Oklahoma State football flips script vs UCF on Evan Jackson's defensive TD | 5 takeaways
· Yahoo Sports
STILLWATER — Oklahoma State's defense had to wait until the fourth quarter, but it got the big play it needed.
It started with Cowboy nickel safety Christian Bodnar following receiver Ric’Darious Farmer in motion. Bodnar read the screen play and ran down to push blocking tight end Caden Piening into Farmer and blow up the play's timing.
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The pass bounced low out of Farmer’s hands. Whistles stayed silent as referees ruled the pass backward.
Safety Evan Jackson hurdled a fallen Knight and scooped up the ball, running it back 28 yards for a touchdown. That play allowed the Cowboys to grasp control of a 42-28 win.
UCF controlled the flow of the game until that moment. OSU quarterback Drew Mestemaker’s two-point conversion rush put Cowboys up 14 points, forcing the Knights to become a one-dimensional offense.
Here are five takeaways from the game:
Drew Mestemaker stays turnover clean, continues red zone improvement
Exceptional is becoming normal for sophomore OSU quarterback Drew Mestemaker.
He finished 19 of 27 for 302 yards and three total touchdowns.
If there are any flaws for a player one ESPN analyst projects as the No. 1 quarterback draft prospect in the 2027 NFL Draft, it has been turnovers and red zone inefficiencies.
Against the Knights, Mestemaker didn't turn the ball over. In the red zone, Mestemaker scored an 11-yard touchdown rush, threw an 18-yard touchdown to Justin Bowick and threw a 5-yard touchdown to Wyatt Young. Mestemaker also used his legs to score a two-point conversion in the fourth quarter.
UCF's patient offense gave OSU some trouble
The UCF offense stayed disciplined, playing within itself until it fell down by three scores in the fourth quarter. It was an impressive display of patience, considering the Knights knew they'd have to score big to keep up with OSU.
Second-string quarterback Keyone Jenkins didn’t try to push the ball downfield. The Knights had just three passing plays longer than 15 yards.
UCF went on scoring drives of nine plays, seven plays and 12 plays in the first. Even though OSU outgained UCF 414-375 yards the Knights ran 83 plays to OSU's 60.
UCF won the time of possession 35:15-24:45.
Eric Morris’ aggressive timeout backfires
With 1:54 remaining in the first half and the UCF Knights at their own 27, OSU coach Eric Morris saw an opportunity to get the ball back. He called a timeout.
It was easy to see why. OSU’s offense was rolling and coming off a touchdown drive. The problem was OSU’s defense couldn’t pay the gamble off.
UCF converted a third-and-6 with a pass to receiver Josh Derry.
Later on the drive, another chance to get the ball back was squandered. UCF tight end Caden Piening caught a ball crashing into the OSU sideline, converting a fourth-and-4 at the OSU 43. The play was upheld after a replay review.
With 13 seconds remaining in the half, UCF quarterback Keyone Jenkins threw a touchdown pass to get the lead. The drive was boosted by OSU’s aggressive timeout.
Hawkins fumbles, but it shouldn't deter his confidence
Hawkins fumbled his first carry of the game Saturday. It was his first fumble of the season, and not something OSU fans should get used to seeing.
He fumbled twice last season on 231 carries. That's a fumble rate of less than 1%.
OSU went right back to Hawkins three straight plays after his fumble.
He kickstarted an OSU scoring drive with a carry for 8 yards up the middle, a catch for 23 yards out of the slot and a 5-yard carry.
Hawkins finished with 23 carries for 83 yards.
Morgan McPhaul is a new way to score at the goal line
After Hawkins tried two goal line attempts from inside the 2-yard line, the Cowboys showed something new.
Senior tight end Morgan McPhaul, 6-foot-2, 265 pounds, lined up to the left of Mestemaker. McPhaul, the Virginia Military Institute transfer, took a handoff and followed tight end Carson Kolb and Hawkins around the right side of the offensive line for a score.
It was McPhaul’s third time touching the ball all season. He caught one pass against Oregon for 6 yards and another catch for 6 yards against Murray State.
OSU at Houston
KICKOFF: 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, at TDECU Stadium in Houston (Fox)
Ben Hutchens covers OSU athletics for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Ben? He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter at @ben_hutchens_. Sign up for OSU Sports Minute newsletter to access more coverage of the Cowboys and Cowgirls. Support Ben's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma State football flips script vs UCF on Evan Jackson's defensive TD | 5 takeaways