The Daily Oklahoman from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma • 39

4601212 HWjh RECORDED Sports THE SUNDAY OKLAHOMAN SPQRTSUNE SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1985 Williams, Defense Lift OSU, 25-13 O'Neal Co. Pitch 2nd-Half Shutout By Tom. Kensler STILLWATER To understand what Oklahoma Pat Jones expects from his defense is to understand his background. Jones was just 3fl years old when he coached defensive end Hugh Green at the University of Pittsburgh in 1978. If Jones doesn't get perfection, it had better be darn close.

That's why it came as no surpr is when Jones's first words Saturday afternoon after the 25-13 victory over Tulsa in Lewis Stadium-concerned his 'D' "I didn't think our defense played real well." Hey, for the third time in four games this season Oklahoma State shut out its opponent in the second half. Tulsa managed only 105 yards in offense after inter- All-American Leslie O'Neal blocks a Tulsa punt. second quarter? And didn't the second-half shutout take some of the pressure off OSU quarterback Ronnie Williams, who saw his first game action since breaking his aw against Washington? Didn't All-America defensive tackle Leslie O'Neal contribute two first-half points when he blocked a punt out of the end zone for a an end-around by Tulsa flanker Ronnie Kelley in TU's first possession of the third quarter was certainly sharp, a possible migraine special. Kelley took the reverse handoff from quarterback Steve Gage on third and seven at the Tulsa 35 and appeared to have running room for a first down. But Moore zeroed in from his free safety position and stopped Kelley cold See Pokes, Page 4C Come on, Pat, can't the defense get much of the credit as the sixth-ranked Cowboys enter Big Eight Conference play with a 4-0 record for the third consecutive year? "We take an awful lot of pride in our defense," Jones said, I didn't think we were as sharp as we should have been." Mark Moore's hit on Didn't Oklahoma.

State's defense, enable; the Cowboys to rally from a 13-12 halftime deficit after the OSU starting backfield of tailback Thurman Thomas and fullback Will Timmons were lost to injuries Jate in the Thurman Thomas slashes past the final Tulsa defenders to complete a 54-yard touchdown run. ing Fancy: OU 41-6 Aikman nits His Targets in Romp by Sooners "I decided to just go out there and throw the ball, let it go, and things worked out well." Leading the OU rushing game, whicl produced 353 yards on 76 carries, -was fullback Lydell Carr. The sophomore from Enid ran 25 times for 136 yards, his third-best total at OU. Saturday's victory gave OU a 2-0 record for only the second time in the Eighties while KSU dipped to 0-5 for the first time since 1966. There simply wasn't mach bad news (or the OU family on this breezy, sunny Saturday.

Except that starting right guard Jeff Pickett suffered a left knee injury just 11:41 into the game. And the Sooner defense didn't get the shutout it was hoping for against the nation's 10-4th-ranked offense. The defense should have had a shutout, though for the second straight week. Last week, in a 13-7 wia at Minnesota, the Gophers' scoring drive of 19 yards was set up by a fumbled punt. Same story here Saturday.

The Wildcats' only score was set up by Derrick Shepard's fumbled punt at the OU 37. It was the only time all day that KSU passed the Sooner 49-yard line. "I'm sorry that our defense couldn't get a shutout," said OU coach Barry Switzer, now 12-0-1 in conference openers. "They deserved a shutout, but our kicking game gave them a touchdown," OU has not enjoyed a shutout victory on the road since beating Penn State, 14-0, in the 1973 Sugar Bowl. The Sooners haven't blanked a Big Eight foe on the road since topping Missouri, 7-0, in 1967.

With this defease, however, those strings could end this year. Saturday, the OU defense allowed only 121 yards and six first downs. Offensively, OU's 530 total yardage was its high-est since 572 against Kansas in See Aikman, Page 3C By Bob Heisom Staff Writer MANHATTAN, Kan. II there comes a time when Oklahoma Sooner football followers, xefer to The Air Aikman Era, they will agree that the liftoff came here Saturday. While OU began its Big Eight title defense with a 41-6 assault of Kansas State at KSU Stadium, Sooner quarterback Troy Aikman may have come of age.

He may have even started an era. Aikman, generally ineffective in two previous starting assignments, was anything but ineffectual Saturday as OU ruined the K-State homecoming, beating KSU for the 15th straight season. f' The 6-3 sophomore, who left after two minutes of the fourth quarter Saturday, completed 1C of 14 passes for 177 yards. He guided the No; 2 Sooners to 530 yards and 30 first downs against a team that ranked 14th in NCAA total defense. Aikman, a nine-of-32 passer in two previous restarts, completed his first eight passes for 159 and also had option runs of 16, 18 and 25 And his statistics should have been better Saturday.

Four more completions, netting 45 yards, were '-nullified by penalties. And two of those completions would have grven Aikman his first TD passes at OU. 1'4 Aikman Indicated that his confidence had increased markedly during the Sooners' second game of the season. "I tried some passes today that I probably wouldn't have tried last week just because lt.was first game this year," Jtfkman said. "I just wanted to get settled in.

