STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) — Oklahoma State wasn't satisfied with its running game in its first two games and, while the defense played well, the Cowboys had generated just one turnover.
Both items of emphasis were resolved quickly Saturday.
The Cowboys forced seven turnovers, all of which led to points, and Chris Carson led a rushing attack that piled up 217 yards and averaged 5.4 yards per carry in a 69-14 victory over UTSA.
Carson ran for 104 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries (a 6.1-yard average), and Mason Rudolph completed 17 of 23 passes for 280 yards and two touchdowns for Oklahoma State (3-0).
"That's a good win today," coach Mike Gundy said. "I thought our guys played really well in all three phases. I was proud of the way our team forced turnovers, and it helped us take control of the game early."
Blake Bogenschutz was 8 of 13 for 58 yards and a touchdown for UTSA (0-3), but also fumbled twice and threw two interceptions before he was taken out of the game late in the second quarter.
The seven turnovers and 69 points allowed are records for UTSA. The Roadrunners had six turnovers against San Jose State in 2012 and gave up 59 points against Houston in 2013.
"Not a lot of good today from the Roadrunners," coach Larry Coker said. "We turned the ball over seven times and gave up over 40 points in turnovers. We had no chance. We are a lot better football team, certainly, than we played today."
Fumbles by Bogunschutz on UTSA's first two possessions helped Oklahoma State take a 14-0 lead just 2:27 into the game. Devante Averette's 6-yard fumble return made it 7-0 only 45 seconds in, and Carson's 26-yard run made it 14-0 two plays after Jordan Burton recovered the ball on the UTSA 37.
After gaining 42 yards on 15 carries in his previous game, Carson nearly matched that, gaining all 37 yards on that possession, in two plays.
"Anytime you average 6 yards a carry, you're going to gain more confidence," Cowboys offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich said about Carson. "We're working real hard every day in practice and good results come with great effort. I think our offensive line is improving as well. We have to maintain balance and being able to throw the ball obviously helped."
An interception by Ramon Richards later in the first quarter eventually led to Ben Grogan's 24-yard field goal, making it 17-0 with 2:25 remaining.
The Roadrunners pulled to 17-7 early in the second quarter when Bogunschutz connected on a 4-yard touchdown pass to Kerry Thomas.
A fourth UTSA turnover led to another Oklahoma State touchdown when Kevin Peterson's interception gave the Cowboys the ball on the UTSA 30. Six plays later, Carson's 1-yard TD run made it 24-7 with 5:25 left in the second.
"It's been a while since we had a day like that," defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer said about all of the turnovers. "I've been laboring over that, I've been sweating it out, I've been stressing over it, so for us to cause them and get them, it's one of those exhale moments. And hopefully, that's going to keep some blood in the water and is going to make them want to crave them more."
With Oklahoma State leading 41-14 and each team playing reserves in the fourth quarter, UTSA committed three more turnovers, two on special teams.
A muffed punt by JaBryce Taylor that OSU's Deric Robertson recovered gave the Cowboys the ball on the Roadrunner 38 and eventually led to backup quarterback J.W. Walsh's 13-yard touchdown pass to Marcell Ateman with 11:11 remaining.
On the ensuing kickoff, UTSA returner Brett Winnegan was stripped of the ball by Chris Hardeman, and Dawson Bassett pounced on it, giving Oklahoma State the ball on the 6. Two plays later, Rennie Childs scored on a 5-yard run to make it 55-14 with 10:40 to go.
The final score came when Robertson scooped up a fumble by Corbin White and ran it back 22 yards for the touchdown with just 1:25 on the clock.
