Adrian Peterson had been stuffed. After burning Iowa State for 40 yards on his very first carry, the Cyclones limited the star running back to just 90 over his next 24.
But everything changed on Peterson’s last carry, when he went 53 yards, capping the Sooners’ 34-9 victory over the Cyclones, stumbling into the end zone … and kissing the rest of his regular season goodbye.
Sooner offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said Peterson came off the field appearing to favor a shoulder.
“About one minute later,” Wilson reported, “they said ‘I think he broke his collar bone.’ ”
The bad news and the severity of the injury wasn’t confirmed until a short time after the game. So when players and coaches emerged from the locker room to face the media, the first real chance they had to consider their newest burden occurred as cameras and tape recorders rolled.
“You don’t plan on this, he’s a tough guy,” Sooner quarterback Paul Thompson said. “It was a freak accident. We will need some help from the other guys.”
With Peterson out, primary running duties should fall to Allen Patrick, the 6-foot, 191-pound junior originally recruited as a defensive back. Jacob Gutierrez could also get some work, as could Norman High product Mossis Madu, who Wilson said is ahead of the remaining crop of freshmen runners.
“We’ve got to stay focused and execute,” Thompson said, “and the running backs, they’re going to have to step it up.”
Even with the rushing duties being handled by Patrick and a supporting cast, the rest of the Sooner offense will be under more pressure to perform beginning Saturday against Colorado.
“I know there’s going to be a lot more pressure on the receivers,” said Malcolm Kelly, who led OU with four catches for 50 yards and two touchdowns. “I know we’re going to be throwing it more … We know, as an offense, we’re going to have to improve.”
After holding Texas to 222 yards at the Cotton Bowl, the Sooner defense turned in another solid outing, limiting the Cyclones to 238 yards, 58 on the inconsequential final play of the first half.
Defensive end Larry Birdine doesn’t think the defense has to do anything new in Peterson’s absence, just that it’s something the entire team must overcome.
“We’re definitely going to miss him,” Birdine said. “Right now, the initial shock is, what are we going to do? But we have offensive coaches and that’s why they get paid the big bucks, to figure those things out.”
Now 4-2 on the season and 1-1 in the Big 12, the Sooners may be out of the conference championship race, but remain in position to deliver a very good season.
“This is another challlenge. Life is full of challenges and this is a challenge for us,” Wilson said. “If we’re on our way back to being a championship football team, then we’re going to handle this the right way.”
Clay Horning366-3526cfhorning@normantranscript.com
OU Sports
Related Photos
-
KEVIN ELLIS
Discussion
Much to overcome
- OU Sports
-
-
OU gearing up for Texas’ Brown
If Oklahoma guard Steven Pledger had his way, tonight’s meeting with Texas will come down to two players: himself and Longhorn guard J’Covan Brown....
-
Sooners will have a dramatically new look up and down the order, on the mound
The clubhouse at L. Dale Mitchell Park hasn’t changed over the last year. Just about everything else has since the 2011 baseball season ended. The locker stalls have 20 new nameplates. The coaches’ locker room has two new ones as well. ...
-
Despite hard fight, UConn wins big
By its own standards, the Connecticut team that took the floor Monday night at Lloyd Noble Center was not in the same class as its previous incarnations. But a down year for the seven-time national champions is still better than just ...
-
Believe it or not, OU women are progressing
Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma appeared plenty willing to embarrass Oklahoma for a third time in seven games....
-
OU reeling from stunning loss to Texas Tech
As Oklahoma’s players headed toward the exit at United Spirit Arena on Saturday night, most had dazed looks on their faces. The 65-47 loss to Texas Tech was something they didn’t see coming....
-
Husky challenge
No time might seem like a good time to face Connecticut. The Huskies are always terrific and this season will enter Lloyd Noble Center likely ranked No. 2 following Notre Dame’s Sunday loss to West Virginia....
-
Sooners put finishing touches on perfect opener
Oklahoma capped off a perfect opening weekend of softball on Sunday with an 11-1 victory over Kent State. The Sooners were led by another strong outing from pitcher Keilani Rickets and an offensive explosion by Allee Allen....
-
Illinois halts OU’s upset
ITHACA, N.Y. — Oklahoma was not upset at the National Duals on Sunday. It did, however, leave disappointed....
-
Sooners fall flat against Raiders
LUBBOCK, Texas — All that progress Oklahoma believes it has been making didn’t make the trip to Texas Tech on Saturday. The Sooners moonwalked their way to a 65-47 loss at United Spirit Arena that easily qualified as the season’s worst ...
-
Sooners narrowly avoid handing Tigers their first win in Big 12 play
Morgan Hook hit the free throws and Kaylon Williams blocked the shot, grabbed the rebound, got fouled and made one of two from the stripe to put the game away....
- More OU Sports Headlines
-
OU gearing up for Texas’ Brown
