Peterson, Oklahoma run past Washington

Sep 10, 2006, 0:50 GMT

Norman, OK - Adrian Peterson rushed for 165 yards and two touchdowns to lead 15th-ranked Oklahoma to a 37-20 win over Washington at Memorial Stadium.

Paul Thompson passed for 272 yards on 21-of-33 passing with two touchdowns. Malcolm Kelly hauled in both touchdowns and caught six passes for a career- high 121 yards for the Sooners (2-0), who have won their last seven home games.

Louis Rankin ran for 112 yards on 17 carries while Isaiah Stanback struggled to a 9-for-22 finish and 139 yards through the air for the Huskies (1-1), who are now 1-1 all-time against Oklahoma.

The Huskies started the game with a bang as Kenny James took a handoff at his own 46-yard line, darted up the middle and spun off a tackle at the Sooners 45-yard line. He then outran the Oklahoma secondary and crossed the goal-line for a 54-yard touchdown, giving Washington an early 7-0 lead.

Oklahoma responded with 5:46 to go in the opening quarter when Thompson found Kelly in the back of the end zone for a seven-yard TD strike, tying the game at 7-7.

After a Michael Braunstein 32-yard field goal 1:54 into the second quarter for Washington, Oklahoma answered with a field goal of its own as Garrett Hartley connected from 44-yards out to even things at 10-10.

Facing a 3rd-and-11 at their own 31, Stanback hooked up with Anthony Russo for a 51-yard gain, taking the ball down to the Oklahoma 18-yard line. The drive stalled, however, and Braunstein was brought on to hit his second field goal of the game, a 24-yarder putting Washington up 13-10.

Oklahoma tied the game in the final minute of the half as Thompson hit Reggie Smith for a 12-yard gain, taking the ball to the Huskies 20 and setting up a Hartley 37-yard field goal with 49 seconds left in the half.

Oklahoma came out firing in the second half as Thompson hooked up with Kelly on his second touchdown of the day just under four minutes into the third stanza. Kelly found himself in man coverage and streaked past his defender. Thompson floated a pass down the sideline and hit Kelly in stride for a 35- yard scoring play.

After Hartley's third field goal of the game, a 30-yarder put the Sooners up 23-13, the Washington defense got the team back in it with a big turnover.

With Oklahoma backed up inside its five-yard line, Thompson was hit in the end zone by Chris Stevens. Thompson fumbled the ball forward and the Huskies recovered on the Sooners six-yard line.

Washington immediately squandered its opportunity, however, as Stanback was hit by Oklahoma's Zach Latimer while running an option play, knocking the ball loose. The Sooners then capitalized on the miscue, as Peterson scampered in from 17-yards out with 56 seconds to play in the third for a commanding 30-13 lead.

With 2:48 to play, Peterson plunged in from a yard out to give the Sooners a 24-point cushion, 37-13. The Huskies capped the scoring with 1:27 to play as Carl Bonnell hit Sonny Shackelford for a three-yard touchdown.

Game Notes

The Sooners are 28-6 against non-conference opponents under head coach Bob Stoops.

Washington is 21-18-2 all-time versus Big 12 opposition.

Oklahoma outgained the Huskies 453-384.

Up next for Oklahoma is a big road test at Oregon, while Washington will host Fresno State.

© 2006 The Sports Network