Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
1-1
Northern Iowa
1-1
Cowboys Cruise Past Panthers, 45-10
September 07, 2002 | Cowboy Football
Sept 7, 2002
Final Stats?|? Quotes?|? Notes
By CLAYTON BELLAMY
Associated Press Writer
STILLWATER, Okla. - Josh Fields threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score and Rashaun Woods caught nine passes for 175 yards in Oklahoma State's 45-10 victory over Northern Iowa on Saturday night.
Darrent Williams returned the first of his two interceptions 29 yards for the go-ahead touchdown as Oklahoma State (1-1) capitalized on five Northern Iowa turnovers to rout the Division I-AA Panthers (1-1).
Fields, making his second career start, shook off a first-quarter interception at the Panthers' 2 to complete 22 of 33 passes for 261 yards. He had TD passes of 1 and 6 yards and scored on a 1-yard run.
Woods had at least two catches for the 20th consecutive games as the Cowboys rebounded from their opening loss to Louisiana Tech.
Adam Benge ran for 53 yards and a TD for the Panthers.
Northern Iowa struck first, with Benge scoring on a 4-yard run after a short punt and a pass-interference penalty.
Oklahoma State took over from there, compiling 405 total yards while holding Northern Iowa to 213 yards and intercepting four of Griff Jurgens' passes. The Cowboys also recovered a fumble and blocked a punt.
Williams' third career interception return for a touchdown put the Cowboys ahead 14-7.
Fields, who also plays on the Cowboys' baseball team, hit Billy Bajema from 1 yard out to tie the game at 7, and connected with Willie Young for a 6-yard score later in the first half.
Northern Iowa, which advanced to Division I-AA semifinals last season, was driving late in the first half, but Elbert Craig, who also had two interceptions, picked off Jurgens' pass at the 1 with 37 seconds left. Oklahoma State led 28-7 at halftime.
Craig's second interception gave the Cowboys the ball at the Panthers' 33 early in the third quarter. Vernand Morency, a 22-year-old freshman who played minor league baseball for four years, scored on a 2-yard run.
With Oklahoma State up 38-7, Aso Pogi, last year's starter, took over for Fields.
Tom Petrie replaced Jurgens at quarterback for Northern Iowa late in the third quarter. Petrie led the Panthers 44 yards late in the fourth to set up Mackenzie Hoambrecker's 47-yard field goal that completed the scoring.
