Published: October 15, 2006 01:00 am            

Much to overcome

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

        

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