Game One
#16 :Tulsa: :@: :New_Mexico:
Game Notes
--- The dog days of summer are over at least. August 31st has arrived at last, and the start of the 2015 season. It was a second straight year of starting the road, but like last year’s season opener at Akron, we had another cupcake on tap as we headed southwest to New Mexico to take on the very over matched Lobos. We won the coin toss and elected to kick.
A 23 yard kickoff return, and the game was underway with New Mexico starting at their 24 yard line. It was a poor start as the Lobos got flagged for false start, pushing them back to first and 15 without a single snap taken. A 14 yard pass on the next play from Mark Campbell to Brandon Johnson left the Lobos with third and inches. Dustin Johnson would gain 5 yards on the gain for the first down at the 38 yard line. After a three yard rush, Campbell found Andrew Davis for a gain of 8 and first down at the 49. After a pair of rushes for three and 7 yards by D. Johnson, an incomplete pass brought the drive to an end at our 41 yard line, the Lobos punting away on fourth and one. The punt sailed 50 yards for a touchback and our first drive of the season started at the 20. A 9 yard rush by Kiel Fletcher was followed up with a gain of one yard and we had a first down at our 30 yard line. Going into the air, Brandon Booth found Max Thompson for a 14 yard gain and we had first down at the 45 yard line. Booth showed the college football world what he was capable of this year, as he found Fletcher on the next play for a gain of 52 yards, giving us first and goal at the three yard line. Roy Smith gained two yards on the ground and we had second and goal at the one. Fletcher would punch it in on the next play from one yard out, and we had our first lead of the season, 7-0 with 5:28 left in the first quarter.
A 21 yard kickoff return and New Mexico was back on the field at their 19. A four yard rush by D. Johnson was negated on second down, when the defense broke through and sacked Campbell for a 6 yard loss, leaving the Lobos with third and 12 from their 17. New Mexico would convert however, as Campbell found B. Johnson for a 14 yard gain and first down at the 31. After a 7 yard rush by D. Johnson, Campbell tried to scramble but was brought down for a loss of three yards. A 5 yard gain by Campbell was not enough, and left with fourth and inches for the second time today, the Lobos punted away.
A fair catch on the 45 yard punt left us at our 13 yard line. Fighting forward through the tackle attempts, Fletcher was able to gain 10 yards on the ground to set up second and inches. A 5 yard rush and we had a new set of downs at our 28. Going outside the left tackle on the next play, Smith was able to fight against the flow for a 7 yard gain, followed by a rush of 8 from Fletcher for a first down at the 43. Going back to the air, Booth hit Eric Hayden for a 10 yard gain and we had first down at the Lobos 47. The first down pass from Booth to Smith gained three yards. Going back to Hayden, Booth connected with him for a gain of 23 yard gain. The defense made it an even bigger play as the safety brought Hayden down by the face mask. Moving half the distance to the goal for an extra 11 yards, we had a first down at the New Mexico 11 yard line. A pair of rushes by Fletcher for gains of 5 and four yards, left us with third and two from the two yard line. Fletcher picked up two yards on the play, and after bringing out the chains, we had first and goal at the one foot line. The very next play, Fletcher had his second touchdown the game, taking it in from one yard out and our lead grew to 14-0 with 28 seconds left in the quarter.
After a touchback on the kickoff, it was looking like a short drive for New Mexico, as they were left facing third and 10 after a pair of incomplete passes. The would convert however, as Campbell hit Brian Jones for a 30 yard strike and the Lobos had a first down at our 45 yard line as the final seconds ticked off. The first quarter came to an end, our lead at 14-0.
