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Tulsa
Texas State (Hurricane Kickoff Bash)
Kilian Leads Tulsa Past Texas State
9/13/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept 13, 2003
By KELLY KURT
Associated Press Writer
TULSA, Okla. - James Kilian led Tulsa's air and ground attack Saturday, throwing for 244 yards and rushing for 90 more in a 41-15 victory over Texas State.
Kilian completed 15 of 24 passes for three touchdowns, including a 46-yard touchdown pass to Romby Bryant, to give the Golden Hurricane (1-2) its first win in seven games.
It was Tulsa's third victory in three seasons and the first for new coach Steve Kragthorpe.
Texas State (1-2) managed to hold Tulsa to a lackluster first half. But the Division I-AA Bobcats struggled when Tulsa's offense came alive in the third quarter.
Kilian opened the second half with a 49-yard pass to Montiese Culton, setting up Eric Richardson's 7-yard touchdown run seconds later. Tulsa scored on its next three drives, including Garrett Mills' 37-yard touchdown reception.
Richardson finished with 71 yards rushing and two touchdowns.
Bobcats quarterback Barrick Nealy, who entered the game leading the Division I-AA nationally in total offense with an average 382.5 yards, completed 24 of 47 passes for 213 yards and two touchdowns.
He also threw three interceptions.
Tulsa failed to make it out of Golden Hurricane territory on its first four drives. And with the Bobcats leading 3-0 deep in the second quarter, Brad DeVault's 44-yard field goal attempt went wide.
But Kilian found Bryant with an 18-yard pass on Tulsa's next drive and Richardson found his legs, rushing for 15 yards before diving over the top for a 1-yard touchdown run with 1:01 to go in the half.
Tulsa's other touchdowns came on a 1-yard run by Kilian and a 6-yard pass to Mills.
