George Clinkscale and Kenny D. Sims pull down Arkansas wide receiver Joe Adams during the second quarter. (AP Photo) |
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Tulsa Falls to Razorbacks 30-23
Nov. 1, 2008
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Fayetteville, Ark. - Tulsa's undefeated season came to an end across the border as the Arkansas Razorbacks claimed a 30-23 victory over Tulsa in front of 70,021 yards at Razorback Stadium. The Golden Hurricane fell to 8-1, while Arkansas improved to 4-5 on the season.
The Razorbacks held the Hurricane to a season-low 23 points and forced three Tulsa turnovers, while tallying a season-best of its own of 30 points and 385 passing yards. However, the Hurricane defense didn't allow a touchdown drive in the second half, and held the Hogs to 131 second-half total yards.
Arkansas came out and played very aggressively on both sides of the ball. Hats off to Coach Petrino and his staff. They had their guys ready to play today. The crowd was unbelievable. This is a very difficult atmosphere to come into and play," said Tulsa Head Coach Todd Graham.
Tulsa trailed at halftime 23-20, then knotted the score at 23 with just with just 0:36 left in the third period. But, on the subsequent kickoff Dennis Johnson took the kick 96 yards for a 30-23 lead.
"That kickoff return killed us. It was the difference in the game," said Graham. "If you would have told me at halftime that we would not give up an offensive touchdown in the second half, I would have liked our chances to win. I didn't expect that kick return to happen, but give credit to Arkansas for executing."
After a Roy Roberts interception in the UA end zone with 3:04 left on the game clock, Tulsa drove to the Arkansas four-yard line but couldn't get the score, thus turning the ball over to the Razorbacks after a 73-yard, eight play drive, ended Tulsa's chances of a score.
Tulsa threw for 322 yards, while gaining184 yards on the ground for a total of 528 yards, while Arkansas managed 435 total yards of offense. David Johnson completed 17-of-31 passes for 322 yards and one TD, while Charles Clay had a team-high 117 receiving yards and one TD on seven catches, while also rushing for 31 yards and one TD.
It wasn't until 0:36 was left on the third quarter clock that either team put any second half points on the board, as Tulsa went 80 yards in 15 plays, but had to settle for a 22-yard Jarod Tracy field goal. Tulsa knotted the score 23-23, but Arkansas erased the tie quickly with the 96-yard return by Johnson to take the lead again.
Arkansas took the opening kickoff 80 yards in nine plays as Casey Dick threw 13 yards to Andrew Davis for the score. After a three-and-out for the Hurricane, the Razorbacks scored on its next possession at the 5:57 mark of the first quarter with an Alex Tejada 30-yard field goal.
The Razorbacks took a 17-0 lead with 2:32 left in the first quarter when Michael Smith ran in from seven yards for the score, capping a seven-play, 65-yard drive.
Tulsa scored its first points of the game on a Jacob Bower 22-yard pass to Trae Johnson in the end zone. It was the first career TD pass for Bower and the third this year for Johnson.
The Hurricane cut the Hogs lead to four points on a 28-yard run by Charles Clay, but the Jarod Tracy PAT missed. The score came at the 8:09 mark of the second quarter and cut the Arkansas lead to 17-13.
Arkansas responded with an 80-yard drive to go ahead 20-13 at the 4:39 mark of the second quarter, as the Hogs went 75 yards in eight plays as Tejada knocked thru his second field goal, this time from 22 yards.
Tulsa put together another quick scoring drive after an 81-yard return by Damaris Johnson put the Hurricane on the Arkansas 15-yard line. Four plays later, David Johnson threw the final two yards to Charles Clay for the touchdown, while Tracy's PAT knotted the score at 20.
The Razorbacks took the subsequent possession 55 yards in 13 plays to take a 23-20 lead into halftime as Tejada hit his third field goal of the game.
At halftime, Arkansas held a 304 to 229-yard advantage against the team with the nation's leading offense. The Hogs also had a 19:51 to 1:09 advantage in time of possession.
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