Oklahoma State football vs. OU: Five takeaways from Cowboys' win over Sooners in Bedlam

STILLWATER — Oklahoma receiver Drake Stoops had hurt Oklahoma State all day, but his final catch wasn’t quite enough.

When true freshman safety Dylan Smith tackled Stoops a couple yards short of the first-down marker on a fourth-down throw, the Cowboys (7-2, 5-1 Big 12) had won a 27-24 decision in the final Bedlam football matchup for the foreseeable future over No. 9 OU (7-2, 4-2) on Saturday afternoon at Boone Pickens Stadium.

It was the 22nd-ranked Cowboys’ fifth straight win and second Bedlam victory in the last three years. Smith had two of the biggest plays of the day for the Cowboy defense, intercepting a deep pass, then stopping Stoops on the final fourth-down throw.

Stoops had 134 receiving yards and was the targeted receiver on a controversial late non-call that could’ve been flagged for pass interference on OSU.

OSU running back Ollie Gordon II had his fifth straight 100-yard game, going for 137 yards and two touchdowns on 33 carries. Quarterback Alan Bowman threw for 334 yards on 28-of-42 passing, hitting Rashod Owens 10 times for 136 yards — both career highs for the Cowboy wideout.

Here are four more takeaways from the Cowboy victory.

More: OU's Drake Stoops says pass interference no-call vs. OSU is 'water under the bridge'

Drive of the year for Cowboys

OU quarterback Dillon Gabriel punted on a play in which the Sooners acted like they’d go for it on fourth down, pinning the Cowboys at their own 3-yard line.

Trailing 24-21, the Pokes responded with what might be their biggest drive of the year.

OSU went 97 yards in eight plays, finishing it off with a 1-yard touchdown run by Gordon, his second of the game.

Gordon was strong to start the drive and to finish it, carrying four times for 18 yards, including a 12-yarder a couple plays prior to the TD.

Bowman was perfect on the drive on four pass attempts for 43 yards. He had two passes that were incomplete, but both were flagged for defensive pass interference.

The first of the pass interference calls was followed by an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on OU head coach Brent Venables.

OU had four penalties for 36 yards on the drive.

But ultimately, Gordon found running room when he needed it most, powering his way into the end zone for the go-ahead TD.

More: What was the best Bedlam football game ever? Let's rank the 25 greatest OU-OSU showdowns

Fourth-down gambles don’t pay off

Whether he deserves it or not, OSU coach Mike Gundy has a reputation for being conservative against OU.

But he was willing to gamble on Saturday, even though most of his gambles didn’t work.

The Cowboys were 1-of-4 on fourth down, including two tries when they Cowboys were in field goal range.

But the Cowboy defense helped Gundy get three points back in the fourth quarter. OU quarterback Dillon Gabriel was unable to handle a shotgun snap and the fumble was recovered by OSU’s Kody Walterscheid.

The offense gained just three yards, but set up an Alex Hale field goal for a 27-21 lead.

More: Alan Bowman's sisters played soccer at OU, but 'family comes first' in Bedlam football

Third downs nearly cripple Cowboys

Oklahoma seemingly couldn’t be stopped on third down, bailing themselves out of tough situations with third-down conversions.

Yet it was a string of late third-down stands by the OSU defense that helped seal the win.

OU failed on its final four third-down tries and a pair of fourth downs to end the game.

More: Oklahoma State football wins second Bedlam in three seasons to end series & more key stats

'Queso' Brooks returns, reinjures leg

Offensive lineman Jason Brooks Jr. returned after missing the Cincinnati game with a lower leg injury, but early in the second quarter, he was finished for the game. Brooks left the field on crutches to go to the locker room for examination.

Receivers Talyn Shettron and Jaden Bray were not suited up, though fellow wideout Blaine Green was dressed for the game.

However, Leon Johnson III started and was one of the primary outside receivers, along with Rashod Owens.

More: OU football vs. Oklahoma State: Five takeaways from Sooners' loss to Cowboys in Bedlam

OSU vs. UCF

KICKOFF: 2:30 p.m. Saturday at FBC Mortgage Stadium in Orlando, Fla. (ESPN)

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma State Cowboys beat OU Sooners in final Bedlam football game