Tulsa
Louisiana Tech (Fan Appreciation Day)
Tulsa Stuffs Louisiana Tech 48-18
11/15/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov 15, 2003
AP Photo
By KELLY KURT
Associated Press Writer
TULSA, Okla. (AP) - James Kilian threw for three touchdowns and ran for two more as Tulsa guaranteed its first winning season since 1991 with a 48-18 victory over Louisiana Tech.
Kilian finished with 273 total yards in a game that saw the Golden Hurricane (7-4, 5-2 Western Athletic Conference) shut down the Bulldogs' passing game from the start.
Louisiana Tech (5-6, 3-4) trailed by as many as 31 points, unable to overcome Tulsa's defense and penalties that totaled 71 yards in the first quarter alone.
Bulldogs quarterback Luke McCown, who was ranked 14th nationally with 282 offensive yards a game, threw three interceptions and was minus 77 yards on the run. He finished with 161 yards passing.
Kilian led Tulsa in turning those interceptions into touchdown drives.
He scored on a 1-yard run in the first quarter, threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Garrett Mills in the second and a 42-yard pass to Romby Bryant in the third - all after interceptions, two by Shannon Carter.
Eric Richardson added 154 yards for Tulsa and two touchdowns, one coming on an 80-yard streak up the left side.
The Bulldogs, who tend to lose games when McCown throws more than one interception, saw trouble from the start. McCown was intercepted on Louisiana Tech's first drive and threw his second with 10:20 left in the second quarter.
Tech turned to Ryan Moats, who rushed for 220 yards, including a 2-yard touchdown run. It was his sixth straight game to rush for at least 100 yards.
Louisiana Tech, which beat Tulsa 53-9 in Ruston last year, scored its other points on a 10-yard run by McCown and a 52-yard field goal by Josh Scobee.
