Tulsa
UCF
UCF Shuts Down Tulsa 44-23
10/20/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 20, 2007
Box Score |
Notes |
AP Photo Gallery 
Orlando, Florida - UCF tallied 453 total yards and held Tulsa, the nation's second-leading offense, to 193 yards under its season average en route to a 44-23 victory in front of 45,510 fans at Bright House Networks Stadium.
UCF outscored Tulsa 17-3 in the second quarter and proceeded to hold the Hurricane offense to 197 yards and seven points in the second half, while putting up 20 second-half points for the victory.
Tulsa scored touchdowns on its first two possessions, but was shut down the rest of the half until a field goal to end the first half. The Hurricane totaled 139 yards in 19 plays for a 7.3 average per play on those first two drives, while tallying 240 yards on 67 plays for a 3.6 average the rest of the game.
UCF's Kevin Smith, the nation's third-leading rusher, led the Knights with 170 yards and four touchdowns, while quarterback Kyle Israel completed 21-29 passes for 224 yards.
Tulsa's Paul Smith threw for 316 yards and two TDs, but suffered a season-high four interceptions.
Tulsa opened the third period looking to score a second-half touchdown on its first possession for the sixth time in seven games this year, but an interception halted that opportunity. UCF proceeded to march 75 yards in 3:18 as the Knights' Smith scored his third TD of the game on a four-yard run giving UCF a 31-17 lead.
Tulsa's defense came up with a big defensive stop at the 5-minute mark of the third quarter, stopping the UCF offense for the first time in it last five possessions. The Knights had scored on each of its previous four possessions, going back to the second quarter, outscoring the Hurricane 24-3.
UCF's Smith added his fourth TD of the game, third rushing, on a 44-yard touchdown running, increasing the Knight's lead to 38-17. UCF scored again, following an interception, with a field goal.
Tulsa scored on a Smith to Cameron Clemons nine-yard pass with 3:10 left in the game. After an onside kick gave the Hurricane the ball back, Tulsa suffered its fourth interception of the game ending any chances of another score.
After the Hurricane defense stopped UCF on its' first possession of the game, the Hurricane offense went 70 yards nine plays as Smith threw the final seven yards to Jesse Meyer for the touchdown.
UCF responded in 3:44 with a 66-yard, nine-play drive as Kyle Israel ran for a 22-yard touchdown around right end for the Knights' first score.
Tulsa responded on its second possession as Smith took the Hurricane down the field in just 2:06, while completing five of nine passes for 63 yards. He threw the final 14 yards to freshman Trae Johnson for the score.
The Hurricane failed to score on a third straight possession, and the Hurricane defense stiffened on a third-and-two at the Tulsa six-yard line forcing the Knights to kick a 24-yaard field goal.
After stopping the Hurricane for the second straight possession, UCF went 59 yards in 12 plays to take its first lead of the game at 17-14 with 3:34 left in the first half as Kevin Smith ran in from 13 yards out for the score. The Knights added to its lead at the 1:15 mark of the second period on a 15-yard pass from Israel to Smith, capping an 83-yard, six-play drive, to take a 24-14 lead.
Tulsa managed to get three more points on the board before the intermission, as the Hurricane went 56 yards in nine plays and 1:05. Tracy knocked in a 30-yard field goal with 0:03 on the game clock to cut UCF's halftime lead to 24-17.
After totaling 139 yards in the first quarter, Tulsa gained just 43 yards in the second quarter. It was a different scenario for the nights in the first half, as UCF gained 90 first quarter yards, but totaled 185 yards and 17 points in the second period. UCF had a 10:01 to 4:59 advantage in possession time in the second quarter.
Tulsa will return to H.A. Chapman Stadium next week for its second-to-last home game against the SMU Mustangs on Saturday, October 27. Game time is scheduled for 2:05 pm
| Tulsa (7:54) - Paul Smith 7 pass to Jesse Meyer (Tracy kick) | 7-0 |
| UCF (4:08) - Kyle Israel 22 run (Torres kick) | 7-7 |
| Tulsa (1:56) - Paul Smith 14 pass to Trae Johnson (Tracy kick) | 14-7 |
| | |
| 2nd Quarter | |
| UCF (10:17) - Michael Torres 24 FG | 14-10 |
| UCF (3:34) - Kevin Smith 13 run (Torres kick) | 14-17 |
| UCF (1:14) - Kyle Israel 15 pass to Kevin Smith (Torres kick) | 14-24 |
| Tulsa (0:03) - Jarod Tracy 30 FG | 17-24 |
| | |
| 3rd Quarter | |
| UCF (9:29) - Kevin Smith 4 run (Torres kick) | 17-31 |
| | |
| 4th Quarter | |
| UCF (10:58) - Kevin Smith 44 run (Torres kick) | 17-38 |
| UCF (4:54) - Torres 24 FG | 17-41 |
| Tulsa (3:10) - Paul Smith 9 pass to Cameron Clemons (Pass NG) | 23-41 |
| UCF (1:06) - Michael Torres 29 FG | 23-44 |
