Breaking Down Tulsa's Win Over Houston

Originally Published: Nov 14, 2010 10:40 PM CDT

Bobby Lewis
Oklahoma Sports Reporter

TULSA, Oklahoma – On a night that could have ended in major disappointment, Tulsa’s defense found a way to win on the road against a team that has had their number lately. The Golden Hurricane gave up the momentum in the fourth quarter, but managed to make enough plays down the stretch to top rival Houston 28-25. With the win, Tulsa set themselves up for a serious run at the Conference USA championship.

OFFENSE: B+
It was, very plainly, the G.J. Kinne show against Houston.

Kinne said after the game that he was going to do whatever it took to beat Houston. He did that, and much more. The junior quarterback rushed for 190 yards against the Cougars. That is the third-highest rushing total for a quarterback in school history. (2nd - Steve Gage, 206 yards vs. Wichita State in 1985, 1st – Gage, 212 yards vs. New Mexico in 1986)

Kinne did throw two first half interceptions after going five straight games without a turnover through the air. The pick snapped a streak of 194 passes thrown without an interception.

His two passing touchdowns gave him 44 for his career. They were the 21st and 22nd of the year for Kinne, and moved him into a fifth-place tie on the single-season touchdown passes list in Tulsa history.

DEFENSE: A+
Tulsa allowed 409 yards against Houston, but the overall performance was much better than that number might indicate. The biggest number of the night was 5, as in the number of interceptions by Golden Hurricane defenders.

Marco Nelson, the sensational freshman, picked off three David Piland passes in the game, including the one that sealed the game for Tulsa late in the fourth quarter. Curnelius Arnick’s two second quarter picks were the first of his career, and the difference in the game. Both came deep in Cougars territory and lead to 14 points for Tulsa.

The running backs for Houston were hassled all night by the Tulsa front four. The unit combined for five of the team’s six tackles for loss and put a lot of pressure on Piland. Two of Piland’s five interceptions were because the quarterback was forced to throw the ball away before he was ready. On his second pick of the game, Piland was hit as he threw. On his final, and decisive, interception, Piland hurried the throw because he was about to be taken to the ground. The ball sailed over the head of his receiver and right into Nelson’s chest.

SPECIAL TEAMS: A
With 61 more kickoff return yards on Saturday, junior Damaris Johnson is now just three yards shy of tying the all-time record for career kickoff return yardage.

Punter Michael Such did a great job of controlling field position against the Cougars. Such booted five punts, and dropped two of them inside the 20-yard line, forced two fair catches and also slammed a touchback.

OVERALL: A-
When the game started to get out of control, Tulsa’s defense saved the day. After Houston cut the lead to 28-25, the Golden Hurricane got the ball back on a Nelson interception and ran out the clock. They held the ball for nearly 13 minutes in the fourth quarter and ran out the clock on the Cougars’ C-USA title chances.

The win means Tulsa is tied for first place in the western division with SMU. The Ponies have the tie-breaker advantage over the Golden Hurricane but have a much more difficult schedule to end the season.

SMU hosts Marshall (4-6, 3-3) and ends the season at East Carolina (6-4, 5-1). Tulsa gets two home games to end the season against UTEP (6-5, 3-4) and Southern Miss (7-3, 4-2). Tulsa hasn’t lost a home game this season and is winning by over 26 points per game.