No redemption here

The Missouri Tigers came barreling into Boone Pickens Stadium drooling for revenge and with good reason.

The Cowboys initiated the Tigers’ downward spiral in their highly anticipated 2008 season, and all signs pointed toward payback.

The Tigers administered a measure of fear in OSU fans as they hauled down the field with a 78-yard drive in 3:32 to open the game but managed only a field goal.

The Cowboys were cocked and ready to fire back, reciprocating the favor but surpassing the Tigers with a touchdown.

The Cowboys’ offense was efficient, but the defense added some offense of its own.

Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert threw a ball under constraint that his receiver tipped, and it landed in the hands of OSU senior safety Lucien Antoine, who made his first interception and touchdown to turn the fortunes around for the Cowboys.

“We’ve got a lot of great senior leadership,” senior quarterback Zac Robinson said. “There are guys everywhere. Each position group has a senior that’s been there and contributes a lot.”

The momentum generated by the interception and senior leadership resulted in OSU outscoring the Tigers 26-7 from that point.

The Cowboys’ defense shut down Missouri after making some adjustments in the second half, holding the Tigers scoreless after the intermission.

But it was the offense, particularly sophomore receiver Hubert Anyiam, that stepped up to impress.

Anyiam, a Garland, Texas, native, had 10 catches for 119 yards, shattering his career highs for receptions ( 3 ) and yards ( 58 ) nearly 10 minutes into the game.

A spark ignited between Anyiam and Robinson; a spark that is typically present with junior receiver Dez Bryant, but Anyiam said he felt it Saturday night.

“He has that big confidence with Dez, and he is starting to have that confidence with me,” Anyiam said. “I’m feeling confident about it and the more I feel confident with him about it, the more I make plays.”

Robinson said he felt the connection, as well, as almost half of his 22 completions were into Anyiam’s hands.

“He stepped up and ran great routes and got open,” Robinson said. “Hubert has a great feel for the game. It just comes natural to him.”

Coach Mike Gundy, along with the rest of the coaching staff, said he was thrilled with how Anyiam and others have stepped up in the absence of Bryant.

“We learned a good lesson in the fact that you never know what a young man will do when he’s presented the opportunity,” Gundy said. “When you have players that aren’t available to you on Saturday, it’s an opportunity for another player to step up and make some plays.”

Anyiam proved to be up to the challenge, affirming that even without their two All-Americans, Bryant and junior running back Kendall Hunter, the Cowboys are still a force to be reckoned with and a viable Big 12 contender.

“Steppin’ up, that’s all we’re hearing,” Anyiam said. “All we’ve got to do is keep stepping up, and once we’ve got everything locked up and roles played and our team back to 100 percent, the sky is the limit for this team.”