COLLEGE FOOTBALL : Oklahoma Struggles Past Missouri, 17-13

With second-ranked Nebraska next on the schedule, Coach Barry Switzer of No. 1 Oklahoma is anything but satisfied with the play of his team.

“I told our team that if we’re setting a trap for Nebraska, we’re doing a hell of a job of it,” Switzer said Saturday after the Sooners struggled to beat Missouri, 17-13. The Sooners, 10-0 for the first time since 1974, are 6-0 in the Big Eight. They travel to Lincoln, Neb., next week to play the Cornhuskers, 9-0 and 5-0. Missouri dropped to 4-6 and 2-4.

Oklahoma fumbled six times and lost four of those but was able to win because of the play of its defense. Missouri managed only 139 yards rushing and 54 passing, and picked up just 10 first downs.

Oklahoma was playing without quarterback Jamelle Holieway and fullback Lydell Carr, both of whom suffered season-ending knee injuries last week.

Switzer injured his left knee Saturday when he was hit by one of his players along the sideline. Switzer will be in a cast for six weeks.

Oklahoma, leading the nation with an average of 49 points per game, didn’t score a touchdown until 45 seconds before halftime when Anthony Stafford went in from a yard out.

Holieway’s backup, redshirt freshman Charles Thompson, made it 17-3 in the third quarter when he scored on a 14-yard run. Thompson finished with 91 yards rushing and 104 passing.

Carr’s replacement, junior Rotnei Anderson, led the Sooners with 118 yards rushing.

Missouri tightened things late in the third quarter when halfback Michael Jones scored on a 20-yard run one play after a Thompson fumble. Tom Whelihan’s 45-yard field goal brought the Tigers within four.

The Oklahoma defense then came up with a big play when cornerback Scott Garl intercepted a John Stollenwerck pass with 4:42 left. After Oklahoma was forced to punt, Missouri saw its final drive end at its 29 with four straight incompletions.

Oklahoma finished with 283 yards rushing and 387 in total offense. Of the Sooners’ 104 passing yards, 65 went to tight end Keith Jackson.