Tulsa
North Texas
Tulsa Pounds North Texas, 28-3
9/16/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 16, 2006
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TULSA, Okla. - -- It took the Hurricane offense nearly the entire first half to get going, but the defense was stifling throughout as Tulsa captured a 28-3 victory over North Texas in front of a Homecoming crowd of 22,045 fans at Skelly Stadium.
The Tulsa defense had a dominating performance holding UNT to 89 yards on 42 plays for a 2.1 average. North Texas had 10 possessions and five ended three-and-out while two other drives resulted in Tulsa interceptions. Tulsa held the Mean Green to just 31 second-half yards.
On offense, Paul Smith threw for 266 yards and two touchdowns, while the Tulsa offense gained 401 yards.
It took most of the first half, but the Hurricane offense put it into high gear just before halftime with a 96-yard scoring drive.
North Texas put the first points on the scoreboard, but the Hurricane scored the next 28 points.
UNT capitalized on Tulsa's second interception of the game, both coming in the first quarter, to take a 3-0 lead early in the second quarter. The Hurricane defense limited UNT to three points on a 23-yard field goal after the Mean Green was first-and-goal from the seven-yard line.
Tulsa took a 7-3 halftime lead by scoring on a four-yard pass from Paul Smith to Ted Curtis with no time left on the clock.
With the score, Tulsa averted being shutout in the first half for the first time since the 2004 season against Navy.
On that drive with less than 0:40 remaining in the second quarter, Tulsa's offense went for the first down on fourth-and-four at the 14-yard line. Smith's pass to Kyle Grooms in the end zone was batted down, but a North Texas penalty gave the Hurricane another opportunity.
At the 0:05 mark, Tulsa trotted out its field goal unit and after another UNT timeout the Hurricane brought the offense back on the field. Smith then connected on the 4-yard scoring toss to Curtis.
The Tulsa scoring drive went 96 yards in 13 plays.
At the intermission, Tulsa held a 177 to 51-yard edge in total offense, gaining 114 yards through the air and 63 yards on the ground.
Tulsa opened the second half with a 10-play, 82-yard drive that culminated in a 34-yard pass play from Smith to Ryan Bugg.
The Hurricane took its next possession 70 yards in six plays to take a 21-3 lead. The scoring play was a one-yard run by Brandon Diles, while Diles also had the key play on the drive with a 39-yard gain on a pass from Smith.
The Tulsa defense held UNT to two straight three-and-out to start the second half, and on UNT's third possession Bobby Blackshire intercepted a pass at the Tulsa 11-yard line to end the Mean Green drive.
After a 62-yard punt by Tulsa's Paul Jurado, Kinny Spotwood recovered a UNT fumble at the 12-yard line. On the first play, Diles scored his second touchdown of the game with an eight-yard run for the touchdown giving the Hurricane a 28-3 lead.
UNT's Jamario Thomas, who ran for 1,801 yards in 2004, was limited to 33 yards in 13 carries for North Texas. Receiver Johnny Quinn extended his consecutive game streak with a reception to 39, but had just the one catch for 5 yards.
Smith completed the game with 21-of-33 for 266 yards and two touchdowns. After his two first quarter interceptions, Smith went on to complete 19-of-31 passes for 246 yards.
Bugg had a career day with seven receptions for 87 yards and one touchdown, while Diles had 47 yards and two rushing touchdowns
Next week, Tulsa travels to Navy to face the Midshipmen at 12:30 pm (CT) in Annapolis, Maryland.
Scoring Summary 2nd Quarter UNT (12:57) - Denis Hopovac 23 FG 0-3 Tulsa (0:00) - Ted Curtis 4 pass from Paul Smith, Tracy kick 7-33rd Quarter Tulsa (11:20) - Ryan Bugg 34 pass from Paul Smith, Tracy kick 14-3 Tulsa (6:23) - Brandon Diles 1 run, Tracy kick 21-3
4th Quarter Tulsa (8:57) - Brandon Diles 8 run, Tracy kick) 28-3
