Oklahoma State football: Cowboys' defense delivered until J.W. Walsh-led offense developed a rhythm

With starting quarterback Wes Lunt injured and out and the game plan shifting safer for replacement J.W. Walsh, the offense needed assistance from the Cowboys defense.

Needed stops.

And the defense delivered.

Somewhat lost in Walsh's breakout during a 65-24 rout of Louisiana-Lafayette: the defense's major role.

Ignore the 24 points allowed — only 10 were scored against front-line players and seven of those came on a play where backup cornerback Devin Hedgepeth crumpled to the turf with a lower-leg injury, allowing ULL's Darryl Surgent to streak free and open for a long touchdown.

Focus on what the defense did in the crucial string of series after Lunt limped off in a Boone Pickens Stadium rendered so quiet Mike Gundy said you could “here somebody talking 50 rows up.”

After Walsh finished the game's opening series with a drive to a field goal and a 3-0 lead, the Ragin' Cajuns' next eight possessions went like this:

Punt.

Punt.

Punt.

Punt.

Missed field goal.

Punt.

Fumble.

Punt.

Just what Mike Gundy ordered.

“I went down and visited with the defense,” Gundy said. “One thing I mentioned to them was they need to take control of the game. No matter what happens on offense, that doesn't affect their play at all. We need to get stops and we need to put (the offense) back on the field.

“It just worked out that, for the most part, we didn't miss a beat. It was different, rushing for 330 yards. But they needed to take control of that game. And they did a great job.”

Initially, the Cowboys leaned on their running game, the constant in building the lead to 10-0 and then 17-0 after the first quarter. But with the defense dominating, the reins on Walsh were eventually loosened — successfully — which can only help if he's still the man behind center when OSU returns to action on Sept. 29 against Texas.