HOUSTON — Oklahoma State’s defense has been carrying a heavy burden over the past three games.
The burden finally broke OSU, as the Cowboys couldn't get a stop with 4:54 remaining to get the ball back to offense in a 35-32 road defeat that snapped OSU's four-game win streak.
Against Houston in the first half, the Cougars won time of possession 30:18-24:38. Houston ran 73 plays to OSU’s 59.
Opponents have out-possessed and out-snapped OSU in three straight games. OSU’s defense has been on the field a lot.
West Virginia out-possessed OSU 31:04-28:56 and ran 88 plays to OSU’s 68.
UCF out-possessed OSU by more than 10 minutes and ran 83 plays to OSU’s 63.
Part of the reason Saturday is the Cowboy offense utilized big chunk plays to move down the field, compared to a more measured approach from the Cougars. Three throws from OSU quarterback Drew Mestemaker went longer than 47 yards.
Here are four more takeaways from the Cowboys' loss:
RECAP: Oklahoma State football outlasted by Houston as Conner Weigman outplays Drew Mestemaker
Rushing the ball was a barometer for OSU's offense
In the first half, OSU rushed eight times for 14 yards. The offense struggled to find footing in the first half, scoring just three points.
Houston entered as the No. 14 rushing defense in the country, allowing 74 yards per game. Entering the game, OSU coach Eric Morris said even three yards per carry would be an effective play.
Things came out of the second half looking better for OSU’s rushing game. On the first drive of the third quarter, an eight play 75-yard march, OSU ran the ball for 56 yards.
In the second half, OSU averaged 7.1 yards per rush and scored 29 points.
OSU running back Caleb Hawkins finished with 68 rushing yards and 125 receiving yards.
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Poor tackling allowed two big Houston plays
Missed tackles created two of Houston's two most explosive plays.
Amare Thomas juked five people for a 51-yard gain. Thomas Spun out of a tackle from Quentin Hammonds and maneuvered through defenders before being pushed out at the 2.
On third-and-7, Houston quarterback Conner Weigman ran for 44 yards through the middle of OSU’s defense when OSU sent just three rushers. Weigman shook OSU linebacker Ethan Wesloski, the team's leading tackler, on the play.
Forcing missed tackles are a specialty. They are good at it. Houston is the No. 14 rushing offense in the country (230 yards per game).
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Mestemaker makes an NFL pass. Some mistakes also.
Drew Mestemaker gave curious professional football fans or NFL scouts in Houston a moment.
He rolled to his left and lofted a high pass against his body down the sideline. The ball dropped into Wyatt Young’s hands and the receiver hardly had to break stride. It went for a gain of 54 yards.
There were also some uncharacteristic throws from Mestemaker. Compared to previous games, the pocket collapsed around him.
A high throw forced receiver Terrance Lewis to make a leaping catch. The ball was never quite secure and Lewis put it on the ground. It was initially ruled a fumble but overturned to an incompletion.
On first-and-10 from the OSU 14, Mestemaker left a throw 2 yards behind Miles Coleman on an out-breaking route.
Mestemaker finished with 365 passing yards, one interception and two fumbles (one lost).
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OSU's fourth-down downfall
Houston’s offense converted all three of its fourth-down attempts.
OSU’s offense was 1 for 2.
The biggest fourth-down gut punch for the Cowboy defense came on a fourth-and-3 toward the end of the third quarter.
Houston coach Willie Fritz passed on a 38-yard field goal attempt and went for it. After a Cowboy rush was a beat late to getting to Weigman, Houston receiver Amare Thomas caught a pass in the corner of the end zone as two flags for pass interference came in behind the play.
OSU failed to convert a fourth-and-goal from the Houston 2. Receiver Wyatt Young was blanketed on a slant route and a throw, a step behind him, was batted away.
Houston quarterback Conner Weigman picked up a first down on a quarterback run in the second quarter. After initially bringing out the punting unit, a replay review to determine the spot gave Houston time to regroup and send its offense out.
Houston converted a fourth-and-2 from the OSU 17, sneaking tight end Patrick Overmyer open out to the flat. Houston cashed that in with a touchdown.
Four of Weigman’s five touchdown passes came on third or fourth down.
OSU’s offense was 2 for 6 on fourth down in their loss to Tulsa. In wins this season, OSU is 2 for 3 on third down.
Ben Hutchens covers OSU athletics for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Ben? He can be reached at bhutchens@oklahoman.com 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 defense falters vs Conner Weigman, Houston | 5 takeaways