Oklahoma State football shows fight as Zane Flores returns in loss at Kansas | 5 takeaways
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LAWRENCE, KS — Quarterback Zane Flores’ return to the field brought a level of consistency the Oklahoma State offense had seen little of this season, but it still wasn’t enough to end the Cowboys’ losing streak.
Kansas defeated the Cowboys 38-21 Saturday at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, using a second-half surge against an OSU defense that couldn’t come up with a single stop.
The Jayhawks scored on all six meaningful possessions, only coming up short on their final series of the game when they kneeled to run out the clock.
Flores turned in the Cowboys’ most thorough quarterback performance of the season, going 22 of 28 for 235 yards and two touchdowns — his first of the season.
Through three quarters, he had completed 19 of 22 throws for 201 yards, with all three incompletions coming on throwaways.
OSU finished with 316 yards of offense, despite seeing its rushing production dip.
Here are five takeaways from the Cowboy’s eighth straight defeat:
Jayhawks score quickly in second half
OSU used strong ball-control offense in the first half to limit Kansas to just two possessions — and thus, keep the game close.
But Kansas used big plays and quick scoring drives to pull away in the third quarter.
The Jayhawks scored on their first three possessions of the half. The first drive was keyed by a 27-yard pass to tight end Leyton Cure to the OSU 5.
The next drive, a three-play TD drive, started with a 43-yard run by backup quarterback Isaiah Marshall.
And the third drive ignited with a 56-yard kickoff return by Emmanuel Henderson Jr.
The three drives totaled 19 plays, and just over eight minutes of possession time.
Special teams flaws show again
For the second straight week, OSU special teams had costly miscues when the game was still in question.
OSU kicker Logan Ward missed two field goals, hooking a 44-yarder that would’ve put the Cowboys ahead 10-3 in the first quarter and getting a 19-yarder blocked on the final play of the first half.
The latter kick would have tied the game at 10.
In the second half, OSU allowed a 56-yard kickoff return that set up an easy touchdown drive for the Jayhawks that stretched the lead to 31-14.
Kansas’ Daniel Hishaw Jr. scores twice
An Oklahoma kid playing north of the border, Daniel Hishaw Jr. found the end zone twice for the Jayhawks.
Hishaw starred at Moore High School and was recruited to Kansas by Les Miles in 2020. He remained with the program through the transition to current coach Lance Leipold, and has been a regular piece of the offense throughout his career.
Now a super-senior, Hishaw got most of his carries in the first half, finishing the game with 65 yards on 14 rushes, and the two touchdowns.
Rodney Fields Jr., Noah McKinney return to lineup
Though the Cowboys have faced more than their share of attrition through redshirts and transfer portal departures, the team has otherwise remained fairly healthy.
Two players who had been out of the offensive lineup returned Saturday, with starting running back Rodney Fields Jr. reclaiming his spot and Noah McKinney once again involved on the offensive line.
Fields finished with 56 yards on 15 carries.
McKinney is in the transfer portal, but has remained with the team. Saturday was his first appearance since entering the portal. He missed the last two games with a leg injury.
JaKobe Sanders, who had started the previous two games with McKinney out, remained the starter, but the two shared time.
Banks Bowen gets on field in hometown
Back in his hometown, playing against the school his father spent nearly three decades as a player and coach, OSU backup quarterback Banks Bowen saw the field on a few occasions Saturday.
The son of OSU interim defensive coordinator Clint Bowen, Banks made a couple of single-play appearances in the first half. But in the fourth quarter, he ran the offense after Flores exited.
He led a touchdown drive that ended with a run by Sesi Vailahi. Banks Bowen was 2 of 3 passing for 9 yards and had a 9-yard rush that set up the TD.
Clint spent the previous three seasons as the head coach at Lawrence High, coaching Banks, who became a three-star recruit as a quarterback.
Scott Wright covers Oklahoma State athletics for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Scott? He can be reached at swright@oklahoman.com or on Twitter at @ScottWrightOK. Support Scott’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 gets Zane Flores back, another loss at Kansas
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