Oklahoma State’s 59-0 win gave its young players valuable opportunities before Big 12 play. From defensive reserves preserving the shutout to William Mason pushing for more carries and Broderick Vehrs impressing at QB, OSU’s depth earned something important: trust.
STILLWATER — The final score told most of the story Saturday night, but perhaps not the most important part for Oklahoma State moving forward.
The Cowboys' 59-0 demolition of Murray State gave coach Eric Morris something difficult to manufacture during a competitive game: extended opportunities to evaluate the bottom half of his roster.
By the fourth quarter, starters had largely become spectators. Young players were operating the offense, defensive reserves were protecting a shutout and several Cowboys were experiencing meaningful college football snaps for the first time.
For Morris, those reps could matter long after the blowout fades from memory.
“We got a lot of kids action tonight,” Morris said. “We got a lot of guys' game reps, which will be huge for us to see how they perform.”
With Big 12 play beginning next week at West Virginia, some of those performances may have earned players opportunities when the scoreboard isn't nearly as lopsided.
Defensive Reserves Preserve the Shutout
Oklahoma State held Murray State to just 160 total yards and kept the Racers off the scoreboard even after its defensive starters departed.
Malik Charles intercepted backup quarterback Baxter Wright in the third quarter, while several young defenders contributed as OSU eventually finished off the shutout with a fourth-down stop.
Linebacker Isaiah Chisom believes what happened after the starters left could affect how defensive coordinator Skyler Cassity manages his personnel going forward.
“It's a huge trust builder,” Chisom said. “Gives the coaches more confidence to continue to rotate even when the scoring margin isn't as large as it is.”
That's particularly valuable for a defense preparing for the grind of conference play. The Cowboys didn't simply get young players onto the field. They got to evaluate their technique, communication and ability to execute within the defense during actual game situations.
“Usually the effort is really good with all those guys,” Morris said. “It's technique and communication.”
William Mason Enters an Already Crowded Running Back Conversation
Caleb Hawkins remains Oklahoma State's clear lead back, but the competition behind him became considerably more interesting Saturday.
Ayo Adeyi rushed seven times for 67 yards, while Tre Page III finished with 58 yards and a touchdown on seven carries.
Then came William Mason. Mason turned five fourth-quarter carries into 46 yards, and Morris indicated afterward that the redshirt freshman may have forced himself into the conversation for additional touches.
“We trust both those guys,” Morris said of Adeyi and Page. “I'll tell you what though, William Mason might have pushed for more playing time because of the way he played when he got his reps.”
Morris also praised Mason's work on special teams, where he has contributed across multiple units while waiting for offensive opportunities.
“He has been locked in and continued to grow as a player,” Morris said. “So yeah, wouldn't be surprised after watching the tape if we don't give 22 a couple more chances.”
KD Jones added another impressive performance from deep in the running back room, rushing seven times for 54 yards and scoring his first collegiate touchdown.
“He was running behind his pads today,” Morris said. “Obviously this was a moment he'll remember the rest of his life, getting his first touchdown at Boone Pickens.”
Vehrs Makes the Most of First College Action
Backup quarterback Broderick Vehrs was another player who capitalized on his opportunity. With Drew Mestemaker's night finished after throwing five touchdowns, Vehrs made his collegiate debut and completed all six of his passes for 37 yards, including a 10-yard touchdown to Carson Kolb. Morris was particularly pleased with how Vehrs managed the offense.
“He was cool, calm, collected on the sideline,” Morris said. “His personality, he has such a great one. Making him good in the huddle. Directed the huddle and had a lot of confidence in there.”
The physical ability isn't much of a question, either. Morris said Vehrs “has maybe the strongest arm on our team” and explained that OSU remained committed to the young quarterback after initially recruiting him to North Texas.
“We had him committed at North Texas,” Morris said. “Started looking at different guys and we just said we love this kid. Let's keep this guy.”
Blowout Provides Something OSU Could Need Later
There are only so many conclusions to draw from beating an FCS opponent by 59 points. Oklahoma State was supposed to win comfortably, and it did.
But the Cowboys also avoided one of the common pitfalls of a blowout. The performance didn't completely unravel once the starters left.
OSU continued moving the football, its reserve defense protected the shutout and the Cowboys avoided the wave of mistakes and penalties that can accompany inexperienced players entering a decided game.
“I was happy overall with penalties in general,” Morris said. “It didn't get sloppy. At times, it gets sloppy after a big win and I thought we were honed in.”
Now the circumstances change dramatically. Oklahoma State heads to West Virginia next Saturday for its Big 12 opener, beginning a stretch in which opportunities for developmental snaps could become much harder to find.
But if injuries strike, players need rest or the Cowboys simply need another option, Saturday gave Morris and his staff something they didn't have before.
Actual game tape. And for several of Oklahoma State's young players, it may have earned them something even more valuable: trust.
