The Oklahoma State Cowboys and the Ole Miss Rebels met today for rights to embrace the Cotton Bowl. Televised by Fox, and seen by 77, 928 spectators at Cowboy Stadium, the first quarter was relatively uneventful until eight minutes into the game when Rebels quarterback Jevan Snead threw an incomplete touchdown pass to wide receiver Jesse Grandy. A replay of Snead’s reaction had him doing a duck-and-cover kind of maneuver. The Cowboys defense was able to prevent the Rebels’ subsequent attempts at getting into the end zone.
The second quarter began with Snead throwing an interception to Cowboys safety Lucien Antoine and then getting slammed to the ground by one of the Cowboys. Nathan Stanley went in as QB for the Rebels, handed the ball off to running back/wide receiver Dexter McCluster for an eighty-six yard rushing TD. Ole Miss 7 and Oklahoma State 0. Snead returned to the game a minute before halftime.
Rebels cornerback Marshay Green made a nice sixty-some-yard punt return in the top of the third quarter. They couldn’t get into the end zone and a field goal attempt was no good. Cowboys linebacker Andre Sexton got his hands on Nathan Stanley’s pass towards the middle of the third quarter. A few plays later, Cowboys running back Keith Toston threw a TD pass tight end Wilson Youman. Ole Miss 7 and Oklahoma State 7. Jevan Snead went back in as QB and fumbled the ball several plays into offense mode. Oklahoma State recovered the ball, and after many tries, was unable to get into the end zone.
The fourth quarter started with Cowboys quarterback Zac Robinson getting picked off by Rebels safety Kendrick Lewis. Another go at the red zone and another missed field goal. Shortly thereafter, Kendrick Lewis got his hand around Robinson’s pass again for a touchback. Nearing the bottom of the quarter, Dexter McCluster ran and hurled himself into the end zone. Ole Miss 14 and Oklahoma State 7. Oklahoma State’s next offensive opportunity resulted in a fumble that was recovered by Ole Miss linebacker Patrick Trahan, who then ran for a TD and received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for “attention to oneself.” Robinson threw another interception with under two minutes left to play. Ole Miss 21 and Oklahoma State 7. Final score. Ole Miss Rebels have captured the 2010 Cotton Bowl castle.
Observations & Miscellania:
1. Krista Voda voice-overed for the telecast before the singing of the “Star Spangled Banner.”
2. The Eli Young Band performed the National Anthem. One dude sang, the other three just stood and swayed. All of them wore jeans and black-dark gray tops. Not a bad job…vocally.
3. Pat Summerall and Daryl Johnston were the commentators.
4. Oklahoma State wore white jerseys and white helmets with orange bottoms. Ole Miss players had on navy jerseys and navy helmets with gray pants.
5. Whenever I see “Snead,” I think “Sinead.”
6. Both schools’ marching band performed during halftime. Ole Miss’s band got more airtime, though. The Rangerettes performed as well.
7. Jerry Jones watched the game from a private suite.
8. Patrick Trahan’s unsportsmanlike behavior included standing in the back of the end zone and gesturing with his hands as though he were playing Cat’s Cradle with himself.
Get game summary, stats, and play-by-play here.