Published: October 15, 2008 10:20 am            

Sexton puts his stamp on great week

Earning the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week award was just icing on the cake for linebacker Andre Sexton.

Only two days prior to winning the defensive honor from the conference, he and the rest of the Oklahoma State Cowboys knocked off Missouri, thanks to a key interception by Sexton.

“It’s one of those plays were you want to be in a position like that,” Sexton said. “It was a great feeling to get a chance like that to get a pick and run the ball.”

With the Cowboys (6-0, 2-0 Big 12) only ahead by four points and Heisman candidate Chase Daniel leading Missouri (5-1, 1-1) down the field for a go-ahead touchdown, Sexton made the play that would win him the award.

On 3rd-and-13, Daniel scrambled and tried to improvise like he had so many times before. His arrant pass landed right in the waiting hands of Sexton.

“I didn’t believe it was coming to me,” Sexton said. “I was like ‘this can’t be coming to me. He really over threw it. Let’s just catch the ball, catch it first.’ They started blocking for me and I had some great blocks.”

Sexton’s interception drastically changed the momentum of the game and led to the eventual game-winning Oklahoma State touchdown.

“It deflated their offense and it got Chase Daniel all confused…he was mad at himself for throwing the interception,” linebacker Orie Lemon said. “As a defense we were all very excited.”

But Sexton came up just short of what he wanted on the play. Picking up multiple blocks, the Cowboys’ linebacker returned the interception 39 yards and nearly put six points on the board himself. Sexton’s fuel gauge hovered above empty only a few yards too early of the touchdown he was hoping for.

“We ended up having seven blocks on the return, all great blocks to spring him even further down the field,” coach Tim Beckman said. “That was a big momentum changer, not just the interception itself, but taking it as far back as we did.”

As Beckman yelled ‘pitch it’ from the sideline, Sexton speed ran out just short of the goal line.

“I didn’t have enough juice to get there,” Sexton said. “My battery just kind of gave out…everybody’s been kind of messing with me.”

Sexton also made a game-high 13 tackles – one from behind the line of scrimmage – to add to his team leading 49. The conference player of the week was the third given to an Oklahoma State player this year, but the first given to a Cowboy on the defensive side of the ball.

“You don’t get these type of award unless you are winning,” Sexton said. “It’s a great reflection of the team, because we are winning and we are finally getting recognized.”

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.