Golden Hurricanes come up short against Arkansas State Red Wolves

The Tulsa Golden Hurricanes fell in their road opener 2824 to the Arkansas State Red Wolves last Saturday night at Centennial Bank Stadium.

Red-shirt freshman quarterback Kirk Francis, a Metro Christian Academy graduate, threw for 199 yards and a touchdown on 16-of-28 passing for the Golden Hurricane (1-1). Francis had an interception.

The Red Wolves (2-0) turned the ball over on downs to start the game as a miscommunication led to quarterback Jaylen Raynor fumbling and diving on the ball. Tulsa then went 53 in 11 plays, and Seth Morgan kicked a 29-yard field goal to give the Golden Hurricanes a 3-0 lead.

Raynor then led the Red Wolves on a five-play, 84-yard drive that ended in a 35-yard touchdown pass to Adam Jones. Clune Van Andel made the extra point to give Red Wolves a 7-3 lead.

Tulsa marched down the field, but running back Bill Jackson ran 37 yards before fumbling the ball out of the end zone for a touchback. By rule, the ball was placed at the 20-yard line with the Red Wolves taking over possession.

Tulsa’s Dayne Hodge intercepted Raynor’s pass at the Tulsa 10-yard line as the Red Wolves were threatening to score.

The Golden Hurricanes capitalized on the turnover going 90 yards in 11 plays. Francis completed a 39-yard touchdown pass to Kamdyn Benjamin. Morgan’s PAT was good for a 10-7 advantage for Tulsa.

Both teams would punt the ball on their next possession. However, Red Wolves returner Courtney Jackson muffed the punt, and it was recovered by Tulsa’s Zion Steptoe at the Arkansas State 31-yard line.

Lloyd Avant then carried the ball on the next three plays, taking the ball to Arkansas State’s 5-yard line. Back-up quarterback Cardell Williams then ran on a designed quarterback run for a 5-yard rushing touchdown. Morgan’s extra point was good for a 17-7 halftime lead for Tulsa.

On Tulsa’s opening drive of the second half, Francis threw an interception as Arkansas State safety Trevian Thomas picked off the pass.

After completing a 28-yard pass to Corey Rucker, Raynor ran for a 15-yard touchdown to put the Red Wolves with three points at 17-14.

After a three and out by Tulsa, Arkansas State returner Courtney Jackson took the punt all the way to the house for a 77-yard touchdown to give the Red Wolves their first lead since the first quarter at 21-17.

The teams then swapped touchdown drives — Tulsa’s Anthony Watkins had a 2-yard rushing touchdown and Raynor completed a 5-yard touchdown pass to Rucker as the Red Wolves had a 28-24 lead.

Tulsa then punted on four consecutive drives while the Red Wolves punted two times, missed a field goal and ran out the clock on their final four drives.

Arkansas State faced a thirdand- 6 from the Arkansas State 35-yard line with 1:54 remaining in the game. Gavin Freeman then tackled Raynor for a loss on the play but was whistled for unnecessary roughness which gave Arkansas State a first down and was able to run out the clock due to the Golden Hurricanes having only one timeout remaining.

Next up for the Golden Hurricanes is the 13th-ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys in the latest installment of “Turnpike Classic.” Tulsa will play OSU at 11 a.m. Saturday at Skelly Field at H.A. Chapman Stadium.