Tulsa’s Comeback Bid Falls Short Against Arkansas State 29-20

Saturday, September 15

H.A. Chapman Stadium

6:00 PM

Tulsa

1-2

Arkansas State

2-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Arkansas State

Tulsa

Photo by: Brett Rojo

Tulsa’s Comeback Bid Falls Short Against Arkansas State 29-20

9/15/2018 10:30:00 PM | Football

Box Score

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Tulsa, Okla. –– Tulsa's comeback bid for a second straight week wasn't enough as Arkansas State (2-1) held on for a 29-20 victory Saturday night in front of 17,349 fans at H.A. Chapman Stadium.

Trailing 27-7 in the third quarter, Tulsa (1-2) scored 13 points to bring the score to 27-20 with 11:13 remaining in the 4^th period and after the defense had another critical stop of the Red Wolves, Tulsa took possession at its own 4-yard line. However, Keylon Stokes was caught behind the line of scrimmage in the end zone for an Arkansas State safety and a 29-20 lead with 7:56 remaining in the contest.

Arkansas State proceeded to run out the clock and secure the nine-point win.

Tulsa scored on its first possession of the game, but ASU tallied the next 27 points to take a 27-7 lead at the 10:25 mark of the third quarter before the Hurricane offense got moving again. A-State tallied 17 points off of Tulsa turnovers, including a field goal to end the first half, a touchdown on their first second-half possession and an interception return for a TD in the third period.

With only 106 yards in the first half, Tulsa ended the game with 339 yards offense, while the Red Wolves gained 405 total yards. The Hurricane defense, which totaled 7 TFLs for -28 yards, 3 sacks for -16 yards and one fumble recovery, had four players with double-digit tackles, as McKinley Whitfield and TieNeal Martin led the way with 14 stops. Zaven Collins added 12 and Cooper Edmiston had 11 tackles.

On offense for the Hurricane, Luke Skipper completed 19 of 27 passes for 172 yards and one TD, while Shamari Brooks had 115 yards on the ground on 21 carries for a 5.5 average.

In the second-half, Arkansas State scored on its first possession after a Tulsa fumble, going 42 yards in 6 plays. On the next Tulsa possession, Skipper was hit as he was passing and that resulted in a 53-yard interception return for a Red Wolves touchdown.

Despite the two third-quarter turnovers, Tulsa's offense came to life gaining 187 yards in that quarter. The Hurricane defense limited A-State to 70 third quarter yards.

On Tulsa's subsequent possession, the Hurricane had a 70- yard, 16-play drive that went to the ASU 5-yard line, but Tulsa had to settle for a 22-yard Nate Walker field goal.

Walker's field goal made the score 27-10 with 5:06 remaining in the third quarter.

After the Hurricane defense stopped Arkansas State on 6 plays, the Tulsa offense went 81 yards in 11 plays as Luke Skipper found Cole Neph in the end zone for the final 10 yards, as the Hurricane cut its deficit to 10 points, 27-17, at the 14:57 mark of the fourth quarter.

Tulsa's defense shut down A-State on 3 downs on the Red Wolves next possession, giving the Hurricane offense the ball at their own 39-yard line with 13:05 remaining in the contest. Shamari Brooks took the first play 37 yards to the ASU 24-yard line, but the Hurricane again had to settle for a 38-yard field goal, cutting the ASU lead to just seven points at 27-20.

But, the momentum the Hurricane gained was halted when Stokes was tackled in the end zone for the safety.

To start the game, Tulsa's defense forced a fumble on A-State's first possession, then the Hurricane offense went 62 yards in 13 plays as Corey Taylor II ran in from one yard out on fourth down to give Tulsa a 7-0 lead at the 8:22 mark.

The Red Wolves responded with a 35-yard field goal after a throw into the end zone was broken up by Tulsa's McKinley Whitfield to make the score 7-3 with 5:23 left on the first quarter clock.

A-State took its first lead, 10-7, with 4:33 left in the first half on a three-yard run, capping a 9-play, 48-yard drive. The Red Wolves added a 19-yard field goal before halftime after getting the ball back off a Tulsa turnover.

At halftime, Arkansas State had a 246 to 106-yard advantage in total offense, while holding nearly a three-minute edge in possession time.

Tulsa has a short week coming up as the Hurricane travels to open up American Athletic Conference play this Thursday in Philadelphia, Pa., against the Temple Owls.

WHAT WAS NOTEWORTHY:
OPENING DRIVE … In its two home games this season, Tulsa has scored on its opening drive in both games … Tulsa went 62 yards in 13 plays today against Arkansas State in its first possession after getting the ball following a turnover … against UCA in the opener, Tulsa took the game's opening drive 75 yards in 8 plays.

FROSH MAKES BIG PLAYS ON DEFENSE … True freshman Deven Lamp's first tackle of his career was for a 5-yard loss that came in today's game … a week earlier, Lamp made his first big play at Texas when he blocked a Longhorn punt.

LEADING AFTER ONE … Tulsa led after the first quarter 7-3 … it was the first time this season Tulsa led after the first quarter … Tulsa trailed in the opener 13-7 to UCA and last week at Texas 14-0.

FIRST-HALF STRUGGLES … Tulsa took its first drive of the game 62 yards in 13 plays, but in the remainder of the first half the Golden Hurricane gained just 44 yards on 18 plays.

A DIFFERENT SECOND HALF … After struggling in the first half with just 106 yards on 31 plays, Tulsa's offense got on track in the second half by gaining 233 yards on 38 plays and scoring 13 points.