--- After taking a day to celebrate the 63-0 thumping of New Mexico, it was right back to work to prepare for our home opener. Our home opener against none other than the only team that stood between us and an undefeated season last year. The start of the season had not been kind to Utah. The Utes began the year ranked #19 in the nation, but after getting whooped 31-10 at the hands of their rivals, Utah State, Utah plummeted out of the polls, dropping to unranked and not even receiving a single vote in the latest coaches poll. But what would be a better way to rebound back into the polls than with a win over the #15 team in the nation? Hopefully our defense would come ready like they did against New Mexico so we wouldnt have to find out how far Utah would jump with an upset. We won the coin toss and elected to kick.
A touchback got the game started and Utahs offense began the game on their 25 yard line. Our defense struck first blood as C.J. Leierer was sacked for a loss of three yards. It was a temporary setback as a pass to Ken Ross went for a gain of 15 and Utah had a first down at their 37. Two incomplete passes and a pass of only two yards to Adam Bain and Utah was forced to punt on fourth and 8 from their 39. A fair catch on the 44 yard punt gave our offense the ball at our 16 yard line. Kiel Fletcher took the ball on first down, but was only able to pick up a yard before being swung down by the defensive end. Going to the air, Brandon Booth found Conner Jefferson for a gain of 13 yards and we had a first down at our 31. Going back to the ground, Fletcher was able to fight forward for a 7 yard gain, before being tackled forward on the next play for a gain of three to leave us with third and inches. Fletcher would pick up the first down and then some, busting a rush up the middle for a 7 yard gain to the 48 yard line. Going back into the air, Booth found Max Thompson along the left sideline for a 15 yard gain, knocked out of bounds at the Utah 37. Fletcher added to his running total with a gain of 9 yards, before Ryan Strong got the first down with a three yard rush to the 26. Breaking a pair of tackles, Fletcher was able to avoid a loss and pick up two yards to leave us second and 8. Booth found Jefferson through the air for a 12 yard gain, before hitting Fletcher in the end zone for the 12 yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead with 4:59 left in the first quarter.
A 16 yard return and Utah was back in action from their 18 yard line. After an incomplete pass, Norris Penn picked up 8 yards on the ground, leaving the Utes with third and two. The defense would stand their ground, as Penn was tackled for a loss of three yards to leave Utah with fourth and 5 from their 23 and the punt team coming out. An 8 yard return on the 48 yard punt and we were back in business from our 36. After an incomplete pass, Booth committed his first error of the game, as Eric White picked off a pass intended for Jefferson, returning it 15 yards to our 30 yard line. Utah got a free 6 yards to start the drive after a penalty on our defense. Following an incomplete pass, Leierer hit Harrison Brown for a gain of 14 yard and Utah had first and goal from our 10. Penn would gain 6 yards on the ground before punching it through the final four yards for the touchdown to make it a 7-7 tie with 3:15 left in the quarter. We picked back up on offense after the touchback.
After a three yard rush by Fletcher, it was time to give Booth the reigns again. Booth came back in fine style, slinging a pass just out of reach of the corner and into the hands of Eric Hayden for a 12 yard gain and first down at our 40. Tight roping a hole by the center, Fletcher took it up the middle on first down for a gain of 13 yards and a first down at the Utah 47. After an incomplete pass that was nearly intercepted, Booth hit Thompson for a gain of 11 yards to the Utah 36. A one yard rush by Fletcher brought about bad news, as Fletcher needed help getting up and over to the sideline. After an incomplete pass left us with third and 9, when Booth was able to hit Thompson on the sideline for a 13 yard gain, Thompson just getting his foot down in bounds before being pushed out. Words came from the trainers that Fletcher had suffered a foot stress fracture and would be out for the rest of the game. A pass to Eric Silva on first down went for a loss of four yards, before Booth went back to his favorite receiver, Thompson, for a gain of 20 yards and first and goal from the 6 yard line. Silva picked up four yards on the first down rush, by Strong punched it in from two yards out, giving us a 14-7 lead as the clock hit zero to bring the first quarter to a close.
