COLLEGE FOOTBALL : Schnellenberger Wins Debut at Oklahoma : Nonconference: Sooners run up 586 yards in total offense and defeat San Diego State, 38-22

While he found plenty to be concerned with, Howard Schnellenberger wasn’t about to complain after his debut victory at Oklahoma, a 38-22, decision over San Diego State.

The Sooners, 6-6 a year ago, got a career-high 159 yards and three touchdowns from fullback Jerald Moore and ran up 586 yards on offense. They also got solid play from their defense, which helped make 129 yards in penalties a little easier to handle.

“It was terrible, the worst thing I’ve ever been associated with,” said Schnellenberger, who came from Louisville with a promise to make Oklahoma a national power again. “We’re going to look at that very closely.”

Moore had touchdown runs of 19, 52 and five yards, and helped set up a field goal with a 52-yard run.

“Jerald did some great individual running,” Schnellenberger said. “Much of his yardage was gained going into a hole that was not particularly the hole we blocked to open. And a big, strong, fast kid like he is, he runs through a lot of arms.”

Eric Moore, who became only the second freshman in Oklahoma history to start the season at quarterback, completed 11 of 22 passes for 143 yards and was intercepted once. He and Jerald Moore are not related.

Billy Blanton threw for 252 yards and a touchdown for San Diego State (1-1), but the Sooners intercepted him three times, all in the second quarter when they took control by scoring 17 points.

Oklahoma also got a 65-yard fumble return for a touchdown by safety Maylon Wesley, and held halfback George Jones to 89 yards on 21 carries. Jones had 147 yards and three touchdowns in the Aztecs’ season-opening victory over California last week.

The only real breakdown by the defense came late in the game when Az Hakim got behind his man and caught a 49-yard touchdown pass from Blanton.

“We thought we could make it more competitive than it was,” Coach Ted Tollner said. “We just couldn’t generate any consistency.”

San Diego State scored all its touchdowns in the fourth quarter, two after long interception returns by safety Ricky Parker.

The Aztecs’ other touchdowns came on a 3-yard run by Jones one play after Parker returned an interception 88 yards, and on a 5-yard run by Jones.