TU stuns Notre Dame 28-27

BY Staff Reports
Saturday, October 30, 2010
10/31/10 at 1:13 AM

Sports Editor Mike Strain’s blog: Quick thoughts on TU-Notre Dame: Most memorable win ever?... Flanders saves day... Special teams were huge

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SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Tulsa's first trip to Notre Dame ended in dramatic fashion and with a stunning Golden Hurricane upset.

TU's John Flanders intercepted a Notre Dame pass in the end zone with 36 seconds left to preserve a 28-27 Golden Hurricane win Saturday.

Tulsa (5-3) overcame a nine-point, second-half deficit and marched to the winning points in the final minutes.

"Biggest win in school history for us," TU coach Todd Graham said in an interview with NBC immediately after the upset.

Tulsa trailed 27-25 before driving to a winning field goal. The march covered 57 yards and lasted 12 plays. Highlighting the drive was G.J. Kinne hitting Ricky Johnson on a 31-yard pass on third-and-26. Kinne also connected on a 32-yarder to Genesis Cole. The drive ended with Kevin Fitzpatrick's 27-yard field goal with 3:23 left.

Notre Dame (4-5) responded with a drive that reached the Tulsa 19-yard line. But the possession ended when freshman quarterback Tommy Rees lofted a pass into the corner of the end zone. Flanders leaped to make the interception that set off a celebration on the TU sideline.

Rees was filling in for Irish starter Dayne Crist, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in the first quarter.

Tulsa trailed 20-18 at halftime and fell behind 27-18 with 8:47 left in the third quarter, when Rees completed a 6-yard touchdown pass to Cierre Wood.

TU answered with Damaris Johnson's 59-yard punt return for a TD with 4:59 left in the third quarter. His return made it 27-25.

Both teams' offenses struggled in the fourth quarter until the final minutes, when TU drove to the winning field goal, and Notre Dame marched back down the field before being denied.

Associated Images:

The scoreboard at Notre Dame Stadium tells the story. TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World

John Flanders intercepts a pass in the end zone in the final minute of Tulsa's win over Notre Dame. ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tulsa's Shawn Jackson returns a second-quarter interception for a touchdown Saturday against Notre Dame. TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World

TU's Kevin Fitzpatrick boots a 27-yard field goal with 3:23 left. The kick put Tulsa on top 28-27. TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World