Peterson's big day helps Sooners survive

STILLWATER, Okla. -- Oklahoma survived another dicey trip to Oklahoma State, and the difference this time was Adrian Peterson.

The star freshman rushed for 249 yards and Cowboys kicker Jason Ricks missed a 49-yard field goal with 11 seconds left, giving the second-ranked Sooners a 38-35 victory over their pesky rivals yesterday.

Mark Bradley caught a career-high three touchdown passes for Oklahoma (8-0, 5-0 Big 12), which has won consecutive games over the No. 20 Cowboys since losing Bedlam series games in 2001 and 2002 that knocked the Sooners out of the national title hunt. Peterson had an 80-yard touchdown run in the third quarter that put Oklahoma up, 35-21, and a 56-yarder on his next carry that broke the school freshman rushing record of 1,184 yards set by De'Mond Parker in 1996.Peterson won the running back battle over the Cowboys' Vernand Morency, who had just 93 yards on 17 carries.But Morency, the nation's No. 3 rusher coming in, also had two touchdowns in the second half, including a 4-yard rush on an option that pulled Oklahoma State within 38-35 with 10:34 left.Oklahoma State (6-2, 3-2) took possession at its 19 with 2:44 remaining, and moved into Ricks's range. But the freshman, whose 28-yard field goal with 55 seconds left beat Missouri last week, pushed his kick wide left and Oklahoma ran out the clock.