By Kenton Brooks

Phoenix Sports Writer

STILLWATER — Oklahoma State came into this year’s version of Bedlam wanting to be the spoiler.

They were looking to derail Oklahoma’s bid for the national championship game.

Instead, they are the spoilee.

A couple of plays went Oklahoma’s way in the third quarter and the Sooners used that to topple the Cowboys 61-41 Saturday night at Boone Pickens Stadium.

The first came when OSU quarterback Zac Robinson fumbled on a two-point conversion and the Sooners’ Frank Alexander returned the ball all the way to the other end zone for two points with 11:12 left in the third quarter.

If that wasn’t enough to rain on the Cowboys’ parade, a pass bounced off Manuel Johnson’s hands and into the waiting palms of Jermaine Gresham. Gresham then dashed 73 yards for the touchdown with 10:13 remaining in the third, padding the Sooners’ lead to 30-19.

“It all came down to we made two or three crucial mistakes and it cost us,” OSU coach Mike Gundy said. “Obviously, you’d like to not fumble the ball and give them two points. We fumbled the ball and cost us points on turnovers. The margin of error is much smaller when you play teams who are very fast. There were some crucial errors.”

It seemed like every time OSU scored, OU answered right back with a score of its own.

“They had a little too much firepower for us on offense,” Gundy said. “I thought our defense played very well for almost three quarters. They wore us down and we didn’t have as effective pass rush or pressure as the game went on.”

Need an example? Right after OSU’s Dez Bryant caught a touchdown and a crucial two-point conversion to cut the deficit to 37-34, the Sooners came right back on the ensuing kickoff for a 68-yard return for a touchdown on an obvious special teams breakdown. Six plays later, the Sooners scored again on a one-yard touchdown pass to Brody Eldridge from Sam Bradford and, after the extra point, OU led 44-34.

Here’s another example. OSU cut OU’s lead to 44-41 but the Sooners came back with yet another touchdown drive and increase their lead to 51-44.

Let’s be realistic.

Oklahoma State didn’t have a chance for anything more than lower tier bowl going into this game. They will have to be content with a possible bid to the Holiday Bowl in San Diego, Calif.