Tulsa Falls to Charlotte in OT, 33-26

Saturday, November 4

H.A. Chapman Stadium

3:00 p.m.

Tulsa

3-6 , 1-4

Charlotte

3-6 , 2-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Charlotte

Tulsa

Photo by: BRETT ROJO, For the University of Tulsa

Tulsa Falls to Charlotte in OT, 33-26

11/4/2023 9:14:00 PM | Football

Box Score Photo Gallery

GAME STATS I POSTGAME NOTES I POSTGAME QUOTES I PHOTO GALLERY

TULSA, Okla. –– Tulsa took a 17-0 lead early, but Charlotte came back for a 33-26 overtime victory in front of a Homecoming crowd of 20,151 fans as H.A. Chapman Stadium.

The Hurricane scored twice on Cardell Williams runs in the first quarter for a 14-0 lead and added a field goal to take a 17-0 lead with just over 10 minutes remaining in the first half. Williams would leave the game in the quarter and not return due to injury. He ended with 51 rushing yards and two TDs, while completing 6-of-11 passes for 61 yards.

Charlotte added 10 points in the final five minutes of the half, cutting its deficit to seven points at the intermission.

The 49ers scored the first eight points of the second half to take an 18-17 lead, but the Hurricane quickly responded with a one-yard Anthony Watkins with 5:03 left on the game clock. Charlotte marched down the field in just 0:40 for a three-point 26-23 lead before Tulsa forced the overtime on a 0:54 drive that saw chase Meyer knock through a 25-yard field goal to tie the game with 0:05 on the clock.

The game ended when Tulsa couldn't respond to Charlotte's TD on the first possession of the extra period.

The Hurricane ended the game with 273 rushing yards, led by Anthony Watkins' career-high 146 yards and one TD. Tulsa tallied 412 total yards, while Charlotte had a slight edge in total offense with 431 yards.

Tulsa goes on the road next week to New Orleans to face the league-leading Tulane Green Wave in an 11 a.m. game on Saturday.

1^st Quarter Breakdown
•      Tulsa took its second possession 82 yards in eight plays as Cardell Williams ran the final nine yards for the score.
•      On Tulsa's next possession, Williams scored again on a nine-yard run to culminate a 75-yard, 11-play drive and give Tulsa a 14-0 lead
•      Tulsa had a 159-to-34-yard edge in the quarter.

2^nd Quarter Breakdown
•      Tulsa opened the quarter with a 27-yard field goal to take a 17-0 lead at the 11:47 mark.
•      Charlotte scored the next 10 points in the period and had a 139 to 72-yard advantage in total yards
•      The 49ers scored on a 22-yard field goal and one-yard TD

3^rd Quarter Breakdown
•      The two teams combined for only 107 yards of total offense, while Charlotte scored five points on a safety and field goal.
•      The 49ers blocked a Tulsa punt out of the end zone for two points at the 10:14 mark and added a 23-yard field goal with 0:23 left in the period.
•     The quarter ended with Tulsa holding a 17-15 lead.

4^th Quarter Breakdown
•      Charlotte scored its 18th straight point on a 49-yard field goal at the 10:38 mark to take a one-point lead at 18-17.
•      Tulsa responded with a 14-play, 68-yard drive that saw Anthony Watkins cross the goal line on a one-yard TD run to put Tulsa ahead 23-18.
•      Tulsa's two-point conversion attempt failed.
•      Watkins carries the final seven plays of the drive for 44 yards.
•      It took Charlotte only 0:40 to retake the lead at 26023 on a TD toss and two-point conversion with just 0:59 left in the game.
•      With less than a minute remaining, the Hurricane responded with a 66-yard, eight-play drive that ended in a 27-yard Chase Meyer field goal. True freshman quarterback Kirk Francis led Tulsa to the score.

Overtime
•     Tulsa won the toss and selected to play defense.
•     The 49ers took only three plays to cross the goal line and take a 33-26 lead.
•     Tulsa failed to convert on its overtime possession as the game ended on a Charlotte interception.