OSU notebook: Zac Robinson playing through turf toe injury
BY BRANDON CHATMON, Staff Writer, bchatmon@opubco.com
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Published: November 8, 2009
Bond's streak snapped
Right tackle Brady Bond missed Saturday's game with an injury snapping his streak of 34 consecutive starts. Senior Andrew Mitchell started in his place, making his second career start.
"We'll re-evaluate him this week," OSU coach Mike Gundy said. "I don't think he'll play this week, but linemen are different than skill players."
It was the first time OSU started a different five on the offensive line since their Sept. 19 game against Rice.
The Cowboys handled Bond's absence extremely well, rushing for 331 yards including Keith Toston's career-high 206-yard, three-touchdown performance. OSU averaged 6.1 yards per carry.
Christmas came early
OSU had three interceptions, reaching their goal of three turnovers against the Cyclones. Linebacker Patrick Lavine, cornerback Terrance Anderson and cornerback Perrish Cox each had interceptions for the Pokes.
The Cowboys constantly pressured Iowa State quarterback Austin Arnaud, who was returning from a bruised right hand which had kept him out of the Cyclones last two games.
"I'm not going to sugar coat it, we got a couple gifts," Anderson said. "We were just sitting in zones and just waiting... a lot of his passes were lobbed up... and we got a couple gifts. The quarterback didn't look comfortable and we tried to take advantage of it."
Robinson shakes off turf toe
Quarterback Zac Robinson led the Cowboys to the win despite playing with a turf toe injury suffered against Texas.
"It's something I have to play through," Robinson said. "I was getting treatment all week then got stepped on a couple of times. I'll get treatment this week and I'll be fine. It's no big deal."
Robinson didn't seem to let the injury affect him, rushing for 38 yards on nine carries and passing for 142 yards.
Strong second half starts
Toston's two-yard touchdown run completed an 11-play, 80-yard scoring drive to open the second half. It was OSU's fifth scoring drive ending in a touchdown to open the second half this season. The Pokes also opened the second half with a touchdown against Georgia, Houston, Rice and Baylor.
Toston moves up to 16th on all-time scoring list
Toston scored three rushing touchdowns on Saturday to move up to No. 16 on OSU's all-time scoring list, passing Colin Ankersen (155) and David Thompson (162). Toston has scored 164 points during his Cowboys' career.
Hart Lee Dykes is No. 15 on the list with 180 career points.
Conner's contribution
Receiver DeMarcus Conner tied his career high for receptions in a game with two catches on Saturday, but both were key catches on the Pokes' first touchdown scoring drive of the game.
"We call him the old man," offensive coordinator Gunter Brewer said of Conner. "You can kind of see people picking up the slack for Dez."
On the Cowboys' 98-yard scoring drive, Conner had a 14-yard catch on the drive's first play to give OSU's offense some breathing room. The senior then equaled his career-high for receptions in a game, catching a seven-yard pass later in the drive.
Conner matched his career high for catches in a game which he set earlier this year against Baylor.
Bye, bye redshirt
True freshman Andrae May of Houston (Texas) North Shore saw his first action of the season, recording a solo tackle in the win.
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Overall a good performance at Iowa State.
RB Hunter is the homerun hitter we have been missing in line-up,he loks like he is back to normal now,Hunter is needed down this vital stretch.