The Tulsa offense lived up to its reputation, rolling up 516 yards total offense in a 56-3 non-conference football victory over Sam Houston State before 26,048 fans at Chapman Stadium.
The loss dropped Sam Houston to 1-2 for the season while Tulsa, playing in its season opener, upped its season mark to 3-1. The contest against the Conference USA power marked Sam Houston's 25th game against an NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision team since the Kats moved up to the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision level in 1986.
Quarterback Blake Joseph completed 7 of 18 passes for 87 yards and James Aston rushed 14 times for 59 yards for Sam Houston. Miguel Antonio provided Sam Houston its only points with a 25 yard field goal.
"Tulsa is a very good football team with a lot of speed. They just whipped us tonight," SHSU head coach Todd Whitten said. "We had our poorest effort of the season tonight and that didn't help. We made too many mistakes in the kicking game and couldn't deal with their speed defensively. We just have to go to work Sunday and get ready for Saint Josephs."
The Golden Hurricane took only a minute and five seconds to score once they got their hands on the ball. G. J. Kinne hit Slick Shelley for a 30-yard touchdown pass with 9:08 to play in the first quarter.
The Bearkats responded with an eight-play, 68-yard drive for a 25-yard Miguel Antonio field goal to cut the margin to 7-3 with 6:15 to play in the opening period.
Thirty-six seconds later, Kinne found Damaris Johnson open for a 63-yard score with 5:33 to play.
Tulsa continued the scoring in the second quarter as Charles Opeseyitan completed a six-play 68-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown run at the 12:49 mark.
Kinne threw two more touchdowns, both to Trae Johnson for 34 and 16 yards to give Tulsa a 35-3 lead at halftime.
After a long kickoff return to open the second half, Tulsa drove 53 yards in seven plays to go up 42-3 after a five-yard touchdown run by A. J. Whitmore with 11:34 to play in the third period.
A fumbled punt set up the Golden Hurricane's next score, a 14-yard run by Jacob Bower with 5:44 remaining in the third quarter.
Willie Carter made the score 56-3 with a 39-yard scoring run with 2:57 to play in the third quarter.
Following the Tulsa game, Sam Houston returns home for a non-conference tilt with Saint Joseph's of Indiana Saturday, Oct. 3, and for the annual Homecoming contest Oct. 10 with Southland Conference opponent Nicholls.
For complete information about Bearkat athletic events, go on the web to www.gobearkats.com. Ticket prices for Bearkat football at $25 for reserved chairback seats and $15 for general admission bench seats. Tickets are available online by clicking here.
Fans also may purchase tickets in person at the Sam Houston State ticket office in the Ron Mafrige Field House located in the south end zone of Bowers Stadium. Box office hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Bearkat ticket office telephone number is (936) 294-1729.
