Louisiana Tech says it's payback time vs. Oklahoma State

RUSTON, La. (AP) _ Confidence is high at Oklahoma State following a season ending two-game winning streak that included a shocking defeat of national title contender Oklahoma. <br><br>The Cowboys intend

Thursday, August 29th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

RUSTON, La. (AP) _ Confidence is high at Oklahoma State following a season ending two-game winning streak that included a shocking defeat of national title contender Oklahoma.

The Cowboys intend to carry that momentum into Shreveport, La., Saturday when they meet Louisiana Tech in the season opener for both teams at 7 p.m.

``We are going in to win,'' Oklahoma State head coach Les Miles said. ``We will play hard. We know that the game is in their backyard, we know that they are good and we know that they have been WAC champions. We also know that they've been to bowl games. But we beat them last year and we intend to beat them this year.''

Back in Ruston, defending Western Athletic Conference champion Louisiana Tech also is eager for a rematch with a Cowboys team that Tech feels it should have beaten last time.

``When we left Stillwater last year, we honestly believed we were the better team,'' Tech quarterback Luke McCown said. ``That's why this game is so big and important to us. Is it payback time? You bet it is.''

Oklahoma State, which was 4-7 last season, is looking to break back into the bowl picture this year and has placed major emphasis on winning the first game against Tech, which was 7-5 last season.

``It's a huge game,'' OSU linebacker Terrence Robinson said. ``That's one thing we've been trying to emphasize, it'll be very important for us to carry the momentum and the intensity level from last season over to this season.''

With McCown behind center, it's a given the Bulldog offense will be pass-oriented. McCown has thrown for more than 6,200 yards in just two seasons. But Miles said he wants his defense prepared for anything.

``Even though they throw the ball 60 to 70 times a game, I also expect them to run the ball a lot,'' Miles said.

McCown will have somewhat of a revamped offense to work with. His top two receivers from last year are gone. D.J. Curry, a junior wideout who was third in receiving, likely will be the top target if he can outwit tenacious OSU defenders Kevin Williams and LaWaylon Brown.

Tech's top running back, Joe Smith, is back and will be joined by Ralph Davis, a junior college transfer who performed well in spring practice.

Oklahoma State's offense has a game-breaker in wide receiver Rashaun Woods, a junior who was a preseason All-Big 12 choice and among the candidates for the Biletnikoff Award as the country's top wide receiver.

At quarterback, Miles could go with junior Aso Pogi, a 6-4 and 245-pounder who was among the heroes in the upset over the Sooners last year, or highly touted 6-1, 210-pound sophomore Josh Fields.

``Fields is a little more athletic,'' Bicknell said. ``But I have also been impressed with Pogi. Overall, though, I don't see them changing their offense that much, based on who they are going to be starting.''