Tulsa
New Mexico St
Hurricane Stalled By New Mexico St. 24-7
10/6/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct 6, 2001
By DANNY M. BOYD
Associated Press Writer
TULSA, Okla. - Tony Lukins tied an NCAA Division I-A record by returning two kickoffs for touchdowns as New Mexico State beat Tulsa 24-7 on Saturday.
It was the 10th time a Division I-A player returned a pair of kicks for scores in a game and the first since 1997, when Tutu Atwell of Minnesota did it against Iowa State.
The win was the second in a row for New Mexico State (2-4) after the Aggies opened the season with three of their four losses against ranked teams. Tulsa (1-3) dropped its third straight.
With Tulsa up 7-0 in the first quarter, Lukins hit an outside running lane for an 89-yard scoring return. He had a 100-yard return to open the third quarter.
K.C. Enzminger was 8-of-19 passing for New Mexico State for 124 yards and an interception. He also led Aggies rushers with 69 yards. Kenton Keith had 62.
Tulsa starter Tyler Gooch was 13-of-18 for 86 yards but was sidelined with an ankle sprain after the first half. Josh Blankenship, the starter before Gooch replaced him Saturday, finished 17-of-35 for 189 yards.
All-WAC receiver Donald Shoals had 106 yards receiving for New Mexico State.
Lukins' third quarter return gave New Mexico State a 17-7 lead.
Tyrone Gifford intercepted Blankenship's pass at the New Mexico State 43 and Keeon Johnson took it in from the 3 at 8:37 in the third to end the scoring.
Tulsa drove the field behind Gooch's passing and the running of Richardson on the game's first drive.
Brandon Birks managed a one-handed grab for an 8-yard gain to the Tulsa 1, where Richardson ran in for a score at 7:10.
Lukins scored his first touchdown pass and Dario Aguiniga kicked a 31-yard field goal to put the Aggies up 10-7.
