University Athletics
Photo by: Bruce Waterfield
Six Reasons Why The Win At West Virginia Mattered
October 11, 2015 | Cowboy Football
STILLWATER – Oklahoma State was a 33-26 overtime winner at West Virginia on Saturday. In doing so, the Cowboys improved to 6-0 overall and 3-0 in the Big 12. Some other key notes on the victory:
The Oklahoma State Win...
• Improved the Cowboys to 6-0, marking the fourth time under Mike Gundy that OSU has had a perfect record after six games. (2008, 2010, 2011 and 2015). OSU had only two 6-0 starts (1945 and 1997) in 103 seasons before Gundy took over in 2005.
• Was the Cowboys' eighth consecutive victory, marking OSU's longest win streak since the Pokes rattled off 11 straight wins from Dec. 29, 2010 to Nov. 18, 2011. Eight straight wins ties for the third-longest winning streak in school history.
• Made the Cowboys bowl-eligible for the 10th straight season to extend their school-record streak.
• Was the Cowboys' first over West Virginia in three trips to Morgantown and allowed OSU to match last season's regular-season win total of six.
• Was Mike Gundy's 90th career victory as a head coach.
• Improved the Cowboys to 43-5 in their last 48 games against unranked opponents, dating back to 2010.
Standout performers included the following:
Offense
J.W. Walsh
Quarterback | 6-2 | 215 | R-Senior | Denton, TX (Guyer)
As has been the case all season, J.W. Walsh didn't play a lot of snaps, but the ones he played were meaningful. Not only did he score the game-winning touchdown in overtime, but he did it on a fourth-down play, meaning that if he didn't convert, then West Virginia would have been in a very favorable position to win the game. In the win over the Mountaineers, Walsh carried the ball four times for 17 yards plus the winning touchdown and completed two of his three pass attempts, with one going for a touchdown in the third quarter. His efficiency rating in the win was 204.7, marking the fourth straight game he has turned in an efficiency rating above 200. On the year, Walsh sports an efficiency rating of 235.57.
Defense
Emmanuel Ogbah
Defensive End | 6-4 | 275 | R-Junior | Houston, TX (George Bush)
Emmanuel Ogbah was everywhere in Oklahoma State's win over West Virginia in Morgantown. The All-America candidate scored a defensive touchdown, forced two fumbles, recovered a fumble and notched a sack, a tackle for loss and a quarterback hurry. He also set a season high with eight tackles. The reigning Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year loomed larger than any other player in the game and the Cowboys needed every bit of production that he gave them. His fumble recovery in the end zone opened the scoring and the first fumble that he forced enabled the Cowboy offense to start a drive at the West Virginia 28 yard line. Just five plays later, the Pokes found the end zone. In conference games, Ogbah leads the Big 12 in sacks, tackles for loss and fumbles forced.
Special Teams
Zach Sinor
Punter | 5-11 | 195 | R-Freshman | Castroville, TX (Medina Valley)
On a night when yards and good field position were hard to come by for Oklahoma State, freshman punter Zach Sinor had a huge impact on the Cowboys' win over West Virginia in Morgantown. Sinor punted eight times for an average of 44.9 yards, with three of his punts downed inside the Mountaineer 20 yard line. He did his best work in the fourth quarter, hampering the WVU cause with punts of 49 yards, 52 yards and 50 yards on his last three strikes. For the game, Sinor's eight punts resulted in just three punt return yards for West Virginia.
The Oklahoma State Win...
• Improved the Cowboys to 6-0, marking the fourth time under Mike Gundy that OSU has had a perfect record after six games. (2008, 2010, 2011 and 2015). OSU had only two 6-0 starts (1945 and 1997) in 103 seasons before Gundy took over in 2005.
• Was the Cowboys' eighth consecutive victory, marking OSU's longest win streak since the Pokes rattled off 11 straight wins from Dec. 29, 2010 to Nov. 18, 2011. Eight straight wins ties for the third-longest winning streak in school history.
• Made the Cowboys bowl-eligible for the 10th straight season to extend their school-record streak.
• Was the Cowboys' first over West Virginia in three trips to Morgantown and allowed OSU to match last season's regular-season win total of six.
• Was Mike Gundy's 90th career victory as a head coach.
• Improved the Cowboys to 43-5 in their last 48 games against unranked opponents, dating back to 2010.
Standout performers included the following:
Offense
J.W. Walsh
Quarterback | 6-2 | 215 | R-Senior | Denton, TX (Guyer)
As has been the case all season, J.W. Walsh didn't play a lot of snaps, but the ones he played were meaningful. Not only did he score the game-winning touchdown in overtime, but he did it on a fourth-down play, meaning that if he didn't convert, then West Virginia would have been in a very favorable position to win the game. In the win over the Mountaineers, Walsh carried the ball four times for 17 yards plus the winning touchdown and completed two of his three pass attempts, with one going for a touchdown in the third quarter. His efficiency rating in the win was 204.7, marking the fourth straight game he has turned in an efficiency rating above 200. On the year, Walsh sports an efficiency rating of 235.57.
Defense
Emmanuel Ogbah
Defensive End | 6-4 | 275 | R-Junior | Houston, TX (George Bush)
Emmanuel Ogbah was everywhere in Oklahoma State's win over West Virginia in Morgantown. The All-America candidate scored a defensive touchdown, forced two fumbles, recovered a fumble and notched a sack, a tackle for loss and a quarterback hurry. He also set a season high with eight tackles. The reigning Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year loomed larger than any other player in the game and the Cowboys needed every bit of production that he gave them. His fumble recovery in the end zone opened the scoring and the first fumble that he forced enabled the Cowboy offense to start a drive at the West Virginia 28 yard line. Just five plays later, the Pokes found the end zone. In conference games, Ogbah leads the Big 12 in sacks, tackles for loss and fumbles forced.
Special Teams
Zach Sinor
Punter | 5-11 | 195 | R-Freshman | Castroville, TX (Medina Valley)
On a night when yards and good field position were hard to come by for Oklahoma State, freshman punter Zach Sinor had a huge impact on the Cowboys' win over West Virginia in Morgantown. Sinor punted eight times for an average of 44.9 yards, with three of his punts downed inside the Mountaineer 20 yard line. He did his best work in the fourth quarter, hampering the WVU cause with punts of 49 yards, 52 yards and 50 yards on his last three strikes. For the game, Sinor's eight punts resulted in just three punt return yards for West Virginia.
Players Mentioned
Friday, June 05
Friday, May 29
Wednesday, May 27
Monday, May 18
