Oklahoma State University Athletics
Photo by: Bruce Waterfield
Tracking the Trends: West Virginia
October 28, 2016 | Cowboy Football
STILLWATER – As the Oklahoma State football team prepares for tomorrow's homecoming matchup with West Virginia, we take a look at streaks on the line and other trends to look out for this weekend.
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Week Nine Talking Points – Offense
• Running back Justice Hill has been the brightest spot in the re-emergence of the OSU rushing attack, putting together three 100-yard performances in his first four starts. A true freshman, Hill put up a career-high 162 yards rushing in OSU's win over Kansas last week. That effort combined with his 135-yard day in OSU's win over Texas and his 122 yards rushing in his first start against Baylor led to Hill becoming just the fifth freshman in OSU history to rush for more than 100 yards in three games. On the year, Hill ranks second among FBS freshmen with 80.7 rushing yards per game. His 565 rushing yards are the most for an Oklahoma State freshman since Kendall Hunter had 696 in 2007. Additionally, his average of 119.0 rushing yards per game against Big 12 opposition ranks third in the league and he is the only freshman among the top 10 rushers in the Big 12.
• Receiver James Washington ranks 13th nationally with 105.7 receiving yards per game and he ranks third in the nation with 10 catches of a least 30 yards this season. The Stamford, Texas, native has caught a pass in 26 consecutive games and has surpassed 100 yards receiving in eight games during his career, including twice this season.
• A large reason for his success is play of quarterback Mason Rudolph, who has established himself as one of the Big 12's best quarterbacks. Rudolph has thrown for at least 350 yards three times this season, including a school-record
540-yard day in OSU's win over Pitt. Rudolph has twice hit 300 yards passing at halftime this season, and he is one of just two players in the country who has attempted more than 250 passes with two or fewer interceptions. On the year,
Rudolph ranks 10th nationally with 322.7 passing yards per game. His 2,259 passing yards, 319 yards of total offense per game, 8.86 yards per attempt and 14.21 passing yards per completion also rank among the top 15 in the country.
• Running backs Chris Carson and Rennie Childs have also contributed to the Cowboy offensive attack this season, with Carson scoring three times last week after missing four games to injury and Childs posting a 101-yard effort in OSU's win over Pitt.
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Week Nine Talking Points – Defense
• In the last three games (all wins), the Cowboy defense has held its opponent scoreless in the fourth quarter. In fact, the Cowboys have allowed a total of only 20 fourth-quarter points in seven games this season, and have not allowed a point in the fourth quarter five times. Against Texas, OSU held the Longhorns to just six second-half points on its way to a 49-31 win in a game where the Cowboys led by just two at the half. Then against Iowa State, the Cowboys held the Cyclones without a point in the final 20 minutes of play to mount a 38-31 comeback win after trailing by 17. At Kansas last week, OSU held the Jayhawks scoreless in the final 20 minutes again as the Cowboys scored 20 unanswered points on the way to the win.
• In all five of OSU's wins, the Cowboy defense has held its opponent to less than 50 percent on third down conversions, including twice when they were held to less than 25 percent. The Cowboys are holding opponents to a 35.6 conversion rate on the year to rank second in the Big 12, and success in that area has had a strong correlation with OSU's win-loss record.
• Oklahoma State leads the nation with five blocked kicks this season, three of which came as part of the Cowboys' win over Texas. Defensive tackle Vincent Taylor leads the country individually with three blocks. The latest block came last week at Kansas as Motekiai Maile swatted a 59-yard field goal attempt at the end of the first half.
• The Cowboys lead the Big 12 in red zone defense. OSU has held opponents to a 50 percent success rate in two of the last four games and less than 70 percent in four games. Opponents have only scored 74 percent of the time in the red zone this season.
• Forcing turnovers has long been a focal point of defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer's scheme. After seven games, the Cowboys lead the Big 12 in turnover margin (+1.0), turnovers forced (16), fumbles recovered (8) and interceptions (8). The Cowboys also lead the conference in defensive touchdowns (2), opponent fourth down conversions (28.6 percent) and kickoff coverage (16.8).
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Notable Streaks and Trends Entering the West Virginia Game
• Oklahoma State has won 17 of its last 22 games overall, dating back to the end of the 2014 season.
• Oklahoma State has won four of its five home games this season.
• Oklahoma State is outscoring its opponents by an 89-40 margin in the first quarter of games this season.
• Oklahoma State's defense has forced at least one turnover in 17 of the last 18 games.
• Oklahoma State holds a 79-35 advantage in points off turnovers this season.
• Dating back to 2005, the Cowboys have won 27 of their last 28 games when not committing a turnover.
• Dating back to the 2008 season, the Cowboys have won 48 of their last 52 games when winning the turnover battle.
• Quarterback Mason Rudolph has thrown 26 touchdown passes against just four interceptions in his last 13 games, dating back to the 2015 season.
• Quarterback Mason Rudolph has thrown just two interceptions in 255 pass attempts this season.
• Receiver James Washington has at least one catch in each of his last 26 games.
• Of Zach Sinor's 35 punts this season, 20 have been downed inside the opponent 20-yard line, with only one touchback. Sinor's 35 punts have yielded only 26 punt return yards for the opponent.
• Running back Justice Hill has rushed for at least 100 yards in three of the last four games. The only other Cowboy true freshmen to rush for 100 yards or more three times in a season are Thurman Thomas (three times in 1984) and Andre Richardson (three times in 1994).
