Tulsa Falls in Season Finale

Saturday, November 30

H.A. Chapman Stadium

2:30 pm

Tulsa

Florida Atlantic

Photo by: BRETT ROJO, For the University of Tulsa

Tulsa Falls in Season Finale

11/30/2024 6:58:00 PM | Football

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TULSA, Okla. –– Tulsa's season came to a close Saturday afternoon with a 63-16 loss to the FAU Owls in front of 15,243 fans at H.A. Chapman Stadium. Both teams finished the year at 3-9 overall and 1-8 in American Athletic Conference play.

Tulsa's first-half struggles continued, while the visiting Owls exploded for 42 first-half points, bettering its highest point total for a single game this year by one.

After a 7-2 first quarter FAU lead, the Owls defense ignited the visitors with an interception that amounted to a 16-yard score and a 14-2 lead to start the second period. The Owls proceeded to score on its next four offensive possessions for 28 second-quarter points.

Tulsa, playing for the first time under interim coach Ryan Switzer, scored its lone first-half touchdown on the final drive before halftime to make the score 42-9 at the intermission. The Hurricane score came on a Kirk Francis to Luke McGary 10-yard strike.

FAU scored 21 second-half points to Tulsa's seven points to close out the scoring, as the Hurricane touchdown came on a 21-yard Francis pass to Kamdyn Benjamin.

For the game, six of FAU's eight offensive touchdowns were on scoring plays of more than 20 yards, totaling 28, 22, 78,93, 76 and 55 yards.

The visiting Owls gained 665 yards of total offense while 361 of those came on eight scoring plays. Tulsa gained 351 total yards, including 64 yards on the ground and 287 through the air as Francis completed 19-of-31 passes for 226 yards and two TDs in a reserve role.

Defensively, linebacker Chris Thompson Jr. led the way for the Hurricane with seven tackles, two TFL for -9 yards, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

1^st Quarter Breakdown
•       After holding Tulsa to 3-and-out on the game's first possession, FAU went 72 yards in 7 plays for a 7-0 lead at the 9:29 mark.
•     Tula's defense put the first points on the board for the Hurricane with a safety on a tackle by Zach Marcheselli to make the score 7-2 with 5:41 remaining in the quarter.
•     FAU outgained Tulsa in the first quarter 69 to 17 total yards enroute to a 7-2 lead

2^nd Quarter Breakdown
•       FAU's Daedae Hill's 16-yard interception return on Tulsa's first second period possession gave the Owls a 14-2 lead at the 12:57 mark of the quarter.
•     The Owls took a 21-2 lead on a 22-yard Gemari Sands run to cap a 68-yard, 5-play drive with 9"03 left in the period.
•     Kirk Francis' first snap at quarterback saw him complete a 43-yard pass to Grayson Tempest to put Tulsa at the FAU 32-yard line, however, Tulsa's eventual 40-yard field goal attempt went wide right.
• FAU made the score 28-2 at the 54:07 mark on a CJ Campbell 78-yard reception off a screen pass from Tyriq Starks.
• FAU scored on its next possession as Xavier Terrell took the first play 93 yards for a 35-2 lead with 3:38 remaining in the quarter.•       The Owls had its third explosive play for a touchdown when Starks hit Jabari Smith for 76 yards, making it FAU's second straight possession to score on the first play from scrimmage and putting the visitor's ahead 42-2 with 2:12 left before halftime.
• Tulsa scored its first DT with 0:10 left in the first half on a 10-yard toss from Kirk Francis to Luke McGary, cutting its halftime deficit to 42-9.
•     FAU had a 319 to 170-yard advantage in total offense for the second period, while outscoring Tulsa 35 to 7 in the quarter.

3^rd Quarter Breakdown
•       FAU made it 49-9 at the 9:07 mark of the quarter when Starks connected with CJ Campbell on a 15-yard toss in the end zone.
•       Tula responded with a 6-play, 70-yard scoring drive in taking just 1:46 off the clock, as Francis' 21-yard pass to Kamdyn Benjamin made the score 49-16.
•     The Owls returned Tulsa's score with its fourth scoring play of 55 yards or more when Xavier Terrell raced 55 yards, capping a 4-play, 75-yard drive to make the score 56-16.

4^th Quarter Breakdown
•       FAU scored the only points of the final quarter to make the score 63-16 when the Owls went 60 yards in 13 plays.