Tulsa Comeback Falls Short in Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl 28-26

Thursday, December 31

Fort Worth, Texas

11:00 AM

Tulsa

Mississippi State

Photo by: Ellman Photography

Tulsa Comeback Falls Short in Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl 28-26

12/31/2020 4:46:00 PM | Football

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GAME STATS I POST-GAME NOTES I PHOTO GALLERY I SEASON STATS

FORT WORTH, Texas –– Tulsa's comeback bid against the Mississippi State Bulldogs fell short, 28-26, on Thursday afternoon in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl at Amon G. Carter Stadium.

The Hurricane finished the season at 6-3, while the Bulldogs put up their fourth win of the year.

Trailing 28-19 with 8:01 remaining in the game, Tulsa went on a 6-play, 55-yard scoring drive that saw Zach Smith throw the final 15 yards to Keylon Stokes. The ensuing onside kick, after being bobbled, was corralled by an MSU player, thus securing the Bulldogs two-point win.

Tulsa out-gained the MSU 484 to 271 in total offense, as the Hurricane gained 347 yards via the air and 137 rushing yards. The Hurricane defense held the Bulldogs to 123 yards on the ground and 148 passing yards. Zach Smith finished the game with 347 yards on 26-of-46 passing, while Stokes with 117 yards and one TD and JuanCarlos Santana with 112 yards led the way in the passing game. Corey Taylor II had a game-high 85 rushing yards and one TD.

Cristian Williams was named Tulsa's Game MVP, as he totaled 7 tackles and one pass breakup. The Hurricane defense held MSU to 109 total yards below its season average.

After Tulsa was held 3-and-out on the first second half possession, Mississippi State took a 14-6 lead on the subsequent possession, giving the Bulldogs touchdowns on their opening drives of each half. The Bulldogs went 64 yards in nine plays as quarterback Will Rogers ran the final 13 yards for the score.

The Hurricane responded with a 75-yard, 7-play scoring drive that saw Deneric Prince run around the left corner for a 14-yard touchdown, bringing the score to 14-13 after the Long PAT.

Tulsa's defense came up with a big stop on 4^th-and-2 at the Tulsa 34-yard line, but the Bulldogs defense returned the favor. Emmanuel Forbes intercepted a Smith pass at the 10-yard line and returned it 90 yards for an MSU touchdown, putting the Bulldogs ahead 21-13 with 3:29 left in the third period.

Tulsa got to within two points when Taylor ran in from five yards out to cap a 32-yard, 9-play drive to make the score 21-19. Tulsa's pass on a two-point conversion attempt skipped off of Stokes hands, thus keeping it a two-point MSU advantage.

The Bulldogs responded with an 11-play, 65-yard drive that took 4:29 off the clock and gave MSU a 28-19 lead with 8:01 left on the game clock.

MSU wasted little time in scoring to start the game, taking the opening kickoff 39 yards in three plays after a 53-yard kickoff return, for a 7-0 lead at the 13:41 mark. Jo'quavious Marks scored from 28 yards out.

Zack Long put the Hurricane on the scoreboard with a 27-yard field goal, capping a 72-yard, 11-play drive, to make the score 7-3 at the 11:15 mark of the second quarter.

Long brought the Hurricane to within one point at 7-6 with a 33-yard field goal with 2:34 remaining in the first half. The score capped another 11-play drive that covered 78 yards.

Tulsa entered the half trailing by one point, 7-6, but had a 229 to 129-yard edge in total offense, including 169 passing yards and 60 yards on the ground. Smith completed 11-of-17 first-half passes, while JC Santana had 112 of those yards on four receptions.