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Last-second field goal lifts Texas over Oklahoma State

Nov 4, 2007 - 6:47 AM STILLWATER, Oklahoma (Ticker) -- In an up-and-down season, Texas began November with a stirring come-from-behind victory.

Ryan Bailey kicked a 40-yard field goal on the game's final play Saturday as the 14th-ranked Longhorns rallied from a 21-point deficit in the fourth quarter to stun Oklahoma State, 38-35, in a Big 12 Conference contest.

Texas (8-2, 4-2 Big 12 South) rallied from a 35-14 deficit to post its fourth straight victory.

"We've won a lot, and that is a positive thing," Longhorns coach Mack Brown said. "The mind is a powerful, powerful thing, especially in sports. At first, we did not put pressure on (the Cowboys), and we had to to get it turned, because we did believe we were going to win.

"When we put pressure back on them, I think that question arises again, 'Uh oh. Here we go again. We've been there.' ... I don't understand it. I don't know how it works that way, but sometimes it does."

Oklahoma State (5-4, 3-2 South) had a chance to take the lead on the previous possession, but Jason Ricks missed a 32-yard field goal wide left.

Texas quarterback Colt McCoy overcame three interceptions to complete 20-of-27 passes for 283 yards and a touchdown. The sophomore signal-caller accounted for more than 400 yards of total offense as he also rushed for 127 yards on 16 attempts.

Big comebacks against Oklahoma State are nothing new for the Longhorns, who have rallied from deficits against the Cowboys in four of last five years.

The most memorable comeback came in 2004, when Texas beat Oklahoma State 56-35 after trailing 35-7 in the first half.

"It's just within us," McCoy said. "I wish we could play like that in the beginning, I promise. I hate that it has to come down like that, but it just shows the toughness and shows the fight and shows the character of our team."

McCoy's first interception was returned 39 yards by Jacob Lacey and gave the Cowboys a 14-0 less than three minutes into the contest. It came just 15 seconds after Dantrell Savage got Oklahoma State on the board with afour-yard TD run.

But on the final drive, McCoy tossed a 31-yard completion to tight end Jermichael Finley to give Texas a first down at the Cowboys' 40-yard line.

Three plays later, McCoy scrambled for 14 yards on 3rd-and-11 to set up Bailey's field goal attempt, which he slid inside the right upright as time expired.

Zac Robinson completed 30-of-42 passes for a school-record 430 yards and two touchdowns for Oklahoma State, including a 28-yard strike to Adarius Bowman that made it 35-14 with 8:40 left in the third quarter.

Robinson also scored on a seven-yard run that staked Oklahoma State to a 21-0 lead 36 seconds into the second quarter.

The sophomore quarterback hooked up with Brandon Pettigrew on a one-yard TD toss on the final play of the first half to give Oklahoma State a 28-14 halftime lead

Robinson's TD strike to Bowman pushed the Cowboys' cushion to a seemingly comfortable three touchdowns.

"We thought we were a better team coming in, and we still feel that way," Robinson said. "You've got to give Texas credit, though. They made plays there at the end."

The Longhorns charged back dramatically in the fourth quarter, pulling within 35-28 on TD runs of 18 and 75 yards by Jamaal Charles, who finished 180 yards and three scores on 16 carries.

"We had a had a good game plan in all areas and executed them the majority of the game," said Oklahoma State coach Mike Gunday, whose team lost despite gaining 594 yards. "But what it really comes down to is when you're in the fourth quarter with a big lead, you can't give up big plays."

After forcing a punt, Texas marched 91 yards in just six plays for the tying score on Vondrell McGee's one-yard TD run with 3:22 remaining.

The big play in tghe drive was McCoy's 60-yard completion to Jordan Shipley that gave the Longhorns a 1st-and-goal at the 1.