An Unlikely Hero: Cale Cabbiness Ices Cowboys’ Win in Boise

September 19, 2021

BOISE, Idaho — Cale Cabbiness’ first career catch secured an all-important Cowboy victory.

Oklahoma State beat Boise State 21-20 on Saturday night after Cabbiness, a walk-on, redshirt freshman receiver from Norman, fought over a ball with Boise State starting cornerback Markel Reed. It was third-and-7 with under two minutes to play. It was a 50/50 ball that Cabbiness fought away from Reed, allowing OSU to kneel out the rest of the clock.

“I always come ready, despite the circumstances no matter what — whether I’m gonna play a lot or not play,” Cabbiness said. “I always come ready, so I’m just prepared for things like that.”

Listed at 6-foot-2, 195 pounds, Cabbiness was only in the game because Bryson Green injured his hand earlier in the game. Green was added to the long list of injured Cowboy receivers that includes Tay Martin, Jaden Bray, Blaine Green, Braydon Johnson and Langston Anderson. There were a lot of things that had to happen for Cabbiness to even be in that position looking up at Spencer Sanders’ pass in front of 36,702 people on a blue field in Idaho.

Not thinking he had to prepare for Cabbiness, the TV commentator called him “Cole Cabbiness” after the catch for goodness sake.

Cabbiness said before the play started he had a “good idea” the ball could be coming to him. Cabbiness and Reed rolled out of bounds fighting for the ball (and the game). Cabbiness said he only let go when the ref assured him it was a catch.

It was one of only six passes the Cowboys completed Saturday, the fewest completions by OSU in a game since 2008. Cabbiness’ 24 yards were the second-most receiving yards on the team against the Broncos, and he was able to celebrate with his ole ball coach after the win.

“What a great story for a young man that’s walked on, a local kid from Norman North that busts his tail every day, all the time,” OSU coach Mike Gundy said. “Those guys don’t ever know if they’re gonna get a chance to get in the game, and then he makes a big-time catch. You can’t write a better script for that kid.”

Cabbiness’ twitter shows he had two offers as part of the 2020 high school class: Northeastern State in Tahlequah and Southern Nazarene in Bethany. Instead, he went to Oklahoma State where he worked his way onto the travel squad last season and took advantage when opportunity knocked in Boise.

“It means a lot,” Cabbiness said. “It’s just kind of a testament to all the work I put in. I’ve been working a long time towards making big plays in a big game in an environment like this. It’s the things you dream about when you’re a kid, so it was pretty cool.”

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