STILLWATER – Marcell Ateman waited a long time for Thursday night, when he returned to live action for the first time in a year.
The Cowboys senior receiver, out for all of 2016 with a foot injury, didn’t wait long to make an impact on this season, turning a first-quarter catch into a 49-yard gain to the Tulsa 3 on OSU’s third possession. It set up a Justice Hill touchdown run for a 21-0 lead.
And it wasn’t just the catch and run that was notable, as Ateman first snatched the ball away from Tulsa cornerback Kerwin Thomas on a pass that arrived a tad late from quarterback Mason Rudolph, who was hurried and hit while delivering the throw.