Tulsa World: Another test waits for Tulsa

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Another test waits for Tulsa
Struggling Hurricane meets contending ECU in a rematch of the 2008 C-USA title game.

Tulsa quarterback G.J. Kinne runs for a big gain against Houston at Chapman Stadium on Saturday. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World

By MIKE BROWN World Sports Writer
Published: 11/11/2009 2:24 AM
Last Modified: 11/11/2009 6:18 AM

Things have changed since East Carolina beat Tulsa for last year's Conference USA football title. Sunday's rematch in Chapman Stadium won't have the same luster.

The Golden Hurricane is struggling, and ECU's Pirates have lost the same marquee out-of-conference matchups that made them a player on the national scene last year.

But the Pirates are right where they want to be in the conference race — atop the East Division and on the inside track for another title game appearance.

"We've played two ranked teams and been very competitive in (losses to North Carolina and Virginia Tech)," head coach Skip Holtz said. "We've done a very good job of being focused when we faced a conference foe, and that has had a carryover effect as the season has gone on."

Tulsa has slipped out of the title picture with three straight league losses and four straight losses overall. But Holtz isn't convinced the Hurricane is down for the count. "They've created a high standard for themselves by winning the (West Division) and being competitive for the conference title almost every year," Holtz said. "They've lost some games and I know there must be disappointment there, but you have to look at how close the losses were."

Holtz described Tulsa's 46-45 loss to Houston last Saturday as "an absolute heartbreaker." UH recovered an onside kick and hit the deciding 51-yard field goal as time expired.

The Hurricane also lost in the final minute at UTEP 28-24 and played probably its worst game of the season in a 27-13 home loss to SMU.

"(Tulsa) is a good football team. I was really impressed with (quarterback G.J. Kinne, who accounted for 434 yards and four TDs against Houston). He's really starting to come into his own and become a huge part of their offense and what they're doing right now."

One thing that hasn't changed since last year is ECU's defense. The Pirates return most of the unit that intercepted TU quarterback Dave Johnson five times in the title game, although cornerback Dekota Marshall was injured in last Thursday's 16-3 loss to Virginia Tech and is out for the year.

"These guys are very physical," TU head coach Todd Graham said. "Their secondary and safeties are very physical guys. They are physical up front with C.J. Wilson. They've got probably three or four of the best defensive football players in our conference. We have to make sure we don't let those guys impact the game. They surely impacted it last year."

Senior free safety Van Eskridge intercepted Johnson twice in the title game and is a returning all-conference selection. Wilson, also a senior, was the league's preseason defensive player of the year. He has 6.5 tackles for loss and eight quarterback hurries.

Sophomore nose guard Linval Joseph leads the unit with 10 tackles for loss, and senior linebacker Jeremy Chambliss has nine.

The Pirates are second in the league in total defense while allowing 21.9 points per game. Defense keeps them in games until senior quarterback Patrick Pinkey or junior receiver Dwayne Harris can make a play.

Pinkney has thrown eight TD passes this season. Harris has four rushing and three receiving TDs, and has returned two kickoffs for scores.

Mike Brown 581-8390
mike.brown@tulsaworld.com By MIKE BROWN World Sports Writer

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