Tulsa Offense Struggles in Loss to SMU

Kinne, Golden Hurricane struggled to put points on the board in 21-18 battle against Mustangs.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 11:58 am

By: News On 6

Originally Published: Oct 9, 2010 8:52 PM CDT

Grant Belcher
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

DALLAS – After Tulsa’s explosive offensive outings the past two games, it was almost as if a different team showed up for Saturday’s game against SMU.

And that different team put up its worst offensive performance of the season in a 21-18 loss to the Mustangs.

The Golden Hurricane’s only two touchdowns on the game were both rushing touchdowns, and came – ironically – from quarterback G.J. Kinne.

Kinne and his team got off to a quick start with a 7-play, 47-yard drive, capped by a six-yard rushing touchdown to give his team an early 7-0 lead.

But that was about the only good thing for the TU offense.

Its next six possessions resulted in three punts, a turnover, a field goal and the clock running out on the first half. Meanwhile, Kinne overshot receivers as a number of throws were too high or too far for his wide open targets.

The momentum shifted dramatically in Southern Methodist’s favor toward the end of the first half.

Tulsa pinned the Mustangs at their own one-yard line on a punt, but SMU proceeded to drive 99 yards in eight plays to give itself a 14-7 halftime lead.

That momentum carried over to the second half, with the Mustangs scoring on their first drive in the third quarter, going 76 yards on just four plays to take a 21-10 lead.

After a 30-yard field goal in the third, TU took over possession at the end of the fourth and engineered its second – and final – touchdown drive. Kinne ran the ball in and then converted for two points to pull the Golden Hurricane to within three at 21-18.

But the defense could not hold the Mustangs in the final three minutes and the clock melted away, giving Tulsa its second conference loss and third overall loss of the season.

Kinne, who was among the nation’s leaders in passing through the first five games, had easily his roughest game of the year so far. He was 20-of-41 for 229 yards and no passing touchdowns.

Alex Singleton led the ground attack for Tulsa, but its production was mediocre at best. Singleton led the team with 46 yards, but 38 of those were on a single rush.

Tulsa running back Trey Watts and receiver Damaris Johnson left the game with injuries and received treatment in the first quarter. Johnson returned several plays later, but Watts sat the rest of the game.

SMU (4-2 overall) improved to 3-0 in conference for first time in 24 years.

Tulsa dropped to 3-3 and 1-2. The Golden Hurricane will return home next Saturday to host Tulane for its homecoming.