The Daily Oklahoman from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma • 21

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1987 IS iv ii OSU Headed Off at the Pass Nebraska Rides Roughshod In 35-0 Win Over Cowboys More on Game -Page 9-11 By Bob Hersom Staff Writer STILLWATER -Thurman Thomas had nowhere to run, Mike Gundy had nowhere to hide and Nebraska's second-ranked Cornhuskers had nowhere near the problems some people suspected they might Saturday. Previously unbeaten Oklahoma State, the nation's 12th-ranked college football team, was no problem at all for the confident, cocky and still unbeaten Cornhuskers. The 6-0 Huskers ran, and also rammed, their unbeaten streak to 26 years (25-0-1) against OSU with a 35-0 romp before a capacity crowd of 50,440, the largest at Lewis Stadium since the 1981 Oklahoma game attracted 51,100. Thomas, who had been the nation's leading rusher with a 140-yard per-game average, was held to a career-low 7 yards on nine carries. Husker heavies all af ternoon.

After beini sacked only three time while guiding OSU to 5-0 start, Gundy wa; sacked four times the Huskers. Gundy also wa forced to scram We fiv times, and each of thos hurries resulted in in completions. Overall the OSU sophomon completed 20 of 4 passes for 221 yards -47 coming on a secom quarter pass to Har Lee Dykes, who caugh five for 113 yards. OSU, which had bee averaging 37.4 point and 442.8 yards pe game, had not been shu out since a 19-0 loss a Oklahoma last year. Nt braska hadn't hlanke OSU since a 36-0 victor in 1979.

Nebraska's offens rambled for 617 yard; their best effort eve against OSU. Therecor had been 596 total yard See OSU, Page 9 Thomas, whose Heis-man hopes apparently vanished on the split-national CBS telecast, had rushed for over 100 yards in each of OSU's first five games. But his longest run Saturday netted just 4 yards. Though backup tailback Barry Sanders zipped for 60 yards on seven trips, OSU was limited to 43 rushing yards on 22 tries, the Cowboys' lowest rushing figure against Nebraska since 1981. And the Nebraska rush defense was much more devastating than even those numbers show.

The Cowboys' rushing total was min-us-14 yards on 16 carries until the final ll'2 minutes. By then, Nebraska had forged the final verdict. Gundy, who had been the Big Eight's passing and total offense leader, was under duress from OSU's Thurman Thomas is tripped up by Nebraska's Steve Forch. Nebraska reserve l-back Ken Clark blasts past OSU defensive lineman Brandon Colbert during first-half action Saturday afternoon. OU Overwhelms KSU No.

7 Sooners Spoil Wildcats' Homecoming, 59-10 Big Eight SI. 0 1 0 35, Oklahoma Sljlo than that I thought our defense controlled the whole game." Offensive coordinator Jim Donnan was just as satisfied with the offense. "Anytime you play a game and not have any turnovers against a team you know is going to take some chances, you've got to be happy," he said. "I'm happy to score 59 points and play error free," But it was not so pleasant a sight statistically, particularly for the defense. The Wildcats came Into the game averaging 276 total yards in five previous losses, and came up with 270 against the nation's No.

1 defense. Passing accounted for 181 of those yards as Gary Swim and backup Tim Hanson hit 14 of 31 attempts. Seven of the Wildcats' 13 first downs enmo through the air. See 01), Page 8 By Mac Bcntley Staff Writer MANHATTAN, Kan. It wasn't a day for surprises Saturday.

No one expected Oklahoma to be particularly inspired for its game against Kansas State. But no one expected the Sooners to have any trouble winning, either. The nation's No. 1-ranked team wasn't inspired, and of course won quite handily anyway, dropping the winlcss Wildcats, 59-10, before 27,200 homecoming fans in KSU Stadium. The Sooners scored a couple of touchdowns in each quarter, didn't commit a turnover and rushed for 518 yards.

So who could complain in a 59-10 victory? "I thought they played a very physical, tough, scrappy football game," coach Barry Swltzor said of the Wildcats. "They scored the Top 20 Syracuse Drills Penn State, 48-21 Page 6B W97 Twins, Gladden Slam Cards, 10-1 Page 4B Stall Photo by Jim Aroo one time when Rickey Dixon tried to make a great play instead of going for the tackle, hut other OU fullback Lydell Carr carries a heavy load for a first down against Kansas State during first-quarter action Saturday afternoon. warn Cameron Coasts Streak Is Over At Thomas High Page 13B Some Tips for Deer Hunters Page 12B Last Hurrah For the 'Scabs' Page 5B Yanks Leaning Toward Martin Page 4B Past Langston Page 3B.