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Peterson, Kelly help Oklahoma blank Middle Tennessee

Sep 24, 2006 - 2:30 AM NORMAN, Oklahoma (Ticker) -- After last week's controversial loss, No. 17 Oklahoma took out its frustration on Middle Tennessee.

Adrian Peterson ran for three touchdowns and Malcolm Kelly set a school record for receiving in a quarter as the Sooners posted a 59-0 blowout victory over the Blue Raiders in the first meeting between the schools.

"We understand that we are going to see stiffer and tougher competition as we go, but it is pleasing to go out in those areas and not have penalties, to take care of the football until the end," Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said. "That's what we are shooting for, to keep building as a team, to play well as we're capable of and not worry about who we're playing so much."

The Sooners suffered a heartbreaking 34-33 loss at Oregon last week when the Ducks scored two touchdowns in the final 72 seconds, aided by two controversial calls that led to the Pac-10 Conference's suspending the officiating crew and video reviewers one game for their actions.

On Saturday, however, Oklahoma put the game away early. The Sooners outgained Middle Tennessee by a whopping 297-19 in the first half, scoring six touchdowns before halftime.

Peterson gained 131 yards on 27 carries, scoring his first touchdown on a three-yard run to make the score 17-0 with 3:50 remaining in the first quarter. The Heisman Trophy candidate added two more scores in the second quarter, the final one on a seven-yard run to make it 45-0 entering the break.

"Our attitude this week was to come out and dominate," Peterson said. "We wanted to improve and win just like we did.

"We came out and made some big plays in the second half and played like a championship team. That was what we needed to do."

Kelly recorded 134 receiving yards by the end of the first quarter, breaking John Flynn's Oklahoma record for receiving yards in a period, set on November 3, 1962 against Colorado. He had five catches for 164 yards and a touchdown, tying the fifth-highest single-game receiving total in the school's history.

"They will continue to do this all season," Kelly said, referring to the defense crowding the line. "Safety will roll down a little bit. My eyes always get a little big when I see that."

Senior quarterback Paul Thompson completed 13-for-18 passes for 254 yards and three scores for the Sooners (3-1).

It was the Oklahoma's ninth shutout under Stoops and the largest margin of defeat for the Blue Raiders (2-2) since they joined Division I-A in 1999.