CFB: Bryant's TD catches lift No.8 Oklahoma St. past Baylor
By MURRAY EVANS
Associated Press Writer
STILLWATER, Okla. — Dez Bryant made sure there would be no letdown for Oklahoma State.
Playing its first game as a top 10 team since 1988, No. 8 Oklahoma State made quick work of Baylor today, scoring on four straight first-half possessions en route to a 34-6 win.
Bryant had a career-high 11 catches for 212 yards and two touchdowns and Keith Toston added two scoring runs as Oklahoma State (7-0, 3-0 Big 12) set up a showdown next Saturday at No. 1 Texas.
The Cowboys, who won at then-No. 3 Missouri a week ago, have their highest ranking since 1985 and are off to their best start since their 9-0 Sugar Bowl season of 1945. Oklahoma State has won eight straight games for the first time since an eight-game streak spanning the 1986 and 1987 seasons.
Oklahoma State, which finished 7-6 each of the past two seasons, improved its record as a top 10 team to 10-7. The Cowboys are 12-1 against Baylor (3-4, 1-2) since the formation of the Big 12 in 1996. The Bears have lost eight straight conference road games.
Baylor led 6-0 after Jacoby Jones capped a 10-play, 65-yard drive with a 1-yard scoring plunge. Oklahoma State's Derek Burton blocked the extra-point attempt.
Oklahoma State took the ensuing kickoff, converted on a fourth-and-1 at its own 48, then went ahead on a 4-yard touchdown run by Toston. Dan Bailey's extra-point kick put the Cowboys ahead for good at 7-6 with 1:22 left in the first quarter.
The Cowboys scored touchdowns on all three of their second-quarter possessions.
Quarterback Zac Robinson and Bryant connected on scoring passes of 37 and 9 yards. On the latter, Bryant leaped high above Baylor cornerback Antareis Bryan and pulled the football down with his left hand.
Toston's second touchdown came on a 2-yard run 19 seconds before halftime and put the Cowboys up 28-6. The Cowboys overcame a 3rd-and-29 during the drive.
The Bears had gone four games without a turnover before a fumble by quarterback Robert Griffin at the Oklahoma State 36 early in the third quarter. The Cowboys turned it into a 20-yard field goal by Bailey, who later added a 21-yarder.
Baylor managed only 42 rushing yards on 31 attempts and 204 yards of offense, season lows in both categories, and Griffin's streak of scoring at least one rushing touchdown in each game this season also ended.
Griffin finished 15-for-27 for 162 yards and extended his streak of pass attempts without an interception to start a career to 155, setting a Football Bowl Subdivision record for a freshman. Oklahoma State's Mike Gundy set the former record of 138 during his freshman season in 1986. Gundy is in his fourth season as the Cowboys' coach.
Kendall Hunter carried 26 times for 93 yards for Oklahoma State.
The game drew 50,080 fans to Boone Pickens Stadium, giving Oklahoma State crowds of 50,000 or more in three straight games for the first time in school history.