Tulsa Pulls Out Thrilling 38-35 Home Opening Win over NIU

Saturday, September 10

H.A. Chapman Stadium

6:00 p.m. (CT)

Tulsa

1-1 , 0-0

Northern Illinois

1-1 , 0-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

NIU

Tulsa

Photo by: BRETT ROJO, For the University o

Tulsa Pulls Out Thrilling 38-35 Home Opening Win over NIU

9/11/2022 12:17:00 AM | Football

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TULSA, Okla. – Steven Anderson's one-yard run with 0:58 remaining gave Tulsa a 38-35 lead and the eventual victory over Northern Illinois Saturday night in front of 22,113 fans at H.A. Chapman Stadium.

Tulsa evened its season record to 1-1, while NIU fell to 1-1 after the loss.

NIU scored on four of its first five second half possessions to overcome a 17-point halftime deficit and take a 35-31 lead with 5:57 remaining in the contest. Tulsa marched to the NIU 45-yard line but couldn't convert on 4th-and-1. However, the Hurricane defense shut down the Huskies on the next four plays to give the offense one last chance.

Tulsa took possession at their own 48-yard line with 1:54 left on the game clock. On third-and-14, Davis Brin found Malachai Jones for 24 yards to the NIU 32, and a play later Stokes' 31-yard reception put Tulsa on the one-yard line to set-up Anderson's winning score.

NIU had one last chance, starting at their own 32-yard line, but on third-and-10 Tyon Davis' interception ended the Huskies final attempt.

"The first half and the second half were just completely different sides of the coin. I felt like we had all the momentum in the first half and then come out in the second half and let the momentum kind of slip by," said Tulsa Head Coach Philip Montgomery. "That being said, I thought our guys really stayed together on the sideline. I thought our guys believed in each other, stayed locked in, understanding we have been in these situations before."

"We understand what it's going to take, and you've got to find a way to go win. Our guys did that tonight, so I'm extremely proud of them and the effort that they put out there."

The offensive output for the two teams was pretty close statistically as Tulsa gained 429 total yards to NIU's 385.

Brin completed 19-of-32 passes for 322 yards and a career-best four touchdowns. Stokes hauled in eight passes for 135 yards, while JuanCarlos Santana added four receptions for 87 yards and Jones had 61 yards on four catches. Anderson ended the game with 58 rushing yards to go along with his TD run.

NIU's Rocky Lombardi found seven different receivers in putting up 259 passing yards with three touchdowns.

Despite giving up the four second-half touchdowns, Tulsa's defense stiffened when it needed to the most. On three of NIU's final four possessions, the Hurricane held the Huskies to just 15 yards on 12 plays and ended with the interception.

The Huskies came out of the locker room after halftime looking like a different team, scoring 14 points in the first seven minutes and cutting the Hurricane lead to 24-21.

On the opening second-half possession, Lombardi connected on a 30-yard toss to Kacpar Rutkiewicz to cap a 75-yardss, six-play drive and make the score 24-14. NIU recovered the onside kick and went 54 yards in seven plays to make it a three-point game at 24-21 with 8:54 left in the third quarter.

The fourth quarter began with Lombardi throwing a 33-yard strike to Cole Tucker for its first lead of the game, 28-24, at the 14:50 mark. Tulsa responded on the subsequent possession going 75 yards in 10 plays as Brin hit Keylon Stokes for a one-yard TD toss on fourth down to get back the lead at 31-28.

The Hurricane defense stepped up and forced NIU to punt from their own 14-yad line, but a fumbled punt gave the Huskies back the ball at the Tulsa 40. NIU took the lead at 35-31 with 5:57 left on the game clock before the final two-minute heroics by the Hurricane.

To start the game, Tulsa took its opening possession 75 yards in 12 plays, culminating with a 14-yard pass from Brin to Juan Carlos Santana.

Zack Long's 28-yard field goal put the Hurricane ahead 10-0 to start the second period at the 13:02 mark. On Tulsa's next possession, Brin hit Santana for their second scoring hookup of the first half with a 25-yard strike over the middle, capping an 8-play, 71-yard drive.

NIU scored its first points after an interception put the Huskies at the Tulsa 44-yard line, and six plays later Lombardi connected with Rutkiewicz on a nine-yard pass to cut the Hurricane lead to 10 points, 17-7.

Tulsa closed out the first half with Brin's third touchdown throw of the game, this time going to Isaiah Epps for 20 yards and a 24-7 lead with 0:49 left in the first half.

At halftime, Tulsa had a 215 to 119-yard advantage in total offense, while 146 of those yards came through the air.

Montgomery raved about the game atmosphere following the win and encouraged fans to return when the Hurricane are back at home next week.

"I want to say the administration did a great job of really sprucing everything up out here and creating an unbelievable atmosphere from the tailgating side and during the game. I think the kids had a lot of fun, and the fans stayed. We had a great crowd. I thought they really helped us finish and win this game," said Montgomery.

Montgomery spoke directly to the fans during Saturday's postgame press conference.

"I'm very grateful to our administration and very grateful to our city for coming out and supporting our football team and our program. Hope you keep coming back. We kept it exciting for you tonight to keep you around and watch the fireworks, so hopefully you'll keep coming back and be a part of what we've got going on," Montgomery added.

Tulsa will be back at Chapman Stadium next Saturday for a 6 p.m. kickoff against the 3-0 Jacksonville State Gamecocks.