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The Honolulu Advertiser

Updated at 7:19 p.m., Friday, September 14, 2007

CFB: Troy upsets Oklahoma State, 41-23

By BOB JOHNSON
Associated Press Writer

TROY, Ala. — Omar Haugabook passed for a career-high 371 yards and a touchdown and ran for 49 yards and two scores as Troy upset Oklahoma State 41-23 in a dominating performance tonight.

It was only the second win in 10 tries for the Trojans of the Sun Belt Conference against a Big 12 opponent. Led by Haugabook's passing and running, Troy outplayed the Cowboys throughout, gaining 562 total yards to 432 for Oklahoma State.

Troy (1-2) played an aggressive, emotional game in front of their home crowd after opening the season with lopsided road losses to No. 16 Arkansas and No. 5 Florida. It was possibly Troy's biggest win since Sept. 9, 2004, when then-No. 17 Missouri, also of the Big 12, came to Troy and was upset by the Trojans 24-14.

A group of about 100 fans tore down one of the goal posts within minutes after the game ended and paraded it around the field.

It was another bad day away from home for the Cowboys (1-2), who are 2-9 in their past 11 road games. They had four turnovers and had trouble all night keeping up with the speedy Troy offense.

The start of the game was delayed for 41 minutes because of lightning as thunderstorms from the remnants of Hurricane Humberto passed through the area.

But the Trojans were not slowed by the delay and the wet field as they took control in the opening minute and dominated the first half.

On Oklahoma State's first play from scrimmage, Troy's Boris Lee recovered a fumble by Keith Towston, setting up a four-play, 23-yard scoring drive for the Trojans. It was the first of two fumbles by Towston that Lee would recover in the first half. Haugabook threw 5 yards to Kennard Burton for the score with 13:53 left in first quarter.

Haugabook was unstoppable in the first half, passing for 223 yards, mostly from the shotgun in a no-huddle offense, and running for another 33 yards.

The Trojans extended their lead to 13-3 late in the first quarter on a 5-yard scramble by Haugabook to cap a 13-play, 79-yard drive.

Early in the second quarter, Leodis McKelvin returned an Oklahoma State punt 74 yards for a touchdown. It was the fifth career punt return for a touchdown for McKelvin.

Oklahoma State narrowed the margin on a 4-yard scoring pass from Zac Robinson to Brandon Pettigrew with 8:43 left in the half, but the Cowboys could not sustain the momentum.

The Trojans followed with a 9-play, 80-yard drive that ended with a trick play — a 17-yard scoring pass by receiver Gary Banks to Mykeal Terry.

Troy took the second half kickoff and drove 80 yards in 13 plays — scoring on a 2-yard run by Haugabook. The Trojans tacked on another score late the in the third quarter on a 3-yard run by Sean Dawkins.

The Cowboys tacked on two meaningless fourth-quarter scores on 1- and 2-yard runs by Julius Crosslin.