By: Ryan Narain
(Photo/Ryan Narain -The Mojo Network)
The Tulsa Golden Hurricane returned home Saturday night to face East Texas A&M, looking to remain undefeated through the first three games of the season. After defeating Oklahoma State and Sam Houston to open the season, Tulsa entered Saturday’s matchup with plenty of momentum. That momentum continued at H.A. Chapman Stadium, as the Golden Hurricane dominated the Lions from start to finish, cruising to a 42-0 victory and improving to 3-0 on the season.
Can Tulsa Keep This Momentum Going?
Following Tulsa’s dominant victory over East Texas A&M, one question remains: Can the Golden Hurricane keep this momentum going? After opening the season with wins over Oklahoma State and Sam Houston, Tulsa once again showed why it has become one of the more intriguing teams to watch early in the season.
Tulsa’s offense continued to produce throughout the night, with quarterback Dexter Williams II throwing for 164 yards and three touchdowns. Williams connected with Oran Singleton Jr. for a 27-yard touchdown in the first quarter before finding Donnell Gee Jr. for a 24-yard touchdown in the second. He later connected with Jackson Shockley for a 22-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
While Williams and the passing game played a major role in the victory, Tulsa’s rushing attack also made an impact. The Golden Hurricane finished with 286 rushing yards, averaging 6.5 yards per carry. Seth Davis led Tulsa with 90 rushing yards and added a 51-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter, while Damari Alston added a 19-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
One of the biggest plays of the night came immediately after halftime. Trequan Jones took the opening kickoff of the second half 98 yards for a touchdown, extending Tulsa’s lead to 21-0 and giving the Golden Hurricane even more momentum.
East Texas A&M struggled to find any rhythm offensively throughout the game. The Lions managed 288 total yards, including 125 rushing yards and 163 passing yards. Quarterback play was also difficult for East Texas A&M, as the Lions completed 19 of 39 passes and threw one interception. Tulsa, meanwhile, held East Texas A&M scoreless for the entire game.
Tulsa ultimately walked away with a convincing 42-0 victory, improving to 3-0 on the season. The Golden Hurricane have now opened the season with three straight wins, including victories over Oklahoma State and Sam Houston. While the season is still young, Saturday’s performance showed that Tulsa is capable of controlling a game on both sides of the ball.