Late Score Lifts Tulsa Over South Florida 32-31

Saturday, October 16

Tampa, Fla.

11:00 AM

Tulsa

3-4 , 2-1

South Florida

1-5 , 0-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Tulsa

South Fla.

Late Score Lifts Tulsa Over South Florida 32-31

10/16/2021 5:24:00 PM | Football

Box Score

Shamari Brooks scores TD with 0:42 on the clock

GAME BOOK I POST-GAME NOTES I PHOTO GALLERY

TAMPA, Fla. –– Shamari Brooks' three-yard touchdown run with less than one minute in the game lifted Tulsa to a 32-31 comeback victory over South Florida on Saturday afternoon at Raymond James Stadium.

Tulsa overcame three offensive turnovers, a special teams touchdown by the Bulls and a double-digit deficit for the win. The final 0:47 of the game was the only time Tulsa led in posting its third comeback victory of the season.

The Hurricane improved to 3-4 overall and 2-1 in American Athletic Conference action, while USF fell to 1-5 and 0-2 in league play.

With 4:20 remaining in the game, Tulsa took over possession at the USF 42-yard line after the Hurricane defense held the Bulls on 4^th-and-1. Tulsa had its own fourth down situation on 4^th-and-3 from the USF 20-yard line, but Davis Brin completed a 6-yard pass to Josh Johnson for the first down. Brooks then took over, gaining five yards and six yards on the next two plays before scoring from three yards out for the game-winning touchdown.

Brooks finished with 145 yards and Deneric Prince added 110 yards on the ground for the Hurricane. Tulsa ended the game with a whopping 535 to 268-yard edge in total offense, while the Hurricane defense also held USF to 17 offensive points. The Bulls added a pick-6 and a 61-yard punt return for scores.

Despite two first-half interceptions, Brin completed 22-of-39 passes for 266 yards and two touchdowns.

Without defensive starters – end Cullen Wick, and safeties Cristian Williams and Kendarin Ray – the Tulsa defense put in another solid performance, holding the Bulls to 113 rushing and 155 passing yards. Defensively, Justin Wright had a team-best seven tackles and a season-high 2.5 sacks for -9 yards, while Tyon Davis had a team-high three pass breakups.

After putting up 319 yards of total offense in the first half, Tulsa managed just 44 yards in the third quarter as South Florida built a 31-20 lead after three quarters. In the fourth quarter, Tulsa scored two touchdowns and gained 172 yards on 24 plays while the Hurricane defense held the Bulls to just 32 yards on 12 carries in the final 15 minutes.

USF scored the only points of the third quarter to take an 11-point lead, 31-20, with 4:30 remaining in the period. USF's Tim McClain took an 8-yard quarterback keeper for the score to cap the 10-play, 81-yard drive.

Tulsa got on the board for the first time in the second half when the Hurricane took its first fourth quarter possession 99 yards in 10 plays. Brin threw the final 13 yards to Josh Johnson for the touchdown, but failed on the two-point conversion, making the score 31-26.

Tulsa had to punt on its next possession after getting to the 50-yard line, and then that's where the Hurricane defense held on 4^th-and-1 to give the offense the ball for the winning drive.

To start the game, South Florida took the opening kickoff 48 yards in eight plays and settled for a 44-yard field goal to toa an early 3-0 lead.

The Hurricane marched to the USF four-yard line and settled for a 22-yard field goal to tie the score at 3-3 with 4:54 left in the first period, capping a 71-yard, 15-play drive. A scoring run by Brin that would have given Tulsa the lead was nullified due to a holding call on the first Hurricane possession.

A fake field goal by the Bulls on their next possession from the Tulsa 34-yard line was stopped by Tulsa's Davis to close out the first quarter.

A Tulsa fumble, only the second lost on the season for the Hurricane, gave USF the ball at the 12-yard line and four plays later Jaren Mangham put the Bulls ahead 10-3 after the PAT on a one-yard score.

The Hurricane took the subsequent possession to the USF 24-yard line but on a 3^rd-and-9 play, Tulsa committed its second turnover in an as many possessions on an interception by the Bulls' Dwayne Boyles.

Tulsa's defense held USF on three plays, forcing a punt, and the Hurricane offense took possession at the USF 43-yard line. Prince carried three times for 24 yards, including the final one-yard touchdown run for a 4-play, 43-yard drive to tie the score at 10-10.

But, USF wasted no time with a 100-yard kickoff return to retake the lead at 17-10. USF added to its lead when Tulsa had its third turnover of the half, an interception that was returned for a touchdown by the Bulls' Antonio Grier for a 24-10 lead with just 5:54 left in the first half.

On the subsequent possession, Tulsa had to settle for another field goal, a 25-yarder by Long, capping a 68-yard, 12-play drive and making the score 24-13 with 1:10 left in the first half.

On the kickoff, the Hurricane special teams made a play when Tyree Carlisle forced a fumble that was recovered by Hunter Rangel at the USF 37-yard line. On the first play, Brin connected with Sam Crawford Jr. on a 37-yard strike to make the score 24-20 with just 0:57 remaining before halftime.

It was an exciting and unusual first half as the teams combined for 38 second quarter points after just six points in the first period. USF had two of their scores come on special teams and defense, while Tulsa's first takeaway cut its first-half deficit to four points.

At the intermission, Tulsa held a 319 to 128-yard advantage in total offense. The Hurricane gained 153 rushing yards and 166 yards through the air.

After a bye week next Saturday, the Hurricane returns to H.A. Chapman Stadium on Friday night, Oct. 29, to face the Navy Midshipmen. Game time is 6:30 p.m.

For tickets, go online at TulsaHurricane.com or call 918.631.4688.