Starting the second quarter, D. Johnson rushed ahead for a four yard gain, followed by a gain of four yards from Campbell to set up third and two at our 38. D. Johnson would get brought down in the backfield for a loss of three yards, and left with fourth and 6 from our 41, the Lobos would be forced to punt once again. A touchback on the 44 yard punt got our drive started at our 20. After a two yard rush by Fletcher, an incomplete pass left us with third and 8. A 10 yard pass to Thompson gave us first down at the 32. Booth found Conner Jefferson for an 8 yard gain on first down, before a 7 yard dash by Fletcher gave us first down at the 47. A 5 yard rush by Fletcher was followed with a gain of three by Smith and we had third and two at the 46. Fletcher kept the drive moving as he fought ahead for a gain of 8 yards and the first down at the 38 yard line. Going for the play action on first down, it was a total failure as the defense swarmed through the line and Booth was brought down almost instantly for a 7 yard loss. Facing second and 17, Booth found Thompson along the right sideline for a gain of 21 yards and our drive kept moving on, first down at the 23 yard line. The offensive line never picked up the blitzing safety and Fletcher was brought down for a loss of one yard. We’d return to the end zone on the next play, as a rainbow pass from Booth fell right into the hands of Smith in the back of the end zone for the 25 yard touchdown and a 21-0 lead with 4:34 left in the half.
Starting on the 25 after the touchback, after an incomplete pass to begin, the Lobos gained a quick 15 yards thanks to a pass interference penalty and the New Mexico had first down at their 40 yard line. The drive would come to an end three plays later with three straight incomplete passes, including a dropped pass on third down, and the Lobos punt unit came out once again. A 7 yard return by Fletcher on the 49 yard punt got our offense back in action at our 18 yard line with 3:54 remaining in the half. It was a rough start for the New Mexico defense, as Jefferson beat his corner off the line and raced down the sideline, hauling in the lob pass from Booth for a 42 yard gain before being brought down by the linebacker at the New Mexico 40 yard line. The Lobos defense again broke down, as Hayden was able to beat his corner on the break inside and get behind the safety, hauling in a pass from Booth for a gain of 26 yards and a first down at the 14 yard line. Some big blocks opened up a pair of holes for Fletcher on the next play, and a 10 yard rush left us with second and inches from the 5 yard line. Finding the middle all jammed up, Fletcher bounced out towards the left sideline and raced the defense to the corner for the 5 yard touchdown, his third score of the day, and our lead grew to 28-0 with 3:02 left in the half.
Starting on their 21 yard line after the 15 yard kickoff return, it was a doomed drive for New Mexico. After an incomplete pass on first down, the defense blitzed hard and sacked Campbell for an 11 yard loss, pushing the Lobos back to their own 10 yard line with third and 21. New Mexico would get lucky, as a pass from Campbell to Jones went for a gain of 17 yards, and after a 5 yard penalty on the defense got tacked on, New Mexico had a first down at their 33 yard line. Two more incomplete passes, and our defense would get to Campbell for the second time this drive, sacking him for a 7 yard loss, forcing the New Mexico punt on fourth and 17 from their 26. A fair catch on the 44 yard punt left us on our 30 yard line with 2 minutes left in the half. After a pair of dropped passes, Booth was able to convert third and 10 with a 15 yard pass to Thompson and first down at the 45 yard line. After an incomplete pass on first down, Booth found Thompson again, this time for 20 yards and we had a first down at the 35 yard line. Taking a shot deep, the first down pass to Jefferson was dropped in the end zone, before Booth found Thompson for the third time this drive, picking up 13 yards and a first down at the 22 yard line, 1:13 left on the clock. A pair of rushes by Fletcher for gains of 6 and 5 yards, and we had a first down at the 10 yard line. Our first timeout stopped the clock with 47 seconds to go. Fletcher tried to take it two more times on the ground, but a loss of one yard and no gain left us looking at third and 11 from the 11 yard line. Our second timeout stopped the clock with 30 ticks left as we regrouped for the third down play. We wouldn’t reach the end zone as Booth’s pass intended for Hayden was intercepted by Dustin Stone and New Mexico took over at their 5 yard line with 25 seconds to go.
After an incomplete pass on first down, our defense would come through for us, as D. Johnson was able to gain 5 yards initially before having the ball stripped. The fumble recovery by Alex Collier gave us possession at the 10 yard line with 10 seconds to go. We would only take one play this time, as Booth found Jefferson on a slant for the 10 yard touchdown and we increased our lead to 35-0 with 7 seconds left. A 17 yard kickoff return would run out the rest of the clock, and we’d head into halftime up by 35.
