Oklahoma Makes a Run for It to Win

With Adrian Peterson running so well, Oklahoma didn’t even have to worry about who was passing the ball -- at least for one week.

Peterson ran for 180 of his 220 yards in the second half and scored three touchdowns as No. 18 Oklahoma avoided a second stunning loss by beating Tulsa, 31-15, Saturday at Norman, Okla.

With new starter Rhett Bomar struggling at quarterback, Oklahoma (1-1) didn’t attempt a pass in the second half. The Sooners’ recipe for success was to give the ball to Peterson.

“We came out there and we played smash-mouth football,” said Peterson, whose team was coming off a stunning 17-10 loss to Texas Christian.

After Tulsa (0-2) pulled ahead, 9-7, in the third quarter on Brad DeVault’s third field goal, Peterson took over. He ate up all 58 yards as the Sooners marched downfield to regain the lead.

Peterson broke off a 42-yard run down the left sideline, discarding a Tulsa defender at midfield before finally being forced out at the 16. Three plays later, he worked his way to the left end of the offensive line and fell into the end zone while being tackled for his second one-yard scoring run of the game.

Leading, 17-15, with 9:10 left, Oklahoma turned to Peterson again. On fourth and one, he took a handoff, rammed through one defender, kept going as another tried to strip the ball, then stiff-armed a Golden Hurricane player before high-stepping into the end zone for a 41-yard score.

No. 21 Texas Tech 56, Florida International 3 -- Cody Hodges threw for 454 yards and four touchdowns and ran for another to lead the Red Raiders (1-0) over the Golden Panthers (0-2) at Lubbock, Texas.

Hodges completed 29 of 37 passes and had scoring passes of 47, 39, 38 and seven yards.

Nebraska 31, Wake Forest 3 -- The Cornhuskers (2-0) returned two interceptions for touchdowns and a fumble for another in a victory over the Demon Deacons (0-2) at Lincoln, Neb. Nebraska had three defensive touchdowns for the first time since 1962.

New Mexico 45, Missouri 35 -- Hank Baskett caught 10 passes for 209 yards and a career-best three touchdowns, helping the Lobos (2-0) pull away from the Tigers (1-1) in the fourth quarter at Columbia, Mo.

Baylor 48, Samford 14 -- Shawn Bell threw for 166 yards and two touchdowns and Jamaal Harper returned a fumble 29 yards for a score to lead the Bears (2-0) over the Bulldogs (1-1) at Waco, Texas.

Kansas 36, Appalachian State 8 -- Reserve running back Jon Cornish rushed for 103 yards and three touchdowns in 10 carries to lead the Jayhawks (2-0) over the Mountaineers (1-1) at Lawrence, Kan.

Kansas State 21, Marshall 19 -- Allen Webb threw two touchdown passes and Thomas Clayton scored twice for the Wildcats (2-0) in a victory over the Thundering Herd (1-1) at Huntington, W.Va.

Colorado 39, New Mexico State 0 -- Joel Klatt threw for 186 yards and two scores and Lawrence Vickers rushed for two touchdowns to lead the Buffaloes (2-0) over the Aggies (0-2) at Boulder, Colo.