The kickoff to start the second quarter went out for a touchback and Utah was starting from their 25. The Utes got moving quickly, as Leierer hit Ross for a gain of 21 yards. After an incomplete pass, our defense got tagged for pass interference, and Utah got a new set of downs at our 39 yard line. After a one yard rush by Penn and an incomplete pass, the Utes moved forward with a 10 yard pass to Penn and a first down at our 29. The drive would stall out as three straight incomplete passes left Utah lining up for a field goal. The 46 yard kick by William Lee was no good and we took over on offense from our 29. It was all running game to start the drive, as Strong rumbled ahead for gains of 9, 6, 6 and one yards, leaving us with third and three from midfield. Wed convert the third down as Booth hit Silva out of the backfield for a 6 yards gain and first down at the Utah 44. After a three yard rush by Strong, all linebackers blitzing allowed Hayden to get wide open on a slant route over the middle, picking up 23 yards before being brought down by the safeties at the Utah 18. After a 5 yard rush on first down, the blitzing defense took Strong down for a loss of one yard, and left with third and 6, it was into the air. Booth found Strong along the right hash at the 4 yard line. Pushing off the diving tackle attempt by the corner, Strong stumbled forward for the 14 yard touchdown and a 21-7 lead with 4:39 left in the half.
Utah got their next drive started from the 25 after the kickoff. It was an uneventful drive, as Leierer picked up 5 yards on first down, before an incomplete pass and Penn being tackled for a loss of two yards left Utah stranded on their 28 yard line with fourth and 7. A fair catch on the 43 yard punt gave us possession at our 29 yard line with 3:46 remaining. A score here and getting the ball back to start the second half, we could really blow this game wide open. The first down rush by Strong went for no gain. Utah brought the entire linebacker corps again, leaving the middle wide open, and Booth made them pay. Hayden beat his corner off of the line, catching a pass in stride from Booth. The safeties both dove at Haydens knees to stop him, but stumbling and breaking loose, Hayden was able to regain his footing and raced 70 yards down to the Utah two yard line before being caught from behind. Looking at first and goal from the two yard line, Strong rushed ahead for a gain of one yard. Strong would carry it in on the next play, following his blockers off the left tackle and jog in standing up for the one yard touchdown and a 28-7 lead with 2:33 left in the quarter.
An 18 yard kickoff return and Utahs offense started their drive from their 23 yard line. It was another horrible drive for the Utes, as Leierer was sacked for a 10 yard loss on first down, followed by two incomplete passes to leave Utah punting on fourth and 20 from their 13 yard line. A fair catch on the 47 yard punt got our offense back in action on our 39 yard line and 1:54 to work with. Strong took the ball on first down and still found nothing going, picking up only one yard and the clock ticking. Going through the air, Booth hit Jefferson for a gain of 10 yards and a first down at midfield. Booth found Nicholas Roberts on the next play for a gain of 7 yards and we called our first time out, stopping the clock with 1:11 to go. A pass to Thompson went for a gain of 13 yards and we had a first down at the 29 yard line. A 5 yard pass to Jefferson was followed with a toss of four yards to Roberts and we were left with third and one at the 21 yard line, our second timeout stopping the clock with 28 seconds left. The defense was ready for us on the ground, as the middle linebacker blew through the line and tackled Strong for a loss of one yard. The 39 yard field goal by Alphonso Pratt made it 31-7 with 9 seconds left on the clock. A 17 yard kickoff return by Penn got Utah out to the 22 yard line, but the final seconds ticked off the clock and the first half came to a close, our lead at 24.
A touchback on the opening kickoff gave our offense the ball on the 25 to start the second half. Business as usual on the ground game, Strong was only able to manage one yard on the first down rush. A three yard gain by Strong on the next play and we had third and 6 from the 29. Taking a shot deep, Jefferson got off the blocks fast and past the corner, jumping up for a pass from Booth. The corner mistimed his dive at Jeffersons feet, missing entirely, and it wasn't until the safety had caught up that Jefferson was knocked out of bounds at the 10 yard line, a 61 yard gain in all. A 6 yard rush by Strong got us down to the four yard line, leaving us second and four. We would only need one more play, as Strong took the hand off and bounced outside, avoiding the blitzing linebacker and rushing it in for the four yard touchdown and a 38-7 lead with 7:22 left in the quarter.