Fletcher got the second half opened up with a 20 yard kickoff return and we begin our first drive of the half from our 18 yard line. A pair of 7 yard rushes by Fletcher left us with first down at our 33 yard line. It’d be backwards on the next play, as the defense got to Booth and sacked him for a 9 yard loss. A pair of incomplete passes, and we were left punting on fourth and 19 from our 23. A fair catch on the 47 yard punt left New Mexico beginning on their 29 yard line. Campbell would find B. Johnson for an immediate gain of 13 yards and the Lobos had first down at the 42. Two incomplete passes were followed with an 8 yard pass from Campbell to Jones, leaving fourth and two at midfield. D. Johnson would keep the drive alive with a four yard rush. Another four yard rush was followed with a setback, as Campbell was sacked for a loss of 10 yards and the Lobos faced third and 16 from their 48. Campbell fought forward for a 5 yard rush on the scramble, and with fourth and 11 from our 47, the Lobos punt unit came out. The punt sailed 50 yards out of the end zone for a touchback.
After an incomplete pass on first down, Booth found Thompson along the right hash for a gain of 10 yards and first down at the 30 yard line. Jefferson got in on the action on the next play, losing his defender on the slant route, hauling in the pass from Booth, and then escaping from the linebacker on a missed diving tackle. Jefferson raced the safety down field before being chased out of bounds at the one yard line for a 69 yard reception. On first and goal from the one yard line, Smith was brought down at the goal line for no gain. Fletcher would pound it in from one yard out on the next play for his fourth touchdown of the game, increasing our lead now to 42-0 with 5:01 left in the third. New Mexico began their next drive from their 27 after a 22 yard kickoff return. The drive was over in a blink of an eye, as the defense sacked Campbell for a loss of four yards, before two incomplete passes left the Lobos punting from their 23 yard line on fourth and 14. A fair catch on the 40 yard left our offense starting from our 37 yard line.
We were off and moving quickly as Fletcher picked up 11 yards on the first down rush, before breaking another run for 8 yards to leave us second and two at the New Mexico 45. Bringing out the play action, Booth found Nicholas Roberts on an out route for an 18 yard gain and we had first down at the 27 yard line. Fletcher pounded it up the gut again, as the blitzing defense left a large hole and only after four guys jumped on him, did he go down for a gain of 14 yards and first down at the 13 yard line. Keeping the abuse going, Smith picked up gains of 5 and three yards to leave us with third and two from the 5 yard line. Fletcher would fight forward for the two yard gain and we had first and goal from the three yard line. Fletcher picked up a gain of two yards and we were left with second and goal from the one. Smith would do the honors on the next play, taking the hand off and diving up and over for the one yard touchdown and 49-0 lead with 1:59 left in the third quarter.
A 19 yard kickoff return found New Mexico beginning from their 16 yard line on the next drive. It was a one play drive for the Lobos as Caleb Miller intercepted a pass from Campbell and our offense was right back on the field at the New Mexico 23 yard line. Our second team offense got its first taste of action for the season on the drive. After no gain on the first down rush by Smith, Casey Bishop threw a pass to Eric Silva for a gain of 11 yards. A face mask penalty on the play moved the ball half the distance to the goal line and we had first and goal from the 6 yard line. Smith rumbled ahead for a gain of 5 yards to set up second and goal at the one. Silva was brought down at the line for no gain and we had third and goal at the one. Smith would get his second touchdown of the game on the next play, punching it in from one yard out and our lead grew to 56-0 with 13 seconds left in the third quarter. The Lobos began their offensive drive from their 18 yard line after the 19 yard kickoff return. A pass from Campbell to B. Johnson for a gain of 8 yards would bring the third quarter to an end, our lead at a dominating 56-0.
