Big Eight Roundup : Hit-and-Run Oklahoma Bangs Up Tulsa, 65-0

It seemed the more No. 1-ranked Oklahoma tried to take it easy Saturday, the worse things got for Tulsa.

Oklahoma substituted freely throughout the game--the Sooners used nine running backs--but still wound up rolling to a 65-0 victory at Tulsa, Okla.

Backup quarterback Charles Thompson rushed for three touchdowns and threw for a fourth as the Sooners compiled 541 yards in total offense compared to Tulsa’s 50.

“I don’t like the score getting out of hand, but there’s nothing you can do about it,” Oklahoma Coach Barry Switzer said. “Second-team players are going to go and play hard and try to make things happen.”

No one did that better than Thompson, a red-shirt freshman, who entered the game early in the third quarter with Oklahoma leading, 38-0.

Thompson scored on runs of 7, 68 and 10 yards, with his 68-yarder the longest scoring run by a Sooner this season. His 21-yard pass to split end Artie Guess capped a four-touchdown third quarter.

Starting quarterback Jamelle Holieway scored twice and connected with tight end Keith Jackson on a 47-yard scoring pass play before leaving the game one possession into the third quarter.

Thompson led Oklahoma with 105 yards rushing in 8 carries. Carr rushed for 80 yards, Holieway 65 and Stafford 51.

Tulsa’s starting quarterback T.J. Rubley was knocked out of the game after being hit by Oklahoma’s Troy Johnson. Rubley, however, is expected to play next week.

The victory left the Big Eight Conference team with a 3-0 record. Tulsa, an independent, dropped to 0-4.

Oklahoma St. 36, SW Louisiana 0--Thurman Thomas rushed for 119 yards in 21 carries at Stillwater, Okla., as the unbeaten Cowboys boosted their record to 4-0.

Thomas, who surpassed the 100-yard mark for the fourth consecutive game, scored on a 1-yard run. He has rushed for 587 yards this season.

Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy completed 16 of 28 passes for 213 yards, and Hart Lee Dykes had 4 receptions for 71 yards.

Louisiana Tech 16, Kansas 11--Garlon Powell rushed for 110 yards and a touchdown, and Louisiana Tech took advantage of eight Kansas turnovers to defeat the Jayhawks at Lawrence, Kan.

It was the 10th consecutive defeat for Kansas, which threw five interceptions and lost three fumbles.