Pogi, defense bring O-State balance against Baylor

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) _ Freshman quarterback Aso Pogi had just scored the most rushing touchdowns for an Oklahoma State player since Heisman Trophy winner Barry Sanders in 1988. But he wasn't taking

Monday, November 20th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) _ Freshman quarterback Aso Pogi had just scored the most rushing touchdowns for an Oklahoma State player since Heisman Trophy winner Barry Sanders in 1988. But he wasn't taking any credit.

That goes to the defense, Pogi insisted after the Cowboys beat Baylor 50-22 on Saturday.

``We caused a lost of turnovers and it was easy for us, even on our first score, which was a 1-yard sneak,'' Pogi said. ``Credit the defense. They played well all around. They gave us an opportunity to do something when we got the ball.''

Defense and offense finally came together for the Cowboys (3-7 1-6 Big 12), who had faced the prospect of a last place Big 12 finish if they hadn't beat Baylor. Turnovers created by the defense put Pogi in place for a balanced attack that kept the Bears guessing.

Pogi threw for 171 yards and a touchdown and ran for four other scores, the most since Sanders' five touchdowns against Kansas and Tulsa in 1988. With 1,448 yards for the season, Pogi is just 77 yards behind Mike Gundy's freshman best of 1,525 set in 1985.

``He's a big guy,'' coach Bob Simmons said of Pogi. ``He's very strong, and he ran the option and made good decisions.''

Since taking over mid-season for an injured Tony Lindsay, the 6-foot-3, 220-pound Pogi has joined the ranks of the Big 12's top six passers in efficiency.

But it was the defense that seized control of the game from the start.

A fumble forced and recovered by linebacker Chris Carter on quarterback Josh Zachry's first snap put Pogi in position for his first 1-yard touchdown run.

``We practiced all week getting turnovers because we had not gotten many this year,'' Carter said. ``We were moving to the ball and hustling and good things happened as a result.''

Simmons said the key was carrying that momentum into the second half.

``There's no way you can win by giving the ball up,'' he said of Baylor's turnovers. ``That's something that good teams need to do often throughout the season to have an opportunity to win.''

Baylor coach Kevin Steele described the effect as a dam breaking. By the half, Oklahoma State led 36-3, having scored three more times on drives set up by turnovers.

Zachry, a freshman who had started just one week earlier, was 17 of 35 for 227 yards and two touchdowns. He also threw three interceptions.

``That was just his fifth quarter,'' Steele said. ``Give credit to Josh. He didn't knuckle under and kept fighting. He had one bad throw and the rest were unfortunate things.''

The game ended the season for Baylor (2-9, 0-8) and gave Oklahoma State its first Big 12 victory of the year. This week, the Cowboys play host to No. 1 Oklahoma in Simmons' final game as coach.