Houston defense denies upset bid by Tulsa
The Sports Xchange
Oct 15, 2016
HOUSTON -- Emeke Egbule returned a fumble 24 yards for a touchdown with 1:21 remaining and 13th-ranked Houston escaped with a 38-31 victory over Tulsa on Saturday night at TDECU Stadium.
Houston safety Garrett Davis forced a fumble from Tulsa quarterback Dane Evans as Evans scrambled in the pocket to avoid pressure. Egbule scooped up the loose ball and followed a convoy into the end zone to give the Cougars (6-1, 3-1 American) the win.
Tulsa (4-2, 1-1) mounted one last gasp, moving inside the Houston 5-yard line before Cougars safeties Austin Robinson and Khalil Williams combined to tackle Jesse Brubaker at the 1-yard line on the final play from scrimmage. Game officials reviewed the play and determined that Brubaker did not cross the goal line.
Trailing by 14 points for a second time, and after Houston set season highs for number of plays (18) and time of possession (7:50) while surging to a 31-17 lead, Tulsa struck quickly to pull even just as they did down the stretch of the first half.
Evans and the Golden Hurricane moved quickly to slice the deficit in half, covering 65 yards in four plays, with the final 38 yards coming on an Evans-to-Justin Hobbs touchdown pass with 7:03 remaining. That scoring drive required just 68 seconds and, after forcing the Cougars into a three-and-out, Tulsa struck with haste again.
Tulsa needed just 1:53 to pull even at 31-31, with James Flanders scoring on a 3-yard touchdown run with 3:31 remaining.
Evans passed for 365 yards and a touchdown while Houston quarterback Greg Ward Jr. passed for 254 yards and added a game-high 142 rushing yards.
Following a brisk eight-play, 76-yard scoring drive on its opening possession and another 11-play, 81-yard march that concluded with a 6-yard touchdown run from Mulbah Car just 53 seconds into the second quarter, Houston led 17-3 and appeared in complete control. But with 6:38 left in the half, Cougars running back Dillon Birden fumbled, and the Golden Hurricane immediately seized momentum.
Tulsa mounted scoring drives of 69 and 74 yards, converting three third downs on the first touchdown march and two on the second. Tulsa converted 8 of 11 third downs in the first half and, after being on the verge of falling into a three-score hole, pulled even with Evans scored on a 1-yard plunge with 13 seconds left in the half.
NOTES: Houston RB Duke Catalon remained sidelined with a concussion after suffering a setback last week in practice. Catalon, who practiced in a non-contact yellow jersey, remained symptomatic for a concussion and has played in just three games this season. ... Tulsa freshman RB Corey Taylor scored on his first career carry, a 2-yard touchdown with 2:55 remaining in the second quarter. ... Cougars DB Terrell Williams was ejected for targeting following his hit on Tulsa WR Keenan Johnson midway through the second quarter. ... With 19 passing yards on the second Golden Hurricane drive of the game, Tulsa QB Dane Evans bypassed G.J. Kinne (9,472 yards from 2009-11) for second place in program annals.
Oct 15, 2016
HOUSTON -- Emeke Egbule returned a fumble 24 yards for a touchdown with 1:21 remaining and 13th-ranked Houston escaped with a 38-31 victory over Tulsa on Saturday night at TDECU Stadium.
Houston safety Garrett Davis forced a fumble from Tulsa quarterback Dane Evans as Evans scrambled in the pocket to avoid pressure. Egbule scooped up the loose ball and followed a convoy into the end zone to give the Cougars (6-1, 3-1 American) the win.
Tulsa (4-2, 1-1) mounted one last gasp, moving inside the Houston 5-yard line before Cougars safeties Austin Robinson and Khalil Williams combined to tackle Jesse Brubaker at the 1-yard line on the final play from scrimmage. Game officials reviewed the play and determined that Brubaker did not cross the goal line.
Trailing by 14 points for a second time, and after Houston set season highs for number of plays (18) and time of possession (7:50) while surging to a 31-17 lead, Tulsa struck quickly to pull even just as they did down the stretch of the first half.
Evans and the Golden Hurricane moved quickly to slice the deficit in half, covering 65 yards in four plays, with the final 38 yards coming on an Evans-to-Justin Hobbs touchdown pass with 7:03 remaining. That scoring drive required just 68 seconds and, after forcing the Cougars into a three-and-out, Tulsa struck with haste again.
Tulsa needed just 1:53 to pull even at 31-31, with James Flanders scoring on a 3-yard touchdown run with 3:31 remaining.
Evans passed for 365 yards and a touchdown while Houston quarterback Greg Ward Jr. passed for 254 yards and added a game-high 142 rushing yards.
Following a brisk eight-play, 76-yard scoring drive on its opening possession and another 11-play, 81-yard march that concluded with a 6-yard touchdown run from Mulbah Car just 53 seconds into the second quarter, Houston led 17-3 and appeared in complete control. But with 6:38 left in the half, Cougars running back Dillon Birden fumbled, and the Golden Hurricane immediately seized momentum.
Tulsa mounted scoring drives of 69 and 74 yards, converting three third downs on the first touchdown march and two on the second. Tulsa converted 8 of 11 third downs in the first half and, after being on the verge of falling into a three-score hole, pulled even with Evans scored on a 1-yard plunge with 13 seconds left in the half.
NOTES: Houston RB Duke Catalon remained sidelined with a concussion after suffering a setback last week in practice. Catalon, who practiced in a non-contact yellow jersey, remained symptomatic for a concussion and has played in just three games this season. ... Tulsa freshman RB Corey Taylor scored on his first career carry, a 2-yard touchdown with 2:55 remaining in the second quarter. ... Cougars DB Terrell Williams was ejected for targeting following his hit on Tulsa WR Keenan Johnson midway through the second quarter. ... With 19 passing yards on the second Golden Hurricane drive of the game, Tulsa QB Dane Evans bypassed G.J. Kinne (9,472 yards from 2009-11) for second place in program annals.
