TU makes rout look routine

BY BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
Sunday, September 16, 2012
9/16/12 at 5:58 AM

Last week, Tulane brought a struggling football team to H.A. Chapman Stadium. The Green Wave entered with an 11-game losing streak and departed - after a 45-10 setback - with a 12-game losing streak.

On Saturday, Nicholls State brought a struggling football team - also dogged by an 11-game losing streak - to the University of Tulsa's stadium.

The game began at 6:05 p.m. By 6:45, it was apparent to all witnesses that the Colonels would return to Louisiana with a 12th consecutive loss.

Recording its 15th consecutive victory over a Football Championship Subdivision opponent, the Golden Hurricane struck first with a Ja'Terian Douglas home run - a 67-yard touchdown sprint on the third play from scrimmage - and continued to blitz the Colonels into oblivion.

The halftime score was 42-9.

The final score was 66-16.

"I thought we were fairly efficient," said TU coach Bill Blankenship, whose team rolled for 566 total yards. "I didn't want to be sloppy."

The Golden Hurricane finished 10-of-16 on third-down conversions and was penalized only four times.

In the 33rd start of his career, Golden Hurricane safety Dexter McCoil became TU's all-time leader in interceptions with 14. At the 5:44 mark of the third period, his interception and 25-yard return led to a touchdown by Hurricane redshirt freshman tailback Zack Langer, a former Jenks star. Langer was on the field because Douglas became a spectator much earlier - after having rushed for 163 yards on only five carries.

The Hurricane ground game churned for 333 yards and seven touchdowns - two by Douglas, two by Alex Singleton, two by Langer and one by Trey Watts.

"We've got great running backs," Douglas said. "We're going to use our opportunities in every way possible."

Singleton, a 260-pound senior touchdown machine, scored on runs of 1 and 3 yards against Nicholls State. For his career, his TD total stands at 24.

During the postgame news conference, 5-year-old D'Ron McCoil was seated on his brother's lap. D'Ron held the football that Dexter had intercepted for the record.

"This is pretty big in my life, man,' Dexter McCoil said. "I never really had any history-breaking moments in high school, so this is something I will cherish for the rest of my life."

Said Blankenship: "It tells you a lot about Dexter McCoil when you see how his teammates celebrated the record."

For the 27th time since the start of the 2007 season, TU totaled at least 500 yards and at least 40 points. The Hurricane record in those games is 24-3.

Less than five minutes into Saturday's second period, after he had completed 10-of-15 passes for 130 yards for two TDs, Hurricane starting quarterback Cody Green was finished for the evening. He connected with H-back Willie Carter for a 31-yard TD and with wide receiver Keyarris Garrett for a 15-yard score.

"We didn't want to take this (Nicholls State) team for granted," Green said. "We busted our hump during the work week, and then come Saturday, we showed it."

On his first carry, Douglas popped free for the 67-yard touchdown. On his next carry, he dashed 73 yards to the Colonels' 7-yard line.

After TU's Marco Nelson got loose for a 25-yard punt return, Watts weaved through the debris of blocked Nicholls State defenders and scored on a 10-yard sweep.

At the 4:06 mark of the opening quarter, as a few of the fans were still arriving at the stadium, the Tulsa lead was 21-0.

Coached by former TU offensive coordinator Charlie Stubbs, the Colonels are 0-2. It is believed that TU paid Nicholls State $250,000 for its presence on Saturday.

In advance of what should be an interesting home meeting with Fresno State, Tulsa is 2-1. On Saturday night, the Bulldogs (2-1) won in a blowout over Colorado.

UP NEXT

Vs. Fresno State

7 p.m Saturday

TV: CBSSN-249

Radio: KRMG am740, fm102.3

Bill Haisten 918-581-8397
bill.haisten@tulsaworld.com

Associated Images:

TU's Ja'Terian Douglas picks up big yardage. Douglas had five carries for 163 yards. TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World