by TULSA, Okla. – The fourth-ranked Oklahoma Sooners claimed a 52-7 victory against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane in front of 29,357 fans Saturday afternoon at H.A. Chapman Stadium.
The Sooners out-gained Tulsa for the game, 580-328, but in the second half TU tallied 288 yards to OU’s 184 yards.
Tulsa came out of halftime and took the second-half kickoff 75 yards in 3:18 for the only Hurricane touchdown of the game, cutting the Sooners lead to 31-7. Quarterback Dane Evans (Wichita and Affiliated Tribes) completed 4-of-6 passes for 46 yards on that drive including the final four yards to Keevan Lucas for the touchdown.
Oklahoma responded on its next possession and went 69 yards in six plays as Keith Ford ran the final 23 yards for the score. On Tulsa’s next possession, Oklahoma’s Geneo Grissom took an interception 38 yards to give the Sooners a 45-7 lead with 8:32 left on the third quarter clock.
In the third period, Tulsa out-gained the Sooners 152-139. Evans tossed for 106 of his 204 total yards in the third quarter, while James Flanders collected 29 of his team-leading 54 rushing yards in the period. For the second straight game, Lucas tallied double digit receptions, catching 10 passes for 84 yards and the score. He has four touchdown catches in two games.
OU went ahead 52-7 at the 14:56 mark of the fourth period after marching 99 yards in 10 plays and capping the drive on a 15-yard Trevor Knight to Sterling Shepard completion.
The Sooners wasted little time in putting the first points on the scoreboard, starting the day with a three-play, 81-yard drive as Keith Ford ran the final seven yards for the score. A 54-yard pass play on the first snap put the Sooners at the Tulsa 27-yard line.
Oklahoma scored on its third possession with a 31-yard Trevor Knight run capping a six-play, 72-yard run at the 6:35 mark of the first period. The Sooners added their third score of the first quarter after a 12-play, 81-yard drive as Knight connected with Blake Bell on a three-yard touchdown toss for a 21-0 lead.
Michael Hunnicutt added a 38-yard field goal for Oklahoma at the 12:04 mark of the second period.
After a Tulsa fumble stopped a Hurricane drive that reached the Oklahoma 10-yard line, OU’s Alex Ross ran 82 yards on the first play to put the Sooners ahead 31-0 with 6:13 remaining in the first half.
The Sooners showed their first-half dominance, outgaining the Hurricane 396 to 95, while 211 came through the air and 185 yards on the ground.
Tulsa goes on the road next week for another non-conference game in the first-ever meeting against Florida Atlantic. Game time is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. CT, and is set to be televised on Fox College Sports.
