BIG EIGHT ROUNDUP : Oklahoma Struggles in Victory Over Texas Tech

Oklahoma, playing its home opener after two tough games on the road, managed only two touchdowns and a field goal Saturday in defeating Texas Tech, 17-11, at Norman, Okla.

Texas Tech (1-2) had lost to Oklahoma by scores of 41-10 and 34-9 in the last two seasons. But the Red Raiders, despite being outgained nearly two to one, hung in all afternoon and nearly spoiled the 21st-ranked Sooners’ return to a grass field.

Oklahoma (2-1) was saved in part by two career-best performances. Sophomore tailback Jerald Moore, lining up much of the time at fullback, scored both touchdowns and finished with 106 yards in 23 carries, while defensive end Cedric Jones had five sacks and was in on 10 tackles.

“It was a fourth-quarter ballgame just like we thought it would be,” said Oklahoma Coach Gary Gibbs, whose team won at Syracuse, 30-29, but lost at Texas A&M;, 36-14.

“We kept turning them back. I looked up at Cedric Jones and he was everywhere. Without the defense stepping up, we would have been nowhere.”

The Sooners outgained the Red Raiders, 390 yards to 201--Texas Tech had only 29 yards rushing--and controlled the ball for 11 more minutes, but 11 penalties and three lost fumbles helped keep the score close.

The Sooners were penalized for illegal procedure once in each of their first three drives, and a holding penalty on their fourth possession negated a 21-yard completion that would have put the ball at the Texas Tech 31. They eventually turned the ball over on downs at the Red Raider 15.

Consecutive fumbles by quarterback Garrick McGee in the fourth quarter had Oklahoma fans squirming.

On the first, McGee dropped back to pass and was hit from behind by defensive end Byron Wright. The ball squirted into the end zone, where nose guard Sean Johnson recovered.

The two-point pass from Zibbie Lethridge to Jeff Knowles made the score 14-11 with 14:54 to play.

The Red Raiders forced another fumble by McGee on Oklahoma’s next possession, taking over at the Sooner 37. But a sack on first down by linebacker Collin Rosenberg put a quick end to that threat.

Scott Blanton’s 41-yard field goal with 7:42 to play provided Oklahoma’s final points.

The Sooners then stopped the ensuing Red Raider possession with an interception by linebacker Mario Freeman, and the Red Raiders’ final possession was doomed by penalties.

“We played hard and played good sometimes, but when you make mistakes and create untimely penalties, a good team like Oklahoma will beat you,” Texas Tech Coach Spike Dykes said. “Those mistakes take you out of a close game, and they took us out of a close game today.”

Kansas State 27, Rice 18--Former Cal State Fullerton quarterback Chad May passed for one touchdown and ran for one, helping the Wildcats to their 22nd consecutive nonconference victory at Manhattan, Kan.

Kansas State (2-0) committed two turnovers in the first quarter as Rice (0-2) took a 10-3 lead in its second game under Coach Ken Hatfield.

May scored on a five-yard run to pull Kansas State even at 10-10 with 3:21 to play in the first quarter. The Wildcats took a 17-10 lead with 5:08 to play in the half on a one-yard run by J.J. Smith, who rushed for 114 yards.

Western Michigan 23, Iowa State 19--Jay McDonagh passed for 239 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Broncos (3-0) over the Cyclones (0-3) at Ames, Iowa.