Tulsa World: TU Notebook: Off his game

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TU Notebook: Off his game

Tulsa's Damaris Johnson (3) has caught a pass in 22 consecutive games. The sophomore had 121 yards on four grabs against SMU. STEPHEN PINGRY/Tulsa World

By MIKE BROWN World Sports Writer
Published: 11/1/2009 2:33 AM
Last Modified: 11/1/2009 7:55 AM

After throwing only two interceptions in his first seven Hurricane starts, sophomore quarterback G.J. Kinne threw two in the same game for the first time.

Kinne had gone 95 passes without an interception before throwing wildly as he was hit by Ja'Gared Davis in the first quarter. SMU linebacker Chase Kennemer picked off the pass.

Kinne was benched in the second quarter after going 2-of-8 with an interception. He came back but threw another pick in the third quarter. SMU defensive back Bryan McCann, a senior from Putnam City, returned it 43 yards, setting up a Mustang field goal.

Four of a kind: TU used four quarterbacks in its first scoring drive. Freshman Shavodrick Beaver took a direct snap from center and handed to Charles Clay on the first play, Kinne threw incomplete on the second play and Jacob Bower relieved Kinne and threw 28 yards to Trae Johnson on the third.

A.J. Whitmore took a direct snap and handed to Damaris Johnson for no gain from the SMU 13 on the sixth play. Bower handed to Charles Opeseyitan, who ran 13 yards for his second rushing TD of the season on the seventh play.

Here's the kicker: Punting was TU's most effective weapon at times. Kinne had pooch punts of 49 and 43 yards in the first half, downed at the SMU 3- and 7-yard lines, and a 50-yarder killed at the 2 in the third quarter.

Regular punter Michael Such had a 44-yarder killed at the SMU 15 and also had a 64-yarder for a touchback, tying his longest of the season.

Shankapotomus: After booming three consecutive 62-yard punts with a trailing south wind, SMU's Matt Szymanski broke the string with an ugly 3-yarder.

On fourth-and-5 from the Hurricane 41, Syzmanski was understandably trying to take a little off his punt and angle it toward the sideline in hopes of pinning Tulsa deep.

Instead, the punt slid off the side of his foot and flew over the Mustangs' bench, landing in the seats. The ball was marked 3 yards ahead of the line of scrimmage — 2 yards short of the first-down marker.

Touchdown maker: TU senior tight end Jake Collums registered his 14th career reception and ninth for a score, catching a 13-yarder from Jacob Bower in the fourth quarter.

Streaker: With a first-quarter reception of 6 yards, sophomore receiver Damaris Johnson made it 22 straight games with at least one catch — every game of his Hurricane career.

Out of action: Sophomore tackle Tyler Holmes watched from the sidelines, missing his sixth straight game with a broken leg. Head coach Todd Graham hinted earlier in the week that Holmes might return against the Mustangs.

Holmes started all 14 games as a redshirt freshman last season. He received Conference USA all-freshman honors and freshman All-America honors from Collegefootballnews.com.

Dressup day: Hurricane marching band members, about 100 strong, performed in their Halloween best.

Costumes included sports figures (referees, Steelers fan), superheroes (Superman, Batman, Power Ranger), film characters (the Mummy, the Tin Man, a Ghostbuster) and one dead president (Richard Nixon).

Perhaps the most original was a female piccolo player wearing a Twister game mat.

For starters: Senior cornerback Kenny D. Sims made his 29th consecutive start Saturday. Senior guard Curt Puckett made his 28th consecutive start and senior linebacker Mike Bryan made his 21st. By MIKE BROWN World Sports Writer

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