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Oregon quarterback Brady Leaf threw a costly interception near the end of the No. 6 Ducks' Holiday Bowl loss to Oklahoma on Thursday.

Oklahoma’s Adrian Peterson heated up in the second half, finishing with 84 yards on 23 carries.

Rhett Bomar threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to fullback J.D. Runnells for a 10-7 Oklahoma lead with 9:20 to play in the third quarter.

Late in the third, Peterson’s backup, Kejuan Jones, scored on an 8-yard run to make it 17-7. Peterson softened the Ducks with three bruising carries on the drive for 36 yards, including a 20-yard gain when he leveled safety J.D. Nelson.

Peterson apparently needed stitches in his forehead in the third quarter after he hit it on the back of a teammate’s helmet while celebrating a big play. He was treated on the bench, and when he stood up, had a big bandage on his forehead.

Peterson fumbled on the Oregon 1 early in the fourth quarter trying to stretch for the end zone.

Oregon at least had the spirit of the Holiday Bowl on its first possession, running two trick plays and then going for it on fourth down before failing to convert. Matt Dragich gained 20 yards on a fake punt before wide receiver Garren Strong threw a pass down the left sideline to quarterback Dennis Dixon, who dropped it.

After taking over on downs, Oklahoma settled for Garrett Hartley’s 34-yard field goal.

Oregon came back and made it 7-3 on Demetrius Williams’ 5-yard touchdown run on an end-around.

Bomar was 17-of-30 for 229 yards, with one interception. Leaf was 14-of-24 for 136 yards. Oregon starter Dennis Dixon was 11-of-19 for 107 yards.

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