TU Football Loses Triple-OT Heartbreaker To Texas State

The Tulsa Golden Hurricane battled back from a 17-3 hole but ended up suffering a heartbreaking 37-34 triple-overtime loss to Texas State on Saturday.

Texas State led 7-0 at halftime and both teams looked a little asleep. But that chsnged in a hurry in the second half. The Bobcats dashed down the field on an eight-play, 72-yard drive to take a 14-0 lead.

Tulsa answered right back with a Carl Salazar 20-yard field goal to get on the board. After getting a stop, TU marched right back down the field on its next drive but was denied at the one yard line.

It looked like time was running low on Tulsa as the game turned to the fourth quarter and Texas State held a 17-3 lead, but TU finally found the end zone. Dane Evans hit Conner Floyd for a 17-yard touchdown and the Golden Hurricane was within seven.

After getting another stop, TU got it back with a little more than seven minutes remaining. The Golden Hurricane then put together a whopping 17-play, 75-yard drive and scored the game-tying touchdown with just ten seconds remaining. Dane Evans snuck it in on fourth and goal to tie the game and force overtime.

TU struck first in overtime when Evans hit Keevan Lucas for a 10-yard score. After converting two fourth downs to keep the game alive, the Bobcats tied it up when Tyler Jones found Jafus Gains in the end zone.

All tied at 24, we headed to a second OT. Texas State got it first and marched right in for seven. TU had to answer, and did. Zack Langer pounded it in from four yards away and we were going to a third overtime.

Tulsa got it first and had to settle for a Salazar field goal – which meant Texas State had a chance for the win. And on 3rd and 11, Jones found Bradley Miller for a 24-yard hookup down to the two. The Bobcats ran it in on the next play and escaped Chapman Stadium with a wild nonconference win.

Evans finished with 234 yards and two touchdowns while receivers Lucas and Keyarris Garrett had big days yet again. Lucas hauled in nine balls for 67 yards and a score while Garrett finished with eight grabs for 117 yards.

James Flanders carried 21 times for 112 yards to lead the TU ground attack, while Langer rumbled his way for 82 yards.

The Golden Hurricane fell to 1-3 on the season but remains undefeated (1-0) in American Athletic Conference play. TU beat Tulane on opening weekend and will get back into conference play in two weeks at Temple. Tulsa travels to Colorado State next Saturday.