Starting the final quarter with second and two, an incomplete pass left New Mexico’s drive hinging on the third down play. A 5 yard rush by D. Johnson and the Lobos breathed new life at their 32 yard line. A 15 yard face mask penalty tacked on after the 7 yard rush and New Mexico was looking at first down from our 46 yard line. Three straight incomplete passes and the New Mexico punt unit would make another appearance. No return on the 40 yard punt left our offense starting at our 5 yard line. The first team defense for New Mexico going up against our second team offense, and Smith was barely able to gain a yard before being brought down on first down. Heading into the air, Bishop found Donny Jordan on an out route and a quick turn up the sideline went for a gain of 21 yards before being shoved out of bounds at the 28 yard line. Trying to take it on the ground again, Smith was quickly tackled for no gain. A 10 yard pass to Antoine Banks had an extra 15 yard tacked on with a face mask penalty, and we had a first down at the Lobos 47 yard line. The defense proved as tough as ever, as Smith was tackled for a loss of two yards. Even worse, Smith had to be helped off the field by the trainers as we waited word on the injury. Going back to the air, Bishop hit Jordan for a gain of 15 yards and we got a new set of downs at the 34 yard line. Trying to continue running against the first team defense was futile, so we remained attacking through the air, letting Bishop gain some snaps. Bishop found Banks over the middle on first down for an 18 yard gain, leaving us with first down at the 16 yard line. We got bad news after the play, as it was reported that Smith had suffered a broken collarbone and would be sidelined for 7 weeks. Trying to chew off a bit of clock, Silva took the first down handoff for a two yard gain. An incomplete pass left us with third and 8 from the 13. It was back to the end zone on the next play as Bishop passed to Jordan for the 13 yard touchdown and a 63-0 lead with 3:44 left in the game.
Starting on their 25 after the touchback, Campbell got the Lobos moving with an 11 yard pass to A.J. Long to get to the 36. The drive would stall out from there as three straight incomplete passes left the Lobos punting away once again. A 6 yard return by Fletcher on the 47 yard punt gave our offense the ball at our 23 yard line, 3:06 remaining in the game. Silva took the ball on first down, pounding ahead for a gain of 7 yards. The linebacker broke through unblocked on the next play and Silva was brought down for a loss of two yards, leaving us with third and 5 from our 27 yard line. Bishop’s third down pass was broken up, and we were forced to punt with 1:44 remaining in the game. A 9 yard return on the 48 yard punt left New Mexico starting at their 34 yard line. Eric Robinson picked up 10 yards on the ground and New Mexico was left with second and inches. After an incomplete pass, a four yard gain by Robinson have the Lobos a new set of downs at their 47. A 9 yard pass from Will Robbins to Roland Powell and the the Lobos had second and 1 at our 44. After an incomplete pass to go to third down, Robinson broke a 5 yard rush up the middle and New Mexico had first down at our 39 yard line with 39 seconds to go. Robinson was met by the entire linebacker corps almost immediately, managing a gain of only two yards to leave second and 8 at the 37 with 20 seconds left and ticking. Bryan Pearson took the misdirection hand off and fought ahead for a gain of 8 yards to give New Mexico a first down at our 28 yard line. The final seconds would tick off the clock for the 63-0 ass whipping.
With the win, we improve to 1-0 on the year. With the embarrassing loss, New Mexico falls to 0-1. Up next, it’s our home opener against Utah. The Utes enter the game 0-1, coming off a 31-10 upset loss to rival Utah State.
Final Score
#16 :Tulsa: 63, :New_Mexico: 0
Stat(s) of the Game:
Tulsa Offense – A huge passing for Booth. 389 yards passing, though only two touchdowns as the running backs were the stars of the show. Bishop got his first snaps of the year with the second team offense, throwing for 88 yards and a touchdown in just over a quarter of action. Fletcher was a B-E-A-S-T today. 142 yards rushing on 28 carries and four touchdowns to open the season. What a hell of a start. 9 different receivers caught at least ball today, every single one making it to double digit yards, the lowest being Silva with one reception for 11 yards. Two guys made it into triple digits, as Jefferson caught 4 balls for 129 yards and a touchdown and Thompson ended the day with 103 yards receiving on 7 catches.
Tulsa Defense – The best damn performance since taking over at Tulsa. Pitched a shutout and held New Mexico to only 229 yards of offense. Also ended the day with 5 sacks, an interception and a forced fumble/fumble recovery.
