Oklahoma State’s football team scored 14 fourth quarter points with Gunnar Gundy at quarterback and beat Central Arkansas 27-13 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater on Saturday.

Gundy was the third of three OSU quarterbacks to play in the game, and he led two scoring drives to give the Cowboys some cushion after UCA had cut their lead to 13-7.

Gundy was 7-for-9 for 106 yards and ran for 20 yards.

He replaced Alan Bowman, who had replaced the starter, Garret Rangel.

Rangel was 10-for-15 passing for 118 yards and a touchdown, while Bowman was 13-for-24 for 80 yards passing.

The Cowboys got the ball to start the game and moved into field goal range, but on 4th and 2 from the UCA 30-yard line, Garret Rangel was rushed and had his pass tipped and intercepted by Demetrius Charles, who was tackled at the Bears’ 31-yard line.

Central Arkansas moved the ball quickly into OSU territory and had two touchdown passes called back for penalties.

After OSU’s defense forced a field goal attempt, Korie Black blocked a 28-yard attempt and the Cowboys escaped the threat with no score with 5:45 to play in the first quarter.

OSU’s offense marched to a score, going 80 yards in 9 plays, with Rangel passing to De’Zhaun Stribling for 30 and to Ollie Gordon for 22.

The drive was capped by an 11-yard touchdown pass from Rangel to Brennan Presley to put OSU on top 7-0 with 2:58 to play in the first quarter.

Both teams exchanged five straight punts following the score.

The Cowboys then put Alan Bowman in at quarterback, and he led OSU into scoring range before settling for a 26-yard field goal by Alex Hale and it was 10-0 with 5:34 to play in the first half.

After an exchange of punts, UCA was driving late in the first half when Jarrod Barnes had the ball knocked out by OSU’s Korie Black.

Kendal Daniels picked the loose ball up at the OSU 47 and returned it 25 yards to the Bears’ 28-yard line.

That set up a 45-yard field goal by Hale to end the first half and send the Cowboys to the lockerroom up 13-0.

After UCA missed a field goal on their opening drive of the second half, OSU had to punt, and it set up the Bears’ first scoring drive.

Central Arkansas went 95 yards in 8 plays, with five of them going for double digit yardage, including gains of 29 and 27 yards.

The drive was capped by a one-yard touchdown pass from Will McElvain to Kylin James to cut the Cowboys’ lead to 13-7 with 4:37 to go in the third quarter.

OSU brought Gunnar Gundy in to play quarterback on the ensuing possession, but the Cowboys went three and out.

The Cowboys forced a Bear punt, then OSU’s offense went 93 yards in 9 plays to extend their lead.

Gundy passed to De’Zhaun Stribling for 21 and Presley for 28 yards, then Elijah Collins scored on a 17-yard touchdown run to put the Cowboys on top 20-7 with 10:44 left in the fourth quarter.

After forcing another Bears punt, OSU went 78 yards in six plays, with Gundy passing to Jaden Bray for 39 yards, then Ollie Gordon scoring on a two-yard touchdown run to make it 27-7 Cowboys with 5:54 left.

The Bears responded with a 7-play, 70-yard drive, with McElvain passing to Christian Richmond for a two-yard touchdown to cut OSU’s lead to 27-13 with 3:28 to play.

Kody Walterscheid blocked the extra point for the Cowboys.

OSU is 17-2 in season openers under coach Mike Gundy, and have won 28 straight home openers.

The Cowboys visit Arizona State next Saturday at 9:30 pm central time.