Mizzou stops Cowboys in triple OT 41-38

By Owen Canfield ~ The Associated Press

STILLWATER, Okla. -- Brad Hammerich's 36-yard field goal in the third overtime, after Missouri had blocked an Oklahoma State field goal try, gave the Tigers a 41-38 victory Saturday night.

Missouri (2-2, 1-1), which trailed 14-0 in the first half, blocked a 39-yard try by Luke Phillips in overtime, then ran three plays up the middle to set up Hammerich's fourth field goal of the night.

Oklahoma State (2-3, 0-2) had forced the OT with two fourth-quarter touchdowns, the second in the final minute. But the Cowboys sputtered with their third overtime possession, throwing two incompletions and being flagged for illegal procedure.

Missouri's last visit to Stillwater, in 1997, was won by the Tigers 51-50 in two overtimes.

Kirk Farmer rallied Missouri from the 14-0 deficit by throwing three touchdown passes in the third quarter. He wound up 20-of-33 for a career-best 247 yards. His favorite target was Justin Gage, who had 12 catches for 113 yards, both career bests, and a TD.

Each team needed only four plays to score in the first overtime, with Aso Pogi sneaking in from a yard out for OSU and Zack Abron following with a 3-yard run for Missouri. Each defense held the other offense to a field goal in the second overtime.

The Tigers, who entered the game ranked last in the conference in total offense, had 380 yards in regulation, 120 above their average, and finished with 424.

Oklahoma State scored early in the fourth quarter to get within 28-21, then forced overtime when Pogi hit Rashaun Woods with a 21-yard touchdown pass on a fourth-and-6 play with 25 seconds left in regulation.

Farmer threw a 15-yard scoring pass to Thomson Omboga early in the third quarter to cap an 88-yard drive that started with a 36-yard completion to Tay Jackson. The 2-point conversion pass failed, making the score 14-12.

Pogi fumbled on the next drive and Tauras Ferguson recovered at the OSU 25-yard line. Three plays later, Farmer threw to Gage for a touchdown. Jackson then threw to Gage on the 2-point try and the Tigers led 20-14.

Oklahoma State drove to Missouri's 41-yard line on the next possession, but Tatum Bell fumbled the ball away and the Tigers recovered. They stayed mostly on the ground as they moved downfield, with Farmer finally hitting tight end Dwayne Blakley with a screen pass that went 20 yards for a touchdown. Farmer's 2-point pass to Jackson made it 28-14.

Oklahoma State scored on a 1-yard run by Bell in the first quarter and on a 17-yard pass from Pogi to Woods in the second. Hammerich had field goals of 47 and 39 yards in the second quarter to make the score 14-6 at halftime.

Tatum Bell had 117 yards on 32 carries for Oklahoma State.