After tough loss, Cowboys look to rebound

<br>STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) _ Oklahoma State's plans of starting the football season with a bang ended in a fourth-quarter collapse against Louisiana Tech. <br><br>Now the Cowboys, stung by their 39-36

Friday, September 6th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) _ Oklahoma State's plans of starting the football season with a bang ended in a fourth-quarter collapse against Louisiana Tech.

Now the Cowboys, stung by their 39-36 loss, have to figure out a way to regroup for Saturday's game with Northern Iowa. They would love to get a strong performance before their game the following week against UCLA.

``This win is awfully important,'' coach Les Miles said. ``Let's win this game, it's just that simple.

``In what way? I'm going to underdefine it as sharp and improved _ crisp start to finish.''

That wasn't the case against Louisiana Tech.

The Cowboys had two long runs, a 75-yarder by Seymore Shaw and a 76-yard touchdown run by Vernand Morency, but otherwise struggled to create holes. Quarterback Josh Fields was just 7-of-17 passing in the fourth quarter, when Oklahoma State failed to make badly needed first downs to keep the clock running.

The defense did a solid job in the first half but eventually tired. The Cowboys dropped two sure interceptions. They tipped one ball that was caught for a touchdown. And they failed to stop the Bulldogs in the closing minutes, when Tech scored two touchdowns to win.

``Play sharp. Play solid football start to finish,'' Miles said. ``Not have any lapses, not fatigue. Whatever the significance of the situation, let's rise above it.''

Northern Iowa, a Division I-AA power, opened its season with a 34-0 victory over Division II Wayne State. The Panthers won the Gateway Conference title a year ago and reached the semifinals of the I-AA playoffs.

Last week, Marlus Mays had 144 yards on five catches, including an 80-yarder. Tailback Adam Benge rushed 23 times for 170 yards.

Morency and Shaw are two members of a banged-up backfield for Oklahoma State. Tatum Bell began two-a-days as the No. 1 tailback, but he didn't play in the opener due to an ankle sprain. Miles said he expected to have Bell available this week.

Shaw came out of the Louisiana Tech game after his long run, nursing a sore ankle. Morency also has a bad ankle, but both are expected to play.

Last week's loss was especially difficult because the Cowboys had an 18-point lead late in the third quarter. Miles acknowledged that a victory would have given the Cowboys a running start and much-needed momentum, but he also said the loss doesn't change his team's goals.

``That did take some steam away from us, there isn't any question,'' he said. ``But dadgone it, it isn't taking anything away from us long term.''

Defensive end Greg Richmond concurred.

``You've got to have great preparation for every game and get ready to play,'' Richmond said. ``I don't think this one game is going to determine our year.''