Tulsa
Marshall (Homecoming)
Tulsa Gets 38-31 Win Over Marshall
10/13/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 13, 2007
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Tulsa, Okla. - Tulsa's high-powered offense put up 578 total yards as Paul Smith threw for 385 yards and three touchdowns and Tarrion Adams had 134 yards rushing in a 38-31 victory over the Marshall Thundering Herd on Saturday night in front of 20,255 fans at H.A. Chapman Stadium.
Tulsa improved to 4-2 overall and 2-1 in conference action, as Marshall dropped to 0-6 and 0-2 in C-USA play.
The Hurricane built a 31-17 halftime lead and held on as the Thundering Herd outscored the home team in the second half 14-7.
After the Herd scored the first points of the second-half on their second possession, Tulsa's Smith connected on his second-longest pass of the season with a 73-yard touchdown strike to Brennan Marion 49 seconds later to put the Hurricane ahead 38-24. Marshall's score came on a Chubb Small one-yard run on a fourth-and-goal, capping an 80-yard, 12-play drive.
On a crucial Marshall possession early in the fourth quarter, Tulsa's Nelson Coleman sacked Marshall's Bernard Morris for a 17-yard loss on a fourth-and-five from the Tulsa six-yard line, ending the Herd scoring opportunity. Tulsa, though, could not manage any points on two more possessions, getting to the Marshall 44 before punting and to the Marshall 16-yard line before losing the ball on a fumble.
Marshall added seven more points with 1:18 left in the game to cut the Hurricane lead to seven points. On the ensuing kickoff, Tulsa's Chris Chamberlain recovered the onside kick attempt and Tulsa proceeded to run out the clock for the victory.
In the first half, Tulsa took its second possession of the game 80 yards in nine plays as Adams ran the final five yards for the score.
The Herd managed three points on a 37-yard field goal, capping a nine-play, 32-yard drive. Tulsa began the second quarter with a 56-yard, six play drive at the 13:49 mark that saw Smith run over from one yard out for the score.
The Hurricane put together back-to-back with its second scoring drive of the second period as the Hurricane went 63 yards in five plays as Smith connected on a 21-yard pass with Adams for the touchdown. Marshall responded in just 1:17 on a Small 12-yard run at the 9:24 mark, capping a six-play, 71-yard drive.
Tulsa drove to the Marshall two-yard line but could only come away with a 19-yard Jarod Tracy field goal. Marshall responded again with an 81-yard, eight-play drive that saw the Herd score at the 3:09 mark.
Tulsa scored on its fourth straight possession to lose out the first half scoring as Smith threw 11 yards to Cameron Clemons in the corner of the end zone, capping a 68-yard, nine-play drive.
In the first half, Tulsa managed a season-high 370 yards, while the Herd had 217 yards of total offense. Smith completed 17-of-27 first half passes for 262 yards and two TDs.
Tulsa will go on the road next week to face the UCF Knights next Saturday for the first meeting between the two teams since the 2005 Conference USA Championship Game. Game time is set for 3:00 pm (CT) at the new Bright House Networks Stadium.
