Golden Hurricane Rolls Past Tulane

Gerald Goodridge, NewsOn6.com

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana -- After a slow start, the Tulsa passing game got going in the second half, lifting the Golden Hurricane to a 31-3 win over the Tulane Green Wave in the conference opener Saturday.

Both teams traded field goals in the first quarter, and struggled to put together anything of significance on the offensive side of the ball. It wasn't until late in the second quarter that the Golden Hurricane offense seemed to find its rhythm.

Surprisingly, most of the work was done via the ground game. Tulsa took over on its own 27-yard line and rattled off back-to-back rushes to bring up 3rd and one on the 36. Junior running back Alex Singleton took the third-down handoff off-tackle right and went 46 yards, putting the Golden Hurricane on the Tulane 18-yard line.

Two plays later G.J. Kinne connected with Bryan Burnham for a five-yard touchdown pass to cap off a six-play drive and put TU up 10-3.

Electing to receive the ball at the start of the second half, TU strung together a long drive to start the half and seize the momentum. Seven plays in, Kinne hit Willie Carter for a 10-yard completion to take the ball down to the one. Singleton punched it in on the next play to put the Golden Hurricane on ahead 14 points.

To start the fourth quarter, Kinne hooked up with Burnham for another score, this time a 40-yard strike to take a 24-3 lead just nine seconds into the fourth quarter.

Three minutes later, Tulsa took over with good field position, starting their drive from its own 34-yard line. Kinne completed two slant passes, with rushes by Singleton and Trey Watts mixed in, to make it first and goal from the Tulane five-yard line. Three-plays later, Kinne hit Clay Sears with a one-yard pass to put the Golden Hurricane up 31-3, ending the day for the TU starters.

Kinne finished the game with 241 yard and three touchdowns, completing 21 of his 28 pass attempts for a 75 percent completion percentage. Burnham was his most frequent target of the night, hauling in seven passes for 94 yards and two scores.

The Golden Hurricane now has to prepare for yet another Top-10 matchup against an in-state rival, taking on No. 9 Oklahoma State at 9 p.m. Sept. 7 at Chapman Stadium.