Oklahoma Wins Fifth Straight Over Texas

Saturday, October 9th 2004, 6:45 pm

By: News On 6

DALLAS (AP) _ Adrian Peterson decided to go to Oklahoma instead of Texas partly because of the way the Sooners always handle the Longhorns. This time, he was the reason for it. In just his fifth college game, Peterson ran for 225 yards and made many big plays when No. 2 Oklahoma needed it most, helping the Sooners grind out a 12-0 victory over No. 5 Texas and stretch their winning streak in the storied rivalry to five straight.

The Longhorns (4-1, 1-1 Big 12) avoided getting blown out, but still suffered some stinging embarrassment _ getting shut out for the first time in 282 games, ending the longest streak in the country.

While Peterson had his way with the Texas defense, the unit kept the Sooners (5-0, 2-0) out of the end zone until Kejuan Jones scored on a 6-yard run with just 8:07 left.

Peterson didn't score, but he went a long way toward setting up that touchdown and Trey DiCarlo's two field goals.

Showing the speed to get around the end of the line and the size to keep from going down, Peterson had bursts of 44, 26, 19, 17 and 15 yards, enabling the Sooners to wear down the Longhorns by holding the ball for more than 36 minutes.

Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops gave Peterson only five carries in the first five drives. The game turned once Stoops decided to start riding the player widely considered the nation's best high school running back last fall.

With the Sooners starting from their 12, Peterson got them deep into Texas territory by running on seven of eight plays. He finished the drive with nine carries and Oklahoma wound up leading 3-0 going into halftime.

OU's first drive of the second half also ended with a short field goal. Peterson carried on six of the nine snaps, with gains of 11 and 17.

Although Jones got the start, Peterson showed what he could do on his second carry _ a 44-yard burst from the OU 4. He had runs of 19 and nine on the drive that ended with Jones' touchdown, sealing Oklahoma's longest streak in the series since also winning five straight from 1971-75.

Peterson personally outgained all four of Texas' previous foes this season en route to becoming the first Oklahoma player to crack 100 yards in each of his first five games. And, remember, his predecessors include three Heisman Trophy-winning running backs.

By the way, he hit 100 about five minutes before halftime against a Texas defense that was revamped after allowing 65 points to the Sooners last October.

Had Peterson stayed in his home state and gone to Texas, he would've been backing up senior Cedric Benson. That was another factor in his decision to head north of the Red River, as was his stinging criticism that he wanted a chance to win the national championship.

The Longhorns' chances of being No. 1 have taken a hit in the annual meeting at the Cotton Bowl every year since 1999. This loss means Benson will leave school without ever beating the Sooners.

Benson, who came in averaging a national-best 186.5 yards per game, was held to 92 yards. Quarterback Vince Young ran for 54 and threw for only 86, completing just 8 of 23 passes.

Texas' defense actually kept things close by forcing three turnovers, including an interception by Derrick Johnson with the Sooners threatening to score late in the third quarter.

Oklahoma's Jason White was 14-of-26 for only 113 yards.

The game drew 79,587 fans, the biggest crowd in the 99-game history of the series.