Tulsa/Fresno State: Report card

BY BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
Sunday, September 23, 2012
9/23/12 at 6:04 AM

OFFENSE

D: What a weird Saturday night for the University of Tulsa offense. Two of quarterback Cody Green's three interceptions were returned for Fresno State touchdowns. Green completed only 35 percent of his passes (13-of-37) for 202 yards. Tulsa had only 354 total yards and averaged only 2.9 yards per rush attempt, and yet the Golden Hurricane prevailed over a good Fresno State team. Green did find Keyarris Garrett for a 31-yard TD. Tailback Ja'Terian Douglas bolted for a 32-yard score. On a trick-play pass, Hurricane tailback Trey Watts found Thomas Roberson for a 26-yard, third-quarter touchdown. The pass was a skyball rainbow, but the Bulldog defense was so completely fooled that Roberson was all alone in the end zone.

DEFENSE

A+: Before Saturday, Fresno State QB Derek Carr had completed 70 percent of his passes. After a 9-of-14 passing start against Tulsa, Carr was 26-of-44 for 231 yards. Against Colorado, the Bulldogs rolled for 665 yards. Against a TU defense that played very well on Saturday, Fresno State had 364 yards and only six second-half points. After Fresno State surged to a 20-7, first-quarter lead, the Tulsa defense was brilliant during the second period. In his first game action since last season's Armed Forces Bowl, Hurricane weakside linebacker Shawn Jackson had 11 tackles and forced a third-quarter fumble that was recovered by cornerback Lowell Rose. TU safeties Marco Nelson and Dexter McCoil (11 tackles) were extremely active. Linebacker DeAundre Brown had 12 tackles. On a second-quarter play, Tulsa tackle Daeshon Bufford forced and recovered a fumble by Carr.

SPECIAL TEAMS

A: While attempting to get aligned for a third-quarter punt, the Golden Hurricane had to burn a timeout. Bill Blankenship's facial expression could have fried an egg. But when the punt was launched by Cole Way, it sailed 46 yards and was downed by Mitchell Osborne at the Fresno State 1. Way also boomed a 55-yard punt that bounced out of bounds at the Bulldog 16. Tulsa freshman Daniel Schwarz was successful on field goal attempts of 24 and 38 yards. TU linebacker DeWitt Jennings blocked a Bulldog point-after kick.

Associated Images:

Tulsa quarterback Cody Green watches as his pass is intercepted by Fresno State's Patrick Su'a. Green had three interceptions. TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World

Tulsa defensive back Lowell Rose tries to break up a pass intended for Fresno State's Josh Harper. TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World