The Oklahoma State Cowboys ended an up-and-down season on a high note, holding on to beat the Washington Huskies 30-22 on Friday night in the 2015 Cactus Bowl at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz.
Cactus Bowl final score: Oklahoma State holds off Washington, 30-22
Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Washington (8-6) trailed 24-0 at halftime, but pulled to within eight points with 3:29 remaining in the fourth quarter on a 31-yard touchdown run by wide receiver Jaydon Mickens. It was one of two scores on the night for Mickens, who also caught seven passes for 82 yards.
The Cowboys ran for 152 yards, including a one-yard plunge by 300-pound senior defensive tackle James Castleman for the game's opening score in the first quarter. On a 3rd-and-2 with 3:10 remaining, Oklahoma State (7-6) turned to Castleman again at fullback, this time hitting him on a roll-out pass and run for 48 yards to help put the game away.
Freshman quarterback Mason Rudolph threw a pair of touchdown passes and passed for 299 yards, completing 17 of 26 passes on the night. Oklahoma State (7-6) ended its year on a two-game winning streak after a five-game skid in October and November.
Desmond Roland did the bulk of the ground work for Oklahoma State, with a season-high in both yards (123) and carries (32) in the win.
John Ross returned a kickoff 96 yards for a score for the Huskies in the third quarter, the second straight year the cornerback and wide receiver returned a kickoff for a touchdown in a bowl game. Cyler Miles completed 25 of 38 passes for 268 yards for Washington in defeat.
Oklahoma State, which also won this bowl in 2007 when it was known as the Inisight Bowl, improved the Big 12’s 2014-2015 bowl record to 2-5. With Washington’s loss, the Pac-12 is now 6-2.
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