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Week Nine Talking Points – Offense
• Running back Justice Hill has been the brightest spot in the re-emergence of the OSU rushing attack, putting together three 100-yard performances in his first four starts. A true freshman, Hill put up a career-high 162 yards rushing in OSU's win over Kansas last week. That effort combined with his 135-yard day in OSU's win over Texas and his 122 yards rushing in his first start against Baylor led to Hill becoming just the fifth freshman in OSU history to rush for more than 100 yards in three games. On the year, Hill ranks second among FBS freshmen with 80.7 rushing yards per game. His 565 rushing yards are the most for an Oklahoma State freshman since Kendall Hunter had 696 in 2007. Additionally, his average of 119.0 rushing yards per game against Big 12 opposition ranks third in the league and he is the only freshman among the top 10 rushers in the Big 12.
• Receiver James Washington ranks 13th nationally with 105.7 receiving yards per game and he ranks third in the nation with 10 catches of a least 30 yards this season. The Stamford, Texas, native has caught a pass in 26 consecutive games and has surpassed 100 yards receiving in eight games during his career, including twice this season.
• A large reason for his success is play of quarterback Mason Rudolph, who has established himself as one of the Big 12's best quarterbacks. Rudolph has thrown for at least 350 yards three times this season, including a school-record
540-yard day in OSU's win over Pitt. Rudolph has twice hit 300 yards passing at halftime this season, and he is one of just two players in the country who has attempted more than 250 passes with two or fewer interceptions. On the year,
Rudolph ranks 10th nationally with 322.7 passing yards per game. His 2,259 passing yards, 319 yards of total offense per game, 8.86 yards per attempt and 14.21 passing yards per completion also rank among the top 15 in the country.
• Running backs Chris Carson and Rennie Childs have also contributed to the Cowboy offensive attack this season, with Carson scoring three times last week after missing four games to injury and Childs posting a 101-yard effort in OSU's win over Pitt.
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Week Nine Talking Points – Defense
• In the last three games (all wins), the Cowboy defense has held its opponent scoreless in the fourth quarter. In fact, the Cowboys have allowed a total of only 20 fourth-quarter points in seven games this season, and have not allowed a point in the fourth quarter five times. Against Texas, OSU held the Longhorns to just six second-half points on its way to a 49-31 win in a game where the Cowboys led by just two at the half. Then against Iowa State, the Cowboys held the Cyclones without a point in the final 20 minutes of play to mount a 38-31 comeback win after trailing by 17. At Kansas last week, OSU held the Jayhawks scoreless in the final 20 minutes again as the Cowboys scored 20 unanswered points on the way to the win.
• In all five of OSU's wins, the Cowboy defense has held its opponent to less than 50 percent on third down conversions, including twice when they were held to less than 25 percent. The Cowboys are holding opponents to a 35.6 conversion rate on the year to rank second in the Big 12, and success in that area has had a strong correlation with OSU's win-loss record.
• Oklahoma State leads the nation with five blocked kicks this season, three of which came as part of the Cowboys' win over Texas. Defensive tackle Vincent Taylor leads the country individually with three blocks. The latest block came last week at Kansas as Motekiai Maile swatted a 59-yard field goal attempt at the end of the first half.
• The Cowboys lead the Big 12 in red zone defense. OSU has held opponents to a 50 percent success rate in two of the last four games and less than 70 percent in four games. Opponents have only scored 74 percent of the time in the red zone this season.
• Forcing turnovers has long been a focal point of defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer's scheme. After seven games, the Cowboys lead the Big 12 in turnover margin (+1.0), turnovers forced (16), fumbles recovered (8) and interceptions (8). The Cowboys also lead the conference in defensive touchdowns (2), opponent fourth down conversions (28.6 percent) and kickoff coverage (16.8).
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Notable Streaks and Trends Entering the West Virginia Game
• Oklahoma State has won 17 of its last 22 games overall, dating back to the end of the 2014 season.
• Oklahoma State has won four of its five home games this season.
• Oklahoma State is outscoring its opponents by an 89-40 margin in the first quarter of games this season.
• Oklahoma State's defense has forced at least one turnover in 17 of the last 18 games.
• Oklahoma State holds a 79-35 advantage in points off turnovers this season.
• Dating back to 2005, the Cowboys have won 27 of their last 28 games when not committing a turnover.
• Dating back to the 2008 season, the Cowboys have won 48 of their last 52 games when winning the turnover battle.
• Quarterback Mason Rudolph has thrown 26 touchdown passes against just four interceptions in his last 13 games, dating back to the 2015 season.
• Quarterback Mason Rudolph has thrown just two interceptions in 255 pass attempts this season.
• Receiver James Washington has at least one catch in each of his last 26 games.
• Of Zach Sinor's 35 punts this season, 20 have been downed inside the opponent 20-yard line, with only one touchback. Sinor's 35 punts have yielded only 26 punt return yards for the opponent.
• Running back Justice Hill has rushed for at least 100 yards in three of the last four games. The only other Cowboy true freshmen to rush for 100 yards or more three times in a season are Thurman Thomas (three times in 1984) and Andre Richardson (three times in 1994).
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Players Mentioned
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DT
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/ Cowboy FootballFriday, June 05
Friday, May 29
Wednesday, May 27
Monday, May 18
