No. 10 Oklahoma 24, UAB 17

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) _ Adrian Peterson ran for 139 yards and scored twice in the second half to lead Number 10 Oklahoma to a 24-17 victory over Alabama-Birmingham in Norman. <br/><br/>With Paul Thompson

Sunday, September 3rd 2006, 9:24 am

By: News On 6

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) _ Adrian Peterson ran for 139 yards and scored twice in the second half to lead Number 10 Oklahoma to a 24-17 victory over Alabama-Birmingham in Norman.

With Paul Thompson proving inconsistent in his return to quarterback after nearly a year away, Peterson took control in the second half running for 83 yards as the Sooners' offense became almost completely reliant on him. His sixth carry in a row last night resulted in a 4-yard touchdown run for a 14-7 Sooners lead.

Swayze Waters missed a 43-yard field goal to end one drive for UAB, and OU took advantage of new NCAA timing rules to run off the final 2-minutes, 22-seconds after the Blazers' final possession ended with a punt.

Despite the win, OU is left wondering whether Thompson is an able replacement for Rhett Bomar, who was dismissed last month after investigators discovered he had broken NCAA rules.

Thompson opened 8-10, but his production dropped off from there.

Passes started flying wide, short or high, and he had two throws picked off in the final five minutes of the first half.