Tulsa Falls to North Texas 35-28

Saturday, November 18

H.A. Chapman Stadium

2:00 p.m.

Tulsa

3-8 , 1-6

North Texas

4-7 , 2-5

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
North Texas	7	14	14	0	35
Tulsa	7	14	0	7	28

Photo by: BRETT ROJO, For the University of Tulsa

Tulsa Falls to North Texas 35-28

11/18/2023 7:07:00 PM | Football

Box Score Photo Gallery

GAME STATS I POSTGAME NOTES I POSTGAME QUOTES I PHOTO GALLERY

TULSA, Okla. –– Tulsa battled back from a 14-point deficit in the fourth period but it wasn't enough as North Texas (4-7, 2-5 AAC) claimed a 35-21 road win over Tulsa on the Golden Hurricane Senior Day in front of 16,250 fans at H.A. Chapman Stadium.

The Mean Green broke a 21-21 halftime tie on its first second-half possession and followed with another touchdown on their next possession, taking a 35-21 lead with just over five minutes gone in the quarter.

Tulsa (3-8, 1-6 AAC) put together a season-long 99-yard scoring drive on 10 plays as Kirk Francis threw the final seven yards to Kamdyn Benjamin to cut the Hurricane deficit to seven points at 35-28 with just 5:14 remaining in the contest.

For the game, North Texas gained 593 yards on the ground while Tulsa has 434 yards, including 183 rushing and 251 through the air. The Mean Green offense rushed for 299 yards and passed for another 294.

Tulsa's Anthony Watkins had his fourth career 100-yard rushing game with 115 yards and one TD, while Francis threw for 251 yards and three TDs. Defensively, a pair of seniors had career nights with Kendarin Ray totaling a career-high 16 tackles for his 14^th career double-digit tackle game, and Ben Kopenski compiling seven stops, including four of those for -21 yards while also forcing two fumbles.

Tulsa took the game's opening drive 75 yards in just 2:15 for the early 7-0 lead. The score was 7-7 after the first quarter, before both teams tallied 14 points in the second half to go into halftime tied at 21.

The Mean Green took a 14-7 lead on a 41-yard scamper. Tulsa followed up with seven points of their own on a 36-yard Anthony Watkins run down the right sideline, coming after a takeaway by the Hurricane defense. Tulsa took a 21-14 lead on a Kirk Francis 14-yard pass to Carl Chester with 1:38 left in the first half, but the Mean Green quickly responded with a 90-yard drive in less than one minute to make it a 21-21 halftime score.

UNT gained 290 first-half yards, while Tulsa had 282 yards of total offense through the first 30 minutes.

Tulsa will close out the 2023 season on the road next Saturday in Greenville, North Carolina, against the East Carolina Pirates. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. local time and 1 p.m. (CT).

1^st Quarter Breakdown
•      Tulsa took its opening kickoff 75 yards in six plays as Kirk Francis hit Nick Rempert for a 40-yard TD down the right sideline for a 7-0 lead at the 12:45 mark.
•      North Texas tied the score with a 56-yard, 5-play drive with 7:07 left in the quarter.
•      The period ended 7-7 with Tulsa out-gaining UNT 132 to 77 yards, as 87 of those Tulsa yards came through the air.

2^nd Quarter Breakdown
•      A Tulsa field goal attempt of 47 yards by Chase Meyer hit the cross bar and bounced short keeping the score at 7-7.
•      North Texas quarterback Chandler Rogers took a 4^th-and-10 snap 41 yards to give the Mean Green a 14-7 lead at the 10:46 mark of the period, capping just a 4-play drive in 0:22.
•      After Ben Kopenski forced a UNT fumble which was recovered by Joseph Anderson, Tulsa went 43 yards in two plays to tie the game at 14-14.
•      Tulsa's score came on an Anthony Watkins 36-yard run down the right sideline.
•      The Hurricane took its next possession 69 yards in seven plays as Francis hit Carl Chester on a 14-yard score to put Tulsa ahead 21-14 with 1:38 left on the first-half clock.
•      However, the visitors went 90 yards in just 0:36 to tie the score as Chandler Rogers hit Landon Sides for a 25-yard touchdown.

3^rd Quarter Breakdown
•      North Texas opened the second half with two consecutive scores on their first two possessions.
•      The first came on a 59-yard pass play that capped an 80-yard, 5-play drive in just 1:46, while a 77-yard Oscar Adaway run capped a 3-play, 86-yard scoring drive to put the Mean Green ahead 35-21.
•      Tulsa managed just 54 yards on 17 plays in the third quarter.

4^th Quarter Breakdown
•      Tulsa put together a season-long 99-yard drive for the only points of the second half.
•      A 13-yard pass got Tulsa out of a 3^rd-and-3 from the eight-yard line, then a 38-yard run by Bill Jackson put the Hurricane at the North Texas 25-yard line.
•      Francis hit Kamdyn Benjamin in the corner of the end zone for a 7-yard touchdown to bring Tulsa within seven points.
•      Tulsa out-gained UNT 103-to-66 yards in the final quarter, while only having possession of the ball for 4:58.