STILLWATER — Colorado came to Oklahoma State for the first time in nearly two decades, and the Buffaloes brought a shootout from that previous era with them.
Early 2000s Big 12 would be proud.
Lots of great offense, especially by the Cowboys. Lots of poor defense, especially in the first half.
Let’s get to the grades.
More: LaDainian Fields sparks Oklahoma State football's response vs Colorado | 5 takeaways
Caleb Hawkins: A
Drew Mestemaker is the Cowboys’ best offensive player — best player, period — but Caleb Hawkins is an extremely close second.
The Cowboy tailback had another big day, rushing for 120 yards on 19 carries, averaging an impressive 6.3 yards a carry and adding 72 yards receiving on five catches. About the only thing Hawkins didn’t do was get into the end zone.
He hasn’t scored nearly as much this season as he did a year ago at North Texas, but much like Saturday night, his impact has been huge. His hard-charging runs force defenses like Colorado’s to decide — slow down Hawkins or give extra help in the pass game against Drew Mestemaker.
Plus, Hawkins is such a reliable option in the pass game. He always seems to be in the right spot to help Mestemaker.
“There’s not one thing that’s weak about his game,” Cowboy coach Eric Morris said.
Offensive fast start: A
The Cowboys had started slow so much that Morris said earlier this week that his email inbox was open for suggestions.
Perhaps he got a good one because the Cowboys started Saturday on fire.
Three plays, one touchdown.
The OSU offense was so efficient that Mestemaker ended the drive with a quarterback rating of 559. Anything in the high 100s is good, so 500-plus? It didn’t last, of course, but the Cowboys’ fast start against the Buffs was a huge improvement.
That opening touchdown was the first of five possessions that the Cowboys scored on in the first half. OSU punted just once before halftime.
Defensive adjustment: A+
Even though the OSU offense got off to a quick start, the OSU defense struggled to stop Colorado from doing just about anything it wanted in the first half. The Buffs scored 24 points, rolled up 279 yards of total offense and punted only once.
In the second half?
Zero points, 120 yards, four punts and three turnovers.
The Buffs managed only 35 yards in the third quarter.
Morris said the defense trusted the defensive backs more after halftime, tightening coverage, and the difference was obvious. Colorado completed only five passes in the second half, and OSU came up with two interceptions.
Sam Keltner: A+
The Cowboy kicker remains perfect. He has yet to miss a field goal or extra point this season, and Saturday, his steady hand (or leg, I suppose) was particularly important early.
The OSU defense was struggling and while the offense was moving the ball, it wasn’t always scoring touchdowns. Keltner knocked home three field goals before halftime, from 47, 30 and 41 yards. Those kicks were critical to keep the Cowboys within striking distance.
Keltner then added 21- and 30-yard chip shots in the second half.
His five field goals matched a single-game school record, joining Alex Hale, Quinn Sharp and Larry Roach at the top of the record books. Keltner also extended his streak of makes to 18, tying for the longest in school history and becoming the longest in school history at the start of a Cowboy career.
Big-time stuff by the SMU transfer.
Wyatt Young ball security: D
Everything can’t be a stellar grade for the Cowboys, right? Even though Young had eight catches for 78 yards and one touchdown, he fumbled twice — both happened to be negated by penalties — and dropped what would’ve been another catch.
Young had some ball-security issues in the spring, and that led to him being named a co-starter at the beginning of the season. Since then, he asserted himself as the Cowboys’ top target.
Even though the issues Saturday were an outlier to the rest of Young’s season, he needs to return to form next week to avoid the case of the dropsies sticking around.
Drew Mestemaker being opportunistic: A
Colorado’s defense jumped offsides Saturday like it wanted to save it from going out of style, and when the Buffs did, the Cowboy quarterback took advantage.
Colorado’s first offsides came late in the second quarter on a fourth-and-1. Drawing the Buffs offsides meant that the Cowboys were getting a first down regardless. But Mestemaker threw deep to Justin Bowick, and the big OSU receiver drew a defensive-pass-interference penalty. That got the Cowboys to midfield, and ultimately, they kicked a field goal.
Early in the fourth quarter, Colorado jumped offside on a third-and-1 from the Buffs 28, and this time, Mestemaker connected with Young for a touchdown.
Smart, heads-up plays by Mestemaker.
More: Oklahoma State football rallies in second half to rout Deion Sanders, Colorado
Homecoming influence: A
No school does homecoming bigger than OSU, and the energy from what happens on campus throughout the week comes into the stadium once the game starts.
Stuff like Cowboy legend Thurman Thomas leading the “Orange! Power!” chant before the game. And members of sororities and fraternities going crazy in the stands when their house decorations are announced as winners. And the sing-a-long of “Friends in Low Places” before the fourth quarter feeling especially spirited.
Cool stuff.
Early Halloween: A
A few Cowboy fans celebrated Halloween early by wearing some killer costumes to the game. I’m guessing I didn’t see all of them, but two in particular caught my eye.
One was a giant Jack-O-Lantern head, and if it wasn’t a real pumpkin, it was the best darn fake ever.
The other was a head-to-toe orange spandex suit paired with a bushy orange mustache. It was a Lorax costume. But the best part was the sign that accompanied the costume: “I SPEAK FOR THE POKES.”
Jenni Carlson: Jenni can be reached at jcarlson@oklahoman.com. Like her at facebook.com/JenniCarlsonOK, follow her at @jennicarlsonok.bsky.social and twitter.com/jennicarlson_ok, and support her work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma State football RB Caleb Hawkins scores high marks vs Colorado | Report card