Texas Picks Up Only Four First Downs as Oklahoma Wins, 14-7

Even without All-American nose guard Tony Casillas, second-ranked Oklahoma’s defense overwhelmed 17th-ranked Texas Saturday, stopping the Longhorns, 14-7.

The swarming Sooners allowed Texas only four first downs and none in the second half.

Not since Texas A&M;’s 1939 national champions allowed the Longhorns only three first downs had Texas had such a frustrating offensive day.

“It’s the best defensive effort I’ve seen at Oklahoma in 20 years,” Sooner Coach Barry Switzer said. “And we did it without the best player at his position in America in Casillas.

Oklahoma lost Casillas with a knee sprain in the first quarter.

“It was just a great overall defensive effort,” Switzer said. “The pass rush was just great. Brian Bosworth was fantastic at linebacker.”

Patrick Collins, a sophomore making his eighth carry of the season, ran 45 yards in the fourth quarter for the game-winning touchdown.

“It was just a foot race between me and the Texas safety, and he lost,” Collins said. “We figured all we had to do was just get a field goal in the second half and we would win the game the way our defense was playing.

“Texas just couldn’t move at all. That’s the way it has been all year. The only way a team can score on us is if the offense turns the ball over.”

Switzer, asked if he was unhappy with his offensive production, said: “No. I’ll take 14 points against Texas anytime. They can play defense, too, and don’t forget that.”

Texas Coach Fred Akers also praised the Sooners’ defense.

“Oklahoma was mighty tough on defense,” he said. “They did a great job.”

Texas quarterback Todd Dodge, hounded all day, said: “I knew they were a great defensive team but not that great. We had a lot of confidence going into the game. We thought we could move the ball on them but they were just great.”

Dodge was sacked six times.

Oklahoma is 3-0, Texas 3-1. Texas leads the series 47-29-4.

The Longhorns shocked the Sooners late in the first quarter when senior defensive end Kip Cooper caught a fumble in the air and staggered seven yards for a touchdown. Thomas Aldridge applied the tackle that forced the Sooners’ Lydell Carr to lose the ball.

But it didn’t take long for the Sooners to tie the score, moving 80 yards in nine plays in the second period, with Carr scoring from the one.

Carr was the leading rusher with 80 yards in 23 carries.

The Sooners, leading the nation in allowing only 39 yards per game rushing, held Texas to 17 yards in 35 rushes. The Longhorns got only 53 yards passing.