Tulsa Kicking – Pratt never attempted a field goal today, but was perfect nonetheless, going 9-9 in PATs.
Scoring Summary
Team |
1st Quarter |
2nd Quarter |
3rd Quarter |
4th Quarter |
Final Score |
:Tulsa: |
14 |
21 |
21 |
7 |
63 |
:New_Mexico: |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Time |
Team |
Result |
Play |
Score |
First Quarter |
5:28 |
:Tulsa: |
Touchdown |
K. Fletcher, 1 yard run (A. Pratt kick) |
:Tulsa: 7-0 |
0:28 |
:Tulsa: |
Touchdown |
K. Fletcher, 1 yard run (A. Pratt kick) |
:Tulsa: 14-0 |
|
Second Quarter |
4:34 |
:Tulsa: |
Touchdown |
R. Smith, 25 yard pass from B. Booth (A. Pratt kick) |
:Tulsa: 21-0 |
3:02 |
:Tulsa: |
Touchdown |
K. Fletcher, 5 yard run (A. Pratt kick) |
:Tulsa: 28-0 |
0:07 |
:Tulsa: |
Touchdown |
C. Jefferson, 10 yard pass from B. Booth (A. Pratt kick) |
:Tulsa: 35-0 |
|
Third Quarter |
5:01 |
:Tulsa: |
Touchdown |
K. Fletcher, 1 yard run (A. Pratt kick) |
:Tulsa: 42-0 |
1:59 |
:Tulsa: |
Touchdown |
R. Smith, 1 yard run (A. Pratt kick) |
:Tulsa: 49-0 |
0:13 |
:Tulsa: |
Touchdown |
R. Smith, 1 yard run (A. Pratt kick) |
:Tulsa: 56-0 |
|
Fourth Quarter |
3:44 |
:Tulsa: |
Touchdown |
D. Jordan, 13 yard pass from C. Bishop (A. Pratt kick) |
:Tulsa: 63-0 |
Game Stats
Tulsa |
Stat |
New Mexico |
63 |
Score |
0 |
30 |
First Downs |
14 |
640 |
Total Offense |
229 |
48 - 163 - 6 |
Rushes - Yards - TD |
22 - 96 - 0 |
24 - 35 - 3 |
Comp - Att - TD |
10 - 36 - 0 |
477 |
Passing Yards |
133 |
2 |
Times Sacked |
5 |
7 - 10 (70%) |
3rd Down Conversion |
6 - 17 (35%) |
0 - 0 (0%) |
4th Down Conversion |
1 - 1 (100%) |
0 - 0 (0%) |
2-Point Conv |
0 - 0 (0%) |
9 - 8 - 0 (88%) |
Red Zone - TD - FG |
4 - 0 - 0 (0%) |
1 |
Turnovers |
2 |
0 |
Fumbles Lost |
1 |
1 |
Intercepted |
1 |
13 |
Punt Return Yards |
9 |
20 |
Kick Return Yards |
136 |
673 |
Total Yards |
374 |
2 – 47.5 |
Punts - Average |
9 - 44.0 |
4 - 50 |
Penalties |
4 - 37 |
24:57 |
Time of Possession |
11:03 |
Tulsa Contract Goals Update
Fail Impact |
Goal |
Progress |
Pass Impact |
|
Win 8 games in one season |
:check: |
:5greenarrow: |
:3redarrow: |
13+ passing TD in one season |
:check: |
:5greenarrow: |
|
14+ points per game in each season |
63 |
:5greenarrow: |
:3redarrow: |
7+ rushing TD in one season |
:check: |
:5greenarrow: |
:5redarrow: |
2400+ total offensive yards in one season |
:check: |
:5greenarrow: |
:6redarrow: |
2400+ total offensive yards in each season |
640 |
:3greenarrow: |
:3redarrow: |
Win 4 games in one season |
:check: |
:3greenarrow: |
:5redarrow: |
2000+ total offensive yards in one season |
:check: |
:2greenarrow: |
Job Security Status
100%