The stats that mattered in Oklahoma State’s 41-38 win over Stanford in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, from Justin Blackmon’s finest three quarters, to Andrew Luck’s completion percentage, to five missing points.
Jan 3, 2012 – 87.1: Andrew Luck’s completion percentage. As with Oregon-Wisconsin, both offenses had to work for their success in this game. Stanford took away Oklahoma State’s ridiculously efficient run game (Joseph Randleand Jeremy Smith combined to gain just 24 yards on 11 carries), and Oklahoma State both made quite a few tackles for loss (forcing Stanford to convert on passing downs, which they didn’t do at an amazing rate in 2011) and took the big men mostly out of the Stanford gameplan.
Tight ends Coby Fleener, Zach Ertz and Levine Toilolo and fullback Ryan Hewitt combined for 46 percent of Stanford’s targets in 2011 (not including targets aimed at the injured Chris Owusu), but they only accounted for eight of 27 completions yesterday. No worries. Luck instead found Ty Montgomery, his No. 6 target for the season, seven times for 120 yards and a touchdown. He found receiver Griff Whalen seven of eight times for 85 yards, and he completed 27 of 31 passes overall for 347 yards, two touchdowns and a pick. It probably goes without saying, but you are usually going to win with that type of performance.
Full Story: Oklahoma State vs. Stanford recap, Fiesta Bowl 2012: The numerical