I decided to just go out and throw the ball, lot it go, and things fworked out well. "it was a good performance by everybody. The receivers ran good routes, the linemen gave me time to throw and all I had to do was throw it." And not worry about those who had questioned his ability to run the OU wishbone. "I thought some people said some things last week that weren't necessary," Aikman said, "but that goes with the territory and I felt like I had to go out there and have a good game. "Not just because of the media attention I've been getting, but because of the Texas game coming up (Saturday).

I think everybody felt that way. -We had to go out there and do good and it makes me feel good. "There are so many people looking down on me and want so much. We had a groat spring practice and a great pre-season practice. I think the expectations might have leen a little high because we did so well.

But we're coming back from it. "There's a team unity here and we don't worry about what's written in the papers or anything like that. We believe in each other, and that's the main thing. We're a team here, a family." Stall Ptote bv Jkn Aroa OU's young offensive tackles, Anthony Phillips (68) and Mark Hutson (76), celebrate the Sooners' second touchdown drive. inside Blue Jays Win AL East; Royals Repeat in West Unlikely Hero Cedeno Corks Title for Cards COLLEGE SCOREBOARD Saturday's Football Scores Page 2C BIG EIGHT FOOTBALL 'Huskers Roll, 38-7.

3C BUCKEYES FALL Illinois Puts Down Otilo St. 5C THE NUMBERS Latest Baseball Statistics 6C BACK IN BOXING Sean O'Grady Returns Page 7C HIGH SCHOOLS Mac Bentley's Prep Parade 11C SPLISH SPLASH A Haven for Canoe Fans. 12C NFL PREVIEWS Thla Week's Matchups Page 12C WAYMAN'S PACT Tlsdale Remains Unsigned 13C LETTERS OSU Comment Doesn't Add Up. Pago.13C even he downplayed Its significance. didn't matter who we: Alexander said.

"It Just happened to come against the Yankees." The crowd of 44,608 spilled onto the field at Exhibition Stadium when left fielder George Bell caught Ron Has-sey's ball for the final out, and fans and teammates joined in carrying Alexander off the field. Tve never had anything like that," the 35-year-old pitcher said. Wtiltt broke into tlie major leagues with Toronto' in 1977, the same year, the Dlue Jays played their first season, The1 33-year-old catcher suffered through five last-place finishes In Ills, first five years. "When Hassey hit that last ball I got chills," said. "I have been Here so long', and I wanted to be here, when wo won." "We just came up short," Yankee See Toronto, Page AC TORONTO CAP) Doyle Alexander had been waiting.

Ernie WTiltt had Awaited even longer. And 'time came together. The Toronto Blue Jays are-champions. "No, I honestly never thoiigfet I'd be 'around to see It," Whitt; one ot three remaining original Blue Jays, said Saturday after Toronto clinched the American League East title with a 5-1 victory over -New York thai eliminated the second-place Yankees. Several hours later in Kansas City, the Royals wrapped iip the AL West title by defeating Oakland, 5-4; In 10 innings.

7- Whitt's second-inning home run produced the game's first Hin, land Lloyd Moseby and Willie Upsrtaw. hit consecutive homers in the third that gave AlexandeT all ho needed. Alexander, who was demeaned by Yankees ownei George Stelnlrenncr three years ago, got his revenge If go loft fielder 'Gary Matthews graciously paid homage to St. Louis. "Thoso guys are one of the few teams that every time they hita line drive they give you 5 nightmares," said who had three of only four Cubs hits off 4 Tudor, 21-8.

"They're a greiat team. Being that they're in oijr division, I hope they go all the way." Tudor, while "conceding that "I'm happy to be the guyrthat was able to do It (win the title)," insisted a teammate could have won as well. "Wo knew that they weren't going to Ho down for us. great clnb. They had injuries all year long," Tudor said of Chicago.

"It's been an unbelievable Seo Cards, Page 8C ing they got," Busch said in add-, ing his salute to the champagne. "They have a great managerand they're a great bunch of Almost fittingly for a team that had been hosen by many to finish at the bottom of 'its division, the decisive blows came from a source not anticipated at the season's start. Cesar Cedeno broke a tie by driving home Tommy Herr with sacrifice fly In the sixth inning. An inning later, with St. Lo.uis leading, 4-1, the 34-year-old player all but crushed Chicago hopes to win by hitting a solo home run.

Streaking John Tudor pitched a four-hlttor for his 20th victory In his last 21 decisions. In the Cubs' clubhouse, Chica ST. LOUIS CAP) Manager Whltey Herzog toasted his St. Louis Cardinals' second National League East championship In four years, then saluted the club that chased thora almost, to the wire. "Before I go any further, I want to congratulate the New York Mets," said the 53-year-old manager following Saturday's 7-L victory over the Chicago Cubs.

"It took 101 ballgames (victories). Any other year and they would have won lt.T' Joining Herzog and an ecstatic band of St. Louis players ns champagne poured freely In the Cardinals' noisy clubhouse was August A. Busch the club's 80-year-old ownor. "They richly deserved everyth.