Tulsa Surges Past UCF for 35-20 Win

Saturday, November 19

Orlando, Fla.

7:00 p.m. (CT)

Tulsa

8-3 , 5-2

UCF

6-5 , 4-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Tulsa

UCF

Photo by: Simone Amaduzzi

Tulsa Surges Past UCF for 35-20 Win

11/19/2016 11:40:00 PM | Football

Box Score

By: Eric Hollier

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Orlando, Fla. –– Tulsa rushed for 348 yards for a school record seventh time this season en route to a 35-20 victory over the UCF Knights Saturday night in front of 35,141 fans at Bright House Networks Stadium. The duo of D'Angelo Brewer and James Flanders combined for 320 of those rushing yards.

Tulsa (8-3, 5-2 AAC) controlled the second half, scoring 21 points in the third period and gaining 279 yards in the final 30 minutes. The Tulsa defense made it difficult most of the game for the Knights to score, as the UCF offense scored just 12 of their 20 points and was held to 321 total yards, the second-lowest output the Hurricane has allowed this year.

Tulsa amassed 474 total yards, while Dane Evans completed 12 of 25 passes for 126 with touchdown passes going to Josh Atkinson for 15 yards and Keevan Lucas for 45 yards. The Tulsa defense totaled 10 TFLs for -29 yards, six QB hurries and six pass break-ups, as Jordan Mitchell and Kerwin Thomas shared the team lead with 12 tackles apiece.

The Hurricane scored its three second-half TDs on consecutive possessions to take a 35-14 lead at the end of the third period.

Tulsa broke the 14-14 halftime deadlock on its second possession of the third quarter as Josh Atkinson made an acrobatic catch in the end zone for a 15-yard completion from Dane Evans, capping a four-play, 31-yard drive. Tulsa took possession at the UCF 31-yard line on an unusual fumble recovery that saw Cristian Williams get possession of the ball after it bounced off the facemask of return-man Chris Johnson.

The Hurricane scored again on its next possession to take a 28-14 lead with 4:56 left on the third quarter clock. Tulsa marched 84 yards in five plays as Evans threw 45 yards to Keevan Lucas in the end zone. It was Lucas' 11^th touchdown reception of the season.

Tulsa scored on its third straight possession when Brewer raced the final eight yards of an 81-yard drive to put the Hurricane ahead 35-14 with 0:35 left on the third quarter clock.

UCF (6-5, 4-3 AAC) responded with a 70-yard, 13-play drive that saw Killins score from three yards out to narrow the Tulsa lead to 15 points, 35-20, as the PAT was blocked by Tulsa's Jerry Uwaezuoke.

The Knights looked to make the game interesting in the final two minutes, as UCF took its possession with 3:56 left on the game clock, and reached the Tulsa three-yard line, but was shut down on 4^th-and-goal.

After Tulsa held UCF to 3-and-out on the game's first possession, the Knights' D.J. Killings intercepted an Evans pass at the 28-yard line on third down and took it the distance for a touchdown. UCF took an 8-0 at the 12:59 mark after converting on a two-point attempt.

The Hurricane got its offense going late in the first half when James Flanders' one-yard run at the 3:10 mark capped a 62-yard, four-play drive in taking just 1:01 off the clock, and cutting the UCF lead to one point at 8-7. Flanders accounted for all 62 yards on three carries.

Petera Wilson's fumble recovery at the UCF 63-yard line led to a five-play, 36-yard scoring drive that put the Hurricane ahead 14-8 early in the second quarter, as D'Angelo Brewer ran in from two yards out for the touchdown. After the Tulsa score, a 67-yard UCF kickoff return by Adrian Killins put the Knights at the Tulsa 34-yard line, but the Hurricane defense stopped UCF in four downs.

Tulsa marched 54 yards in 13 plays to the UCF nine-yard line, but a Redford Jones 26-yard field goal attempt was blocked resulting in no points for the Hurricane, leaving the score at Tulsa 14, UCF 8.

The Knights capitalized after the blocked field goal, marching 50 yards in 12 plays to score three points on a Matthew Wright 48-yard field goal, cutting Tulsa's lead to three points, 14-11, with 1:23 left in the first half.

UCF took possession with just 0:40 left o the first-half clock and methodically marched down the field to tie the score at 14-14 on a 47-yard Wright field goal as the clocked ticked to 0:00.

At the intermission, Tulsa had 195 yards of total offense, gaining 139 yards on the ground and just 56 yards through the air. Tulsa's defense UCF gained 114 first-half yards with 56 on the ground and 58 passing. Third down efficiency for both teams was poor in the first half, as the Hurricane converted just 2-of-10 and UCF was 3-of-12 on third downs.

The Golden Hurricane will close out the regular season next Friday, November 25, at home against the Cincinnati Bearcats. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m.

Here are ways fans can get tickets to the Tulsa-Cincinnati Game . . .
•   Oklahoma Ford Military Day . . . active and retired military personnel can get a FREE ticket with their military ID card.
•   Your Local Oklahoma Ford Dealers Military Day Special . . . any person can go to Your Local Area Oklahoma Ford Dealer and pick-up a voucher that allows the purchase of up to 4 end zone tickets for $5 each (4 end zone seats for just $20).
•   It's Toys for Tots Day . . . fans can bring a new, unwrapped toy valued at $15 and receive FREE admission to the game.

Fans can always purchase tickets online at TulsaHurricane.com, by calling 918.631.GoTU (4688) or stopping by the Reynolds Center Ticket Office, Monday-Friday, 8:30-5 pm. The Ticket Office will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, and will be open on game day, Friday, Nov. 25, from 1-5 p.m.