Golden Hurricane Comes Up Short at Arkansas State

Saturday, September 7

State University, AR

6 p.m.

Tulsa

1-1 , 0-0

Arkansas State

2-0 , 0-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Tulsa

Arkansas State

Photo by: Photo by Mark Moore/Darkhorse Photograph ©

Golden Hurricane Comes Up Short at Arkansas State

9/7/2024 10:56:00 PM | Football

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JONESBORO, Ark. — The Arkansas State Red Wolves held off the Tulsa offense in the fourth quarter to beat the Golden Hurricane 28-24 in front of more than 19,000 fans at Centennial Bank Stadium on Saturday evening.

Tulsa falls to 1-1 on the season, while Arkansas State improves to 2-0 following back-to-back games to the wire. Tulsa will face a top 20 opponent next weekend when TU hosts Oklahoma State at H.A. Chapman Stadium.

After stopping Arkansas State on fourth down to open the game, it was Tulsa who got the board first with a Seth Morgan field goal from 29 yards out.

The Red Wolves responded with an 84-yard drive in five plays to go up 7-3. TU would hold Arkansas State off the scoreboard for the remainder of the opening half.

Arkansas State was threatening to extend its lead entering the second quarter, but Dayne Hodge ended the threat with his first interception of the season.

Kamdyn Benjamin put Tulsa back ahead with a 39-yard touchdown reception from Kirk Francis, capping a 10-play drive that traveled 90 yards. Later in the quarter, Cardell Williams entered as quarterback late in the second and extended Tulsa's lead with a five-yard TD rush to give Tulsa a 17-7 advantage heading to the lockers.

The hosts overturned their deficit early in the third quarter, scoring in three plays and gaining 63 yards after Francis tossed his first interception of the young season. Then, a booming punt from Angus Davies was returned 77 yards for a touchdown to give ASU a 21-17 lead.

TU would respond, however, going down the field 65 yards on three plays and pushing it in with a 2-yard TD from Anthony Watkins to regain the lead.

Arkansas State closed the scoring with a long 14-play, 79-yard drive. Jaylen Raynor found Corey Rucker for a five-yard TD to go back up 28-24, which would hold as the final.

Kirk Francis got the majority of snaps in week two, throwing 16-of-28 for 199 yards, a touchdown and one interception. Cardell Williams threw one pass, but also found success on the ground, taking it in from five yards out on his lone carry. Cooper Legas entered the game, but did not rush or throw a pass.

Kamdyn Benjamin was the main target, recording 131 of the 199 yards through the air Tulsa totaled. Zion Steptoe had three receptions for 18 yards and Luke McGary caught a pass for 18 yards. Eight different receivers caught a pass on Saturday.

For the second consecutive week, freshman Lloyd Avant led the Hurricane in rushing, gaining 61 yards on 14 carries. Anthony Watkins 46 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries. Bill Jackson had a 37-yard run en route to 42 yards on the evening.

Keuan Parker and Dayne Hodge led the Hurricane in tackling with nine stops each. Hodge added an interception in the contest. Gavin Potter had eight tackles and 1.5 TFL in his return to Jonesboro. Tai Newhouse also had eight. Tyree Carlisle picked up Tulsa's lone sack of the evening.

1st Quarter Breakdown
• Arkansas State got into Tulsa territory on the opening drive, but the TU defense turned the Red Wolves over on downs.
• Seth Morgan connected on his first Tulsa field goal when he knocked a 29-yard kick through to give Tulsa the 3-0 lead with 6:48 remaining in the quarter.
• Arkansas State struck back with a quick five play, 84-yard drive in 1:57 that culminated in a 35- yard touchdown pass to Adam Jones from Jaylen Raynor.
• Tulsa looks poised to retake the lead on the following drive, getting into Arkansas State territory. Bill Jackson took a carry 37 yards down to the ASU one, but fumbled just shy of the goal line and out of bounds for a touchback.
• At the end of the first quarter Arkansas State led 7-3. This was Tulsa's first time to trail at the end of a quarter this season.

2nd Quarter Breakdown
• After being held out of the endzone in the opening quarter, Tulsa had the second quarter's only touchdowns.
• Arkansas State started the second quarter deep in Tulsa territory.
• An Owen Ostroski tackle for loss and a holding penalty moved ASU back to the Tulsa 34 and fored a third and 21.
• Dayne Hodge came up with the team's first defensive turnover of the season, jumping a deep pass and securing the interception at the Tulsa 10.
• Kamdyn Benjamin got free down the middle for a 39-yard touchdown pass from Kirk Francis (9:02).
• Arkansas State muffed an Angus Davies punt and Zion Steptoe recovered, giving the Golden Hurricane possession on the ASU 31.
• Cardell Williams came in for his first appearance of the game and on his third play, kept it himself for a five-yard touchdown run to put Tulsa up 17-7, which would be the halftime score.

3rd Quarter Breakdown
• Arkansas State flipped the game less than five minutes into the third quarter and beginning a period with three lead changes.
• Kirk Francis threw his first interception of the season, intercepted by Trevian Thomas at the Arkansas State 41.
• The Red Wolves scored in three plays, aided by a defensivel pass interference call, and got within three on a Jaylen Raynor quarterback keeper up the middle for 15 yards.
• After a TU three and out, Davies unleashed a strong 58-yard punt. However, Red Wolves returner Courtney Jackson returned the punt 77 yards to give Arkansas State a 21-17 lead.
• The Golden Hurricane marched right back down the field to take the lead back, scoring in three plays and taking 1:19 off the clock.
• A defensive pass interference put the ball on the two yard line, and Anthony Watkins carried it right up the gut for six … Cooper Legas came in the game for his first appearance on the play.
• ASU responded with a 14 play, 79-yard drive that took 6:06 off the game clock to jump ahead again. Ryanor completed the touchdown drive with a pass to Corey, Rucker.
• The score remained Arkansas State 28, Tulsa 24 entering the 4^th quarter.

4th Quarter Breakdown
• Neither team scored in the fourth quarter as Arkansas State held on for the 28-24 win.
• Amieh Williams blocked a 51-yard field goal attempt with 5:38 remaining.
• Tulsa went three and out on the ensuing drive, punting away with 4:40 on the clock. The Hurricane did not receive the ball again.
• Arkansas State picked up two first downs, the second aided by a penalty, to close the game.