Tulsa Blasted By Colorado State

The Tulsa Golden Hurricane dropped a 42-17 decision to Colorado State on Saturday in front of 25,806 fans at Hughes Stadium. Tulsa fell to 1-4 on the season, while the Rams improved to 4-1.

It was again big plays that hampered the Hurricane. Tulsa's defense allowed five plays of over 25 yards in the first half, as CSU turned those five plays into 248 of its 382 first-half yards and three touchdowns. For the game, Colorado State gained 532 total yards, with 310 of those yards coming on just six plays.

In the second half, the Tulsa defense allowed the Rams just 150 total yards after giving up 382 CSU yards in the first 30 minutes.

Tulsa's Dane Evans completed 16-of-29 passes for 222 yards and one TD, while Zack Langer led the Hurricane rushing attack with 72 yards and Keevan Lucas caught seven passes for 101 yards. For the Rams, Garrett Grayson threw for 236 yards and three touchdowns, while Dee Hart gained 143 yards and two TDs on 11 carries. Ram receiver Rashard Higgins caught six receptions for 178 yards and a school record four touchdowns.

CSU ended the game with 298 passing yards and 234 yards rushing, while Tulsa's offense amounted to 390 yards – 127 yards on the ground and 263 yards passing.

What appeared to be a big defensive play for the Hurricane early in the second half on a Kerwin Thomas interception at the Tulsa 35-yard line and return of 39 yards to the CSU 25-yard line, went for naught when Thomas fumbled the ball back to the Rams.

The Rams then converted a 3rd-and-10 from their own 25-yard line with a 62-yard pass play to the Tulsa 13-yard line. CSU scored one play later on a Hart 13-yard run, capping a 75-yard, four-play drive in taking just 1:56 off the clock.

The touchdown gave the Rams a 35-7 lead at the 9:19 mark of the third quarter.

Two Tulsa possessions later, the Hurricane marched 66 yards in 11 plays, but had to settle for a 25-yard Carl Salazar field goal with 0:21 remaining in the third quarter, cutting the Colorado state lead to 35-10. After the Tulsa defense held CSU on their next possession, Tulsa's Evans connected on a 62-yard pass to Lucas for a Hurricane touchdown, capping a five-play, 77-yard drive, and cutting the CSU lead to 35-17 with 12:50 remaining in the game.

Colorado State added a touchdown with 5:02 remaining on the game clock as Higgins had his fourth touchdown reception of the game, covering 36 yards from Nick Sevens, and making the score 42-17.

At the start of the game, Colorado State scored within the first three minutes on a Hart 14-yard run, which was set-up by an earlier 53-yard Hart scamper to the Tulsa 11-yard line, to take a 7-0 lead. The Rams went ahead 14-0 at the 6:59 mark of the first quarter on a 28-yard pass from Grayson to Rashard Higgins, capping a two-play, 46-yard drive following a Tulsa interception.

After the first quarter, CSU had rushed nine times for a total of 157 yards en route to a 14-0 lead. Tulsa had just 43 total yards in the first period compared to CSU's 195 yards.

CSU put its 21st point on the scoreboard in the second quarter when Grayson connected with Higgins on a 31-yard pass play, followed by the PAT. The scoring drive went 86 yards in five plays for the Rams.

Tulsa threatened to put points on the board with nine minutes remaining in the second quarter clock, but a fourth-and goal attempt from the five-yard line ended Tulsa's 10-play, 70-yard drive on an interception in the end zone.

On CSU's subsequent first play, Tulsa linebacker Zik Asiegbu caused a Ram fumble that was recovered by Demarco Nelson at the Colorado State 40-yard line. However, the Hurricane managed only six yards before punting. On CSU's subsequent drive, Higgins had his third touchdown on his third reception of the game with a 73-yard reception to put the Rams ahead 28-0 at the 4:54 mark of the second quarter.

On Tulsa's next possession, it took the Hurricane just four plays in 1:34 to put its first points in the board as it marched 75 yards. Dane Evans' one-yard sneak gave Tulsa the touchdown, which was set-up by a 65-yard Evans to Derek Patterson completion to the CSU 10-yard line on the first play from scrimmage.

Colorado State's 33-yard field goal attempt right before halftime went wide left, leaving the score at 28-7 at the break. At halftime, Colorado State held a 382 to 182-yard edge in total offense, as the Rams averaged 11.9 yards per play. Tulsa controlled the ball for 17:16 in the first half, while CSU had 12:44 in possession time.