Oklahoma State's Fields growing more comfortable at QB

<br>STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) _ Josh Fields is growing more comfortable as Oklahoma State's quarterback, and he has the numbers to prove it. <br><br>Fields threw a school-record six touchdown passes in

Tuesday, November 19th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) _ Josh Fields is growing more comfortable as Oklahoma State's quarterback, and he has the numbers to prove it.

Fields threw a school-record six touchdown passes in the Cowboys' 55-20 victory over Kansas on Saturday. He was 17-of-27 for 354 yards _ the third-most yardage in OSU history.

For the season, Fields has completed 54 percent of his passes for 2,245 yards, with a school-record 21 touchdowns and nine interceptions. The yardage total breaks the school record of 2,203 set by Mike Gundy in 1989.

``He's really coming together,'' coach Les Miles said Monday. ``He understands the offense, he's really comfortable with the play calls. He's just getting better week after week.''

Fields, a sophomore, made a splash a year ago when he came off the bench in the final two games and helped lead the Cowboys to victory, over Baylor and Oklahoma.

He has had some ups and downs this year, but now is playing with confidence as the Cowboys (5-5, 4-3) try to get their sixth victory and become bowl eligible.

Miles said Fields is making better decisions with the football. Instead of trying to throw the ball into a tight fit, Fields now is more likely to throw the ball away, take a sack or try to scramble for yardage.

``When he's throwing incompletions instead of throwing into coverage, our offense is going to move down the football field,'' Miles said. ``He's doing a great job with leadership.

``He's coming, and he's only going to get better in the next two years.''

Fields also has benefited from a solid supporting cast. The offensive line has begun to play more consistently, tailback Tatum Bell has run for 555 yards in the past four games, and Rashaun Woods leads the Big 12 in receiving yards.

``They've got things kind of rolling in the right direction there,'' said Baylor coach Kevin Steele. ``You like to get a running back, a quarterback and a wide receiver who can make plays, and they appear to have that.''

Fields and the Cowboys aren't expected to have much trouble this week against Baylor. The Bears (3-8, 1-7), who playing their final game under Steele, have scored 11 or fewer points in each of the past six games.