page 9
Washington sparks
devastating Sooners
By Dennis Onnen
The Oklahoma Sooners can be described in one
word devastating. Leading the Big 8 in virtually every
team category, they have stormed past nine opponents
this fall and vaulted into first in the national rankings.
On offense, the key to the Oklahoma attack is
rushing. Led by Heisman Trophy candidate Joe
Washington, the Sooners have run for 447 yards a
game, tops in the nation. That total also has boosted
them into the national lead in total offense with 531
yards a game and in scoring with 44 points a game.
Washington, who led the conference in rushing last
year as a sophomore, again leads the league with an
average of 124 yards a game. Last week he moved past
Greg Pruitt into second place on the all-time Sooner
rushing list behind Heisman Trophy winner Steve
Owens. Barring injury, he should move past Owens
sometime next year.
"Joe Washington is the best player with the bali in
his hands the conference has had since Johnny
Rodgers," Sooner Coach Barry Switzer said. "If
Washington plays every game, I think it will take a heck
of a team to beat us."
Washington is ably supported in the rushing
department by fullback Jim Littrell, quarterback Steve
Davis and halfbacks Clyde Russell and Elvis Peacock,
who have darted for 64, 58, 45 and 44 yards a game,
respectively. Peacock, a freshman, has averaged more
than eight yards a carry and has been timed at 9.5
seconds in the 100-yard dash.
Tight end Wayne Hoffman and guard John Roush,
both preseason All-Big 8 selections, anchor the
offensive line. Tackle Jerry Arnold and center Kyle
Davis were second-team picks in the vote by league
coaches.
Steve Davis has completed only 26 passes, but they
have been deadly. Eleven have gone for touchdowns to
tie him with Husker Dave Humm for the Big 8 lead. His
chief target is split end Tinker Owens, who has grabbed
18 passes, including five for touchdowns. Hoffman and
backup split end Billy Brooks also are threats to go all
the way.
Brazilian-born kicker Tony DiRienzo hasn't missed in
30 point-after-touchdown attempts this season and
proved he has the range when he booted a 60-yard field
goal last year for a Big 8 record.
Top Sooners on defense are Ail-American linebacker
Rod Shoate, safety Randy Hughes and the Selmon
brothers, Dewey and LeRoy. All four were picked to the
coaches' All-Big 8 team.
Statistically, Oklahoma leads the conference in
rushing defense, total defense and scoring defense and
is second in passing defense. Cornerback Sidney Brown
has four interceptions to pace the Sooners to a
league-leading total of 18.
Sooner victories this year have come over Baylor
(28-11), Utah State (72-3), Wake Forest (63-0), Texas
(16-13), Colorado (49-14), Kansas State (63-0), Iowa
State (28-10), Missouri (37-0) and Kansas (45-14).
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