White-hot Sooners unload on Huskers
NORMAN, Okla. — Nebraska had a strong answer for Oklahoma's talented freshman tailback.
The Huskers, however, drew mostly blanks in trying to slow the Sooners' Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback.
Jason White flashed his Heisman form Saturday night, completing 29 of 35 passes for 383 yards and three touchdowns in a 30-3 triumph before 84,916 at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
White was "phenomenal," said Nebraska head coach Bill Callahan, whose Huskers fell to 5-5 overall and 3-4 in the Big 12 North with its third loss in four games.
Nebraska needs to capture its regular-season finale, against Colorado Nov. 26 in Lincoln, in order to qualify for its 36th straight bowl game. The Huskers are a half-game behind Iowa State (3-3) in the North division race.
Second-ranked Oklahoma, meanwhile, improved to 10-0 and 7-0 in the Big 12 South, clinching the divisional crown.
The Sooners, with third-ranked Auburn closing fast in the national polls, needed more than just a grind-it-out victory against the Huskers. OU needed style points. And in that regard, the results were mixed.
White, the 2003 Heisman winner who again is making a run for the college game's most prestigious award, at one point completed 18 straight passes Saturday. He fired completions of 58, 36, 30, 24 and 22 yards.
Oklahoma, however, managed only a single touchdown during the final 30 minutes after leading 23-0 at halftime. And Adrian Peterson, the Sooners' first-year phenom at tailback, was held to 58 yards on 15 carries, the first time this season he was held to less than 100 yards.
Peterson didn't start the game because of a dislocated shoulder suffered last week against Texas A&M.
"You basically have to pick your poison," said Nebraska linebacker Barrett Ruud, referring to the conundrum of defending the White-Peterson attack. "They're going to get yards. The main problem was, we gave up big plays."
Oklahoma finished with 511 yards compared with Nebraska's 274.
The Huskers were led by I-back Cory Ross, who carried a season-high 30 times for 130 yards, pushing his season total to 1,067. The 5-foot-6, 195-pound Ross left the game with 8:18 remaining, apparently because of a bruised sternum. He's been playing since mid-October with a sore big toe on his left foot.
Ross endured several hard hits against a fast and ferocious Oklahoma defense.
"You talk about an individual who gives his all," Callahan said. "With the injuries he sustained tonight and the one he had coming in — he's just a warrior in every sense."
Nebraska avoided a shutout when David Dyches booted a 39-yard field goal with one second showing.
"We're going to keep trying no matter how many seconds are on the clock," Callahan said.
Nebraska ran the ball 40 times and passed it 13 after attempting 43 passes in last week's loss at Iowa State.
Asked what the Huskers' plan was on offense, Callahan said flatly, "To win the game."
Said Nebraska offensive tackle Mike Erickson: "Oklahoma has good speed side-to-side. We thought we could run right at them and diffuse their lateral movement."
Husker quarterback Joe Dailey was 8-for-12 passing for 73 yards, with one interception.
Oklahoma took command when White tossed a 4-yard touchdown pass to wideout Brandon Jones to make it 23-0 a minute before halftime. The score capped a nine-play, 83-yard march highlighted by White's 36-yard pass to Travis Wilson on third-and-12 from the Sooners' 15-yard line.
Oklahoma's offense started somewhat sluggishly, settling for a field goal on its first possession and going three plays-and-out on its second try.
Then the Sooners got rolling, scoring touchdowns on their next three possessions to seize control.
Dailey helped Oklahoma's cause with his interception. Linebacker Gayron Allen made the catch in the flat and returned the ball 10 yards to the Nebraska 31. Mark Bradley's pass to Mark Clayton off of a reverse set up Kejuan Jones' 1-yard touchdown run to make it 16-0.
At halftime, White was 16-for-19 for 203 yards and two touchdowns. Peterson had just 2 yards on three carries at the break, though it hardly mattered, as OU was in control.
The Huskers, however, drew mostly blanks in trying to slow the Sooners' Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback.
Jason White flashed his Heisman form Saturday night, completing 29 of 35 passes for 383 yards and three touchdowns in a 30-3 triumph before 84,916 at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
White was "phenomenal," said Nebraska head coach Bill Callahan, whose Huskers fell to 5-5 overall and 3-4 in the Big 12 North with its third loss in four games.
Nebraska needs to capture its regular-season finale, against Colorado Nov. 26 in Lincoln, in order to qualify for its 36th straight bowl game. The Huskers are a half-game behind Iowa State (3-3) in the North division race.
Second-ranked Oklahoma, meanwhile, improved to 10-0 and 7-0 in the Big 12 South, clinching the divisional crown.
The Sooners, with third-ranked Auburn closing fast in the national polls, needed more than just a grind-it-out victory against the Huskers. OU needed style points. And in that regard, the results were mixed.
White, the 2003 Heisman winner who again is making a run for the college game's most prestigious award, at one point completed 18 straight passes Saturday. He fired completions of 58, 36, 30, 24 and 22 yards.
Oklahoma, however, managed only a single touchdown during the final 30 minutes after leading 23-0 at halftime. And Adrian Peterson, the Sooners' first-year phenom at tailback, was held to 58 yards on 15 carries, the first time this season he was held to less than 100 yards.
Peterson didn't start the game because of a dislocated shoulder suffered last week against Texas A&M.
"You basically have to pick your poison," said Nebraska linebacker Barrett Ruud, referring to the conundrum of defending the White-Peterson attack. "They're going to get yards. The main problem was, we gave up big plays."
Oklahoma finished with 511 yards compared with Nebraska's 274.
The Huskers were led by I-back Cory Ross, who carried a season-high 30 times for 130 yards, pushing his season total to 1,067. The 5-foot-6, 195-pound Ross left the game with 8:18 remaining, apparently because of a bruised sternum. He's been playing since mid-October with a sore big toe on his left foot.
Ross endured several hard hits against a fast and ferocious Oklahoma defense.
"You talk about an individual who gives his all," Callahan said. "With the injuries he sustained tonight and the one he had coming in — he's just a warrior in every sense."
Nebraska avoided a shutout when David Dyches booted a 39-yard field goal with one second showing.
"We're going to keep trying no matter how many seconds are on the clock," Callahan said.
Nebraska ran the ball 40 times and passed it 13 after attempting 43 passes in last week's loss at Iowa State.
Asked what the Huskers' plan was on offense, Callahan said flatly, "To win the game."
Said Nebraska offensive tackle Mike Erickson: "Oklahoma has good speed side-to-side. We thought we could run right at them and diffuse their lateral movement."
Husker quarterback Joe Dailey was 8-for-12 passing for 73 yards, with one interception.
Oklahoma took command when White tossed a 4-yard touchdown pass to wideout Brandon Jones to make it 23-0 a minute before halftime. The score capped a nine-play, 83-yard march highlighted by White's 36-yard pass to Travis Wilson on third-and-12 from the Sooners' 15-yard line.
Oklahoma's offense started somewhat sluggishly, settling for a field goal on its first possession and going three plays-and-out on its second try.
Then the Sooners got rolling, scoring touchdowns on their next three possessions to seize control.
Dailey helped Oklahoma's cause with his interception. Linebacker Gayron Allen made the catch in the flat and returned the ball 10 yards to the Nebraska 31. Mark Bradley's pass to Mark Clayton off of a reverse set up Kejuan Jones' 1-yard touchdown run to make it 16-0.
At halftime, White was 16-for-19 for 203 yards and two touchdowns. Peterson had just 2 yards on three carries at the break, though it hardly mattered, as OU was in control.
Copyright © 2002-2008 Lincoln Journal Star. All rights reserved.