Drew Mestemaker, stout second-half defense lead Oklahoma State past UCF

Drew Mestemaker, stout second-half defense lead Oklahoma State past UCF

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Drew Mestemaker, stout second-half defense lead Oklahoma State past UCF

Drew Mestemaker, stout second-half defense lead Oklahoma State past UCF originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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STILLWATER, Okla. — Oklahoma State's offense has been largely responsible for the team's fast start under first-year coach Eric Morris.

The defense did its part on Saturday. The Cowboys held Central Florida to seven points in the second half and scored a touchdown on a fumble return to beat the Knights 42-28.

Oklahoma State took control in the fourth quarter when UCF's Keyone Jenkins threw a backwards pass that Oklahoma State's Evan Jackson recovered. Jackson ran it back 28 yards for a touchdown to give the Cowboys a 35-21 lead with 10:32 remaining.

The help was welcome for a Cowboys team that entered the day ranked second nationally in total offense.

The offense was good, too — Drew Mestemaker passed for 304 yards and two touchdowns and and ran for a score. Oklahoma State (4-1, 2-0 Big 12), ranked No. 18 in the Associated Press Top 25, won its fourth straight.

Jenkins passed for 265 yards and four touchdowns and Josh Derry added 11 catches for 84 yards and a score for the Knights (3-3, 1-2)

Oklahoma State’s Caleb Hawkins lost a fumble for the first time in more than 350 college touches on the game’s opening drive. Central Florida capitalized on the short field when Grayson Brousseau caught a 1-yard touchdown pass from Jenkins.

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The teams traded blows the rest of the first half and went into the break tied at 21 before the Cowboys took over.

The game remained entertaining throughout. Mestemaker threw for the end zone in the final minute, and Oklahoma State's Terrance Lewis caught the ball out of bounds. A late hit on Lewis wasn't called, prompting boos from the Oklahoma State fans. 

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