Pirate Galaxy » THINGTarver downplayed the produc

WACO, Texas -- On a late November night two seasons ago, Oklahoma State suddenly pulled the redshirt off their highly touted quarterback.Mason Rudolph lost his debut that night at Baylor, but the Cowboys won their regular-season finale at rival Oklahoma the next week to get bowl eligible.Oklahoma State then won its first 10 games last season before a home loss to the Bears.In a Big 12 opener Saturday night, Rudolph gets another chance to win against the only conference opponent the junior quarterback hasnt defeated yet when the Cowboys (2-1) play at 16th-ranked Baylor (3-0).When he was a freshman, he played down (in Waco), and actually played pretty well. Since then, hes played in about 16 or 17 games ... Hes mature, Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy said.Rudolph, 14-4 as a starter, threw for 540 yards last week in a win over Pittsburgh as the Cowboys rebounded from an officiating debacle at the end of the Central Michigan game that cost them a win. That was a school record for passing yards, and the most for any quarterback this season.It was good to get some early adversity, Rudolph said. Despite the loss, were stronger and better for it and were really excited about league play.This will be the biggest test so far this season for Baylor, the leagues only three-win team and along with West Virginia the only Big 12 teams still without a loss. Two of the Bears victories have come against 0-3 teams.I think were about as ready as were going to be, Bears quarterback Seth Russell said. Its the start of a new season. Preseason is over with. As our strength coaches say, `Its our heavyweight rounds. These guys are coming in swinging hard, and we need to answer back.Other things to know when Oklahoma State plays its first road game and becomes the first Big 12 team to play twice in Baylors campus stadium that opened on the banks of the Brazos River in 2014:SECONDARY NIGHTMARESOklahoma States James Washington (19 catches, 399 yards, 3 TDs) and Baylors KD Cannon (24 catches, 352 yards, 4 TDs) are the Big 12s top receivers. Both had five catches and two touchdowns in last years matchup in Stillwater, though Cannon had 210 yards receiving and Washington had 88. In the Cowboys victory over Pitt, Washington had nine catches for 296 yards, including a 91-yard TD in the games first minute. Oklahoma State also has sophomore Jalen McCleskey (six catches per game, fifth in Big 12) and senior Jhajuan Seales (74.4 yards receiving per game, eighth in Big 12).RUNNING TRIOWhile Russell has thrown nine TD passes, the Baylor quarterback has a trio of running backs that he said complement each other for sure. Freshman JaMycal Hasty (79 yards per game rushing), sophomore Terence Williams (77.3 ypg) and senior Shock Linwood (71.0 ypg) are all in the top seven for rushing in the Big 12. Russell said Linwood, the schools career rushing leader, has energy, intelligence and experience, while Williams is the power guy and Hasty is the speedster who can hit holes.NOT SO FASTBaylor has failed to score in the first quarter of its last two games. That was after the Bears led all FBS teams last season by averaging 16.8 points in the first quarter, scoring at least 21 points five times. They led 24-0 in the first quarter in this seasons opener against FCS team Northwestern State.HOME AND AWAYBaylor is 31-3 at home since 2011, the nations best home record in that span. Oklahoma State has won its last six true road games, dating back to the 2014 regular season finale at Oklahoma, the week after Rudolphs college debut.---AP Sports Writer Stephen Hawkins contributed to this report.---AP college football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org76ers Jerseys 2020 . Brad Jacobs and his Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., team took control of the game early. Wholesale 76ers Jerseys . Numbers Game looks into the Canadiens securing the services of Thomas Vanek in a trade with the New York Islanders. The Canadiens Get: LW Thomas Vanek and a conditional fifth-round pick. https://www.cheap76ers.com/ . The 15th-ranked Canadian men lost the opening two games of their European tour: 19-15 to No. 17 Georgia and 21-20 to No. Philadelphia 76ers Shirts . -- Most satisfying to Russ Smith about No. Fake 76ers Jerseys . At a Manhattan federal court hearing, attorney Jordan Siev said his law office has gotten more evidence nearly every day to support its lawsuit accusing MLB and Selig of going on a "witch hunt" to ruin Rodriguezs reputation and career. He said the defendants went "way over the line.LOGAN, Utah -- Jacobi Owens scored on a 1-yard TD run with 5:06 left in the fourth quarter and Air Force opened the Mountain West Conference season with a 27-20 win over Utah State on Saturday night.Air Forces Haji Dunn Jr. set up Owens score when he sacked Kent Myers, forced the fumble and recovered it at the Utah State 14. Owens capped the short drive by breaking a tackle and spinning into the end zone to make it 24-13.The Falcons (3-0, 1-0) then forced a four-and-out to quickly take the ball back and made it a 14-point lead on Luke Strebels field goal with 2:57 left.The Aggies (2-2, 0-1) cut the deficit back to one score with 33 seconds left after a 12-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. But Ryan Reffitt recovered the onside pooch kick to secure the win.Forcing turnovers was a huge part of it, Air Force head coach Troy Calhoun said. We gave them some yards, but we were able to hold them out of the end zone in the first half. In the second half we played really well defensively.Utah State tried a fake field goal on fourth-and-goal from the 18 on the first play of the fourth quarter but came up 6 yards short of the end zone. Utah State held Air Force deep in its territory to set up a short field on the ensuing drive and cut the deficit to 17-13 on Brock Warrens 23-yard field goal with 12:02 left.Timothy McVey had a 59-yard kick return in the second quarter that set up a short field for Air Force to tie it at 10.The Falcons Brodie Hicks intercepted Myers pass late in the second quarter, setting up a six-play, 88-yard drive that give Air Force a 17-10 lead with 13 seconds left in the half.I think that maybe sums up the whole game, Utah State head coach Matt Wells said. It was tthings in the red zone, allowing a kick return to get all the way brought back and put our defense on a short field.dddddddddddd We had our eyes in the wrong spot a couple of times in the secondary. They had a couple of wide-open receivers. That happens in the option game, if you dont have the eyes in the right spot.THE TAKEAWAYAir Force: The Falcons entered the game nations leading rushing offense at 432.5 yards per game. They finished with 213 yards on the ground against the Aggies.Utah State: The Aggies lost their first Mountain West opener in their fourth season since joining the conference. RonQuavion Tarvers nine catches and 143 yards receiving were both career highs.NO BIG THINGTarver downplayed the production.Coach (Jovon) Bouknight just called my number, so I made a play. Thats what Im supposed to do.SO FAMILIAR, SO CLOSEUtah States Myers was 29 of 47 for 360 yards, a touchdown and an interception. The junior was 4 yards short of the career high he set last season in a 35-28 loss to Air Force.BUT THE TURNOVERSUnfortunately for Myers, Air Force capitalized on both of his turnovers for momentum-swinging touchdowns.UP NEXTAir Force: The Falcons host undefeated Navy next Saturday for the first service academy showdown of 2016. Air Forces Weston Steelhammer was disqualified for a targeting call in the third quarter and will miss the first half on the Navy game.Utah State: The Aggies visit Boise State Saturday night. The Broncos should be in a strong position to crack the Top 25 next week after back-to-back victories over Pac 12 opponents. ' ' '