Starting their next drive on the 22 yard line, Utah was completely dead in energy and it showed. Three straight incomplete passes, two of them badly off target and one dropped, left Utah punting on fourth and 10. A fair catch on the 47 yard punt and our offense was back on the field at our 31 yard line. Utahs defense was also showing signs of defeat, their linebackers no longer blitzing hard and fast at the snap, but just sort of listlessly moving back and forth on the first down rush by Strong. It was the defensive tackle that would take Strong down for only a gain of one and keep the gain small. A three yard rush by Booth on an option play and we were left with third and 7. The defense would help keep our drive alive, as all three linebackers blitzed, leaving the middle wide open, and both corners jamming our receivers at the line forced Hayden to break inside on his route, hauling in a wide open pass from Booth and picking up 15 yards before being brought down by the safety. Strong took over the on the ground, the running game finally starting to pick up steam, breaking runs for four and 6 yard gains, before converting third and inches with a one yard rush for a first down at the Utah 40. The defense bit back, tackling Silva for a loss of one yard, but Silva got the last laugh, catching a pass from Booth on the next play for a 14 yard gain and a first down at the 26 yard line. Picking up 6 yards on first down, Strong had nowhere to go on the next play, as the defense came heavy and he was met by four different defenders in the backfield, going down instantly for a loss of one yard. Booth took a chance living on the edge, snaking a pass in between four defenders to Hayden, who caught and while being tackled, was able to roll to his left and fall forward for a 7 yard gain. The chains were brought out, and tip of the ball just past the first down marker, giving us a fresh set of downs at the 16 yard line. Strong took the ball on first down, but he was again met in the backfield for a loss of one yard. Heading into the air, Booth found Jefferson all alone in the corner of the end zone for a 17 yard touchdown pass. Pratts PAT capped off the 13 play, 6 minute and two second drive to make it 45-7 with 47 seconds left in the third quarter.
A touchback on the kickoff left Utah starting on their 25 yard line with 39 seconds left in the quarter. Leierer got back on track this drive, hitting Ross for a gain of 13 yards, before launching a pass to Ryan Timmons for a gain of 25 yards and first down at our 38 yard line. Two incomplete passes left Utah with third and 8 seconds on the clock. The Utes would get back into the end zone for the first time since the first quarter, as Leierer hit Noah Brown with a 38 yard touchdown bomb. The PAT with no time remaining on the clock made it 45-14 as the third quarter came to a close.
A touchback on the kickoff opened up the fourth quarter, our offense starting at the 25 with a 31 point lead, just 8:53 away from victory. Our second team offense came out to start the quarter, Silva picking up gains of one yard and 10 yards to give us a first down at the 36 yard line, continuing to chew up the clock along the way. A 6 yard rush by Silva was followed with a gain of 6 yards by Travis Stephens to give us a first down at the 48 yard line. Silva took the rock on the next play, picking up three yards as the clock ticked up 6 minutes to play. Silva took the ball up the middle, picking up a gain of 5 yards, before the defense tacked on 15 free yards courtesy of a face mask penalty at the end of the run. Thanks to the penalty, we had first down at the 29 yard line, 5:46 remaining. A 10 yard rush by Silva gave us first down at the 19 yard line, the clock ticking underneath four minutes. Stephens picked up four yards on first down, followed by a gain of one from Silva, leaving us third and 5 from the 14 yard line. Silva would fight forward for one yard and we were left with fourth and four at the 13 yard line. Pratts kick from 31 yards out was good and our lead expanded to 48-14 with 3:17 to go.
A 20 yard kickoff return left Utah on their 24 yard line and 3:07 on the clock. An incomplete pass on first down was followed with a three yard rush by Penn to leave third and 7. Penn would drop the third down pass from Leierer and with 2:43 to go, Utah would punt away on fourth and 7 from their 27. Jefferson returned the 46 yard punt for three yards to our 29 and our offense was left 2:37 to run off. Silva started the drive with a rush of four yards, after which he was tackled for no gain. On third and 6 with 1:17 to go, Silva pounded it up the gut, falling forward under the weight of the defensive tackle for a 6 yard gain and a first down at the 39 yard line, 1:09 left to go. Snapping the ball with 39 seconds left, Casey Bishop only had to kneel the ball once to run out the clock on our 48-14 victory.
With the win, we improve our record to 2-0. Utah drops to 0-2 to start their season. Up next, its the biggest game on the schedule, the road trip to Norman and a game date with the #4 Oklahoma Sooners. Oklahoma enters the game at 2-0 on the season, opening with a 59-7 win at Memphis, then a 23-7 victory at San Jose State.
