Tulsa Goes to the Pacific Northwest for Matchup Against No. 8 Washington

TULSA VISITS NO. 8 WASHINGTON FOR FIRST-TIME EVER MEETING

GAME 2: TULSA (1-0, 0-0 American) vs. WASHINGTON (1-0, 0-0 PAC 12)
Date/Time:	Saturday, September 9, 4:00 p.m. (CT) / 2:00 p.m. (PT)
Site:	Seattle, Washington
Stadium:	Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium (70,138)
Coaches:	TULSA – Kevin Wilson (North Carolina '84), 1st year WASHINGTON – Kalen Deboer (Sioux Falls '98), 2nd year
TV:	PAC-12 Network
Talent:	Ted Robinson (pxp), Yogi Roth (analyst)
Tickets:	CLICK HERE
Radio:	Big Country 99.5 FM or Online
Talent:	Bruce Howard (pxp), Rick Couri (analyst), Jeremie Poplin (sideline)
Live Stats:	Live Stats
Series:	First Meeting
Game Notes:	Tulsa \| Washington \| American Athletic Conference

SEATTLE, Wash. –– The Tulsa Golden Hurricane traveled nearly 2,000 miles for Saturday's matchup against the nation's eighth-ranked Washington Huskies at 70,138-seat Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. local time/ 4 p.m. (CT).

Both teams are coming off impressive home victories last weekend, Tulsa defeating Arkansas Pine Bluff on Thursday night 42-7 in the Tulsa debut of head coach Kevin Wilson, while Washington captured a 56-19 win over Boise State on Saturday.

The two schools have been playing football going back to before 1900, as Washington's first game came in 1889 and Tulsa's first season was six years later in 1895. This is the first meeting between the two schools on the gridiron.

After posting an 11-2 record last year in Kalen Deboer's first as head coach, the Huskies have national championship aspirations behind Heisman Trophy candidate Michael Penix Jr. The senior quarterback completed 72.5 percent of his passes for 450 yards and five TDs a week ago. He connected with eight receivers, two for more than 100 yards and a third five yards shy of the century mark.

Rome Odunze had 132 yards and one TD on seven receptions, Ja'Lynn Polk 101 yards and one score on eight catches and Jalen McMillan 95 yards and two TDs on seven receptions.

Although capable, the UW run game gained only 78 yards in the opener but rushed just 19 times on the day.

A week ago, the Hurricane held UAPB to under 300 total yards, but this week will be a stiffer test against an efficient and explosive Husky offense. It was an solid defensive effort for the Hurricane as 13 players had their hand in on 12 stops for -54 yards.

Ben Kopenski and Owen Ostroski brought pressure from the edge and combined for 5.5 TFL for -29 yards, including 3.5 of those quarterback sacks. Kopenski ended with 10 tackles and Ostroski with six, both career-highs for the duo. Jayden Simon and Everitt Rogers used their size to clog the middle of the line of scrimmage, collecting eight tackles between the.

Safety Kendarin Ray and linebacker Mitchell Kulkin were also active for the Hurricane with 10 and eight stops, respectively.

Tulsa's offense showed great balance last week with 260 yards coming on the ground and 257 through the airways, with most of that coming from the arm of backup Cardell Williams. The redshirt freshman made his first collegiate appearance and responded by completing 93-percent of his passes (13-of-14) for 233 yards and tied a freshman school record with three touchdowns. This week the Hurricane hopes to see starter Braylon Braxton back behind center against the Huskies. Braxton completed just 1-of-4 passes before suffering his injury a week ago.

Receivers Marquis Shoulders and Devan Williams were Tulsa's top two receivers, totaling 132 and 61 receiving yards, while Shoulders hauled in two touchdown passes, including a long of 80 yards.

The run game saw five Hurricane backs get touches against Pine Bluff, as starter Jordan Ford led the way with 110 yards and one TD. Anthony Watkins and Bill Jackson each rushed for 7.7 yards per carry, as Watkins totaled 69 on nine carries and Jackson 54 yards on seven attempts.

Tulsa's offensive front, which averages 6'4", 310 pounds, will have its hands full with a Husky defensive line with tremendous size and ability. Up front, four of the five starters have transferred into Tulsa, but all five starters have previous starting experience in a Tulsa uniform. The tight end position saw five players, led by Luke McGary and Ethan Hall, see action in the opener a week ago.

The Washington defense returns five players who have earned Pac-12 honors during their careers.

Tuli Letuligasenoa, who led all UW defensive linemen last year with 30 tackles, anchors the interior with 327-pound tackle Ulumoo Ale, who is just in his second year on the front line after moving from the offensive side of the ball.

On the edge, Bralen Trice was named preseason All-America by several publications after earning first-team all-league honors last year. He is joined by honorable mention all-Pac 12 defensive end Zion Tupuola-Fetui. Linebackers Edefuan Ulofoshio and Alphonzo Tuputala were both named to this year's Pac-12 preseason team.

Ulofoshio had six stops and one sack for -3 yards in the opening win over Boise State, while Tuputala added three tackles.

In the secondary, safety Asa Turner earned all-conference merits in2022 after totaling the team's fourth-most tackles with 52. Fellow safety Dominique Hampton had a team-high seven tackles last week., while corner Davon Banks totaled a team-best four pass breakups.

The forecast appears to be one with sunny skies and temperatures in the 70s when kickoff strikes at 2:30 p.m (PT).

The game will be aired on the Pac-12 Network, and Tulsa fans can listen on the Golden Hurricane Radio Network, locally in the Tulsa area on Big Country 99.5 FM.

Tulsa Goes to the Pacific Northwest for Matchup Against No. 8 Washington

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Braylon Braxton

Jordan Ford

Ethan Hall

Bill Jackson

Ben Kopenski

Mitchell Kulkin

Luke McGary

Owen Ostroski

Kendarin Ray

Everitt Rogers

Marquis Shoulders

Jayden Simon

Anthony Watkins

Cardell Williams

Devan Williams

Tulsa Goes to the Pacific Northwest for Matchup Against No. 8 Washington

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Braylon Braxton

Jordan Ford

Ethan Hall

Bill Jackson

Ben Kopenski

Mitchell Kulkin

Luke McGary

Owen Ostroski

Kendarin Ray

Everitt Rogers

Marquis Shoulders

Jayden Simon

Anthony Watkins

Cardell Williams

Devan Williams

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