STILLWATER — On a day the defense continued its spring theme of showing vast improvement, it was apropos the annual Orange-White game was decided by a safety.
The Orange defeated the White team 9-7 in front of what Oklahoma State officials announced as a crowd of 20,000 on Saturday afternoon at Boone Pickens Stadium.
Linebacker Seb Clements tackled Beau Johnson for a 1-yard loss, and a safety with 3:46 left in the game. Tackles for loss were common as the defenses combined for five sacks and two turnovers.
"We're a better defense,” said coach Mike Gundy. "It's really hard for me to predict how much better until we start playing in September. But I do feel we're better from a depth standpoint, from a toughness standpoint. And we're faster.”
OSU fans have yearned for a quality defense that could complement dynamic offenses.
It's only spring. The real test arrives this fall. But 15 practices revealed the defense has improved.
"We've been playing well all spring, and this was the perfect opportunity to showcase that,” said linebacker Andre Sexton. "Even though we split people up, I feel we came together as a whole on defense and pretty much stopped the offense.”
How good were the two defensive units?
•There were more runs scored across the street in the OSU-Nebraska baseball game than points scored in the spring football game.
•Matt Fodge, punting for both teams, was one of the busiest Cowboys.
•There were as many turnovers (two) as touchdowns (two).
"You saw today what everyone has reiterated all spring, that the defense has gotten better,” said quarterback Zac Robinson. "You've seen it in scrimmages and you really got to see it today.”
Bolstered by five junior college transfers and several young players, the defense has more athleticism and more depth.
A good example was redshirt freshman defensive end Jamie Blatnick, who recorded three sacks in Saturday's game. Richetti Jones, another redshirt freshman, was active.
"It was nice to some of those young guys get pressure on the quarterback,” Gundy said. "We haven't had that in a couple of years here, since Victor (DeGrate) was here.
"It's exciting to see some guys have that potential. They're going to go through some growing pains but you're talking about guys with four more years here.”
Offensively, running backs Kendall Hunter and Beau Johnson combined for 129 yards on 21 carries. Dez Bryant had eight catches for 87 yards.
The quarterbacks' stats were ordinary.
"It seemed