Final Score
#15 48,
14
Stat(s) of the Game:
- Tulsa Offense It was another great day for Booth, throwing for 370 yards and three touchdowns. He did have one interception that led directly to a touchdown, but it wasn't enough to keep Utah from getting demolished. Ryan Strong ended up being the leading rusher on the day with 67 yards and three touchdowns on 25 carries. Silva ended the day with 49 yards on 14 carries, Fletcher had 45 yards on 8 carries before leaving for the rest of the game with an injury. Turning to receiving, 7 players caught a ball today, all of them getting double digit yards, the lowest being Roberts with 11 yards on two receptions. Hayden ended the day leading the pack with 127 yards receiving on 5 receptions, Jefferson also made it to triple digits with 118 yards and a touchdown on 6 receptions. Also adding receiving touchdowns were Fletcher and Strong. Strong the player of the game with 67 yards rushing and 3 rushing touchdowns along with 14 yards receiving and a receiving touchdown.
- Tulsa Defense Another stellar day by the defense, holding Utah to only 160 yards of total offense. It remains to be seen if that will be a sign of the outstanding defense, or if it will be the norm for Utah, as the Utes were only able to manage 207 yards of total offense against Utah State the week before.
- Tulsa Kicking A perfect day for Pratt. 2-2 in field goals, kicking from 39 and 31 yards out, and a perfect 6-6 in PATs.
Scoring Summary
Team |
1st Quarter |
2nd Quarter |
3rd Quarter |
4th Quarter |
Final Score |
|
7 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
14 |
|
14 |
17 |
14 |
3 |
48 |
Time |
Team |
Result |
Play |
Score |
First Quarter |
4:59 |
|
Touchdown |
K. Fletcher, 12 yard pass from B. Booth (A. Pratt kick) |
7-0 |
3:15 |
|
Touchdown |
N. Penn, 4 yard run (W. Lee kick) |
TIED 7-7 |
0:00 |
|
Touchdown |
R. Strong, 2 yard run (A. Pratt kick) |
14-7 |
|
Second Quarter |
4:39 |
|
Touchdown |
R. Strong, 14 yard pass from B. Booth (A. Pratt kick) |
21-7 |
2:33 |
|
Touchdown |
R. Strong, 1 yard run (A. Pratt kick) |
28-7 |
0:09 |
|
Field Goal |
A. Pratt, 39 yard field goal |
31-7 |
|
Third Quarter |
7:22 |
|
Touchdown |
R. Strong, 4 yard run (A. Pratt kick) |
38-7 |
0:47 |
|
Touchdown |
C. Jefferson, 17 yard pass from B. Booth (A. Pratt kick) |
45-7 |
0:00 |
|
Touchdown |
N. Brown, 37 yard pass from C. Leierer (W. Lee kick) |
45-14 |
|
Fourth Quarter |
3:20 |
|
Field Goal |
A. Pratt, 31 yard field goal |
48-14 |
Game Stats
Utah |
Stat |
Tulsa |
14 |
Score |
48 |
7 |
First Downs |
26 |
160 |
Total Offense |
542 |
8 - 22 - 1 |
Rushes - Yards - TD |
51 - 172 - 3 |
8 - 27 - 1 |
Comp - Att - TD |
23 - 27 - 3 |
138 |
Passing Yards |
370 |
2 |
Times Sacked |
0 |
2 - 9 (22%) |
3rd Down Conversion |
9 - 11 (81%) |
0 - 0 (0%) |
4th Down Conversion |
0 - 0 (0%) |
0 - 0 (0%) |
2-Point Conv |
0 - 0 (0%) |
2 - 1 - 0 (50%) |
Red Zone - TD - FG |
7 - 6 - 1 (100%) |
0 |
Turnovers |
1 |
0 |
Fumbles Lost |
0 |
0 |
Intercepted |
1 |
0 |
Punt Return Yards |
11 |
89 |
Kick Return Yards |
0 |
249 |
Total Yards |
553 |
6 46.2 |
Punts - Average |
0 - 0.0 |
1 - 15 |
Penalties |
3 - 36 |
12:51 |
Time of Possession |
23:09 |
Tulsa Contract Goals Update
Fail Impact |
Goal |
Progress |
Pass Impact |
|
Win 8 games in one season |
|
|
|
13+ passing TD in one season |
|
|
|
14+ points per game in each season |
55 |
|
|
7+ rushing TD in one season |
|
|
|
2400+ total offensive yards in one season |
|
|
|
2400+ total offensive yards in each season |
1182 |
|
|
Win 4 games in one season |
|
|
|
2000+ total offensive yards in one season |
|
|
Job Security Status
100%
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