by TULSA, Okla. – Tulsa’s valiant effort against the East Carolina Pirates fell short, 49-32, Saturday night in front of 15,126 fans at H.A. Chapman Stadium. Tulsa finished the season 2-10 overall and 2-6 in the American Athletic Conference, while East Carolina improved to 8-3 and 5-2 in league play.
Tulsa took a 14-7 lead in the first quarter, but the Pirates’ late second quarter score gave East Carolina a 21-14 halftime lead. The Hurricane scored 11 points in the third quarter to cut the ECU lead to three points, 28-25, but the Pirates scored the next 21 points before the Hurricane added another touchdown making the score 49-32 with 6:41 remaining in the contest.
The Hurricane gained 388 yards, 199 passing and 189 on the ground, while the nation’s third-ranked offense put up 510 yards, 37 yards below its season average. East Carolina had 172 rushing yards and 338 passing yards for the game.
Tulsa’s James Flanders rushed for 97 yards and one TD, while Dane Evans passes for 199 yards and had a TD toss in his 12th game this year. Evans found Keevan Lucas six times for 85 yards and Keyarris Garrett three times for 62 yards and one touchdown. East Carolina’s Shane Carden completed 28-of-41 passes for 338 yards and four TDs, while Chris Hairston led the ground game for the Pirates with 91 yards.
It was also a night for some Tulsa seniors to step up with big plays. Luke Snider blocked a punt that resulted in Tulsa’s second touchdown. Jake Sizelove had a career-high 14 tackles. Dwight Dobbins intercepted a Carden pass for a 15-yard return. Chris Hummingbird (Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma) had a sack
Head coach Bill Blankenship said, “We had the seniors that played their last game tonight, we had a little bit of a senior moment. At different times, people stepped up and made plays. Chris Hummingbird gets a sack. Luke Snider blocked a punt. Dwight Dobbins picked up an interception, DeMarco Nelson played all over the place. Davis Walton had a really good game on the offensive line, and I’m probably leaving guys out. You really want our guys to go out fighting and swinging, and I thought we did. I thought we stood in there and played very well and aggressively against a very good football team. Shane Carden, I think he’s one of the best in college football right now, he and Justin Hardy and that crew, but I do think that we have some young ones who have a chance to be like those guys. Again, hats off to Ruffin, class act, and again, we’ll move forward.”
