Tulsa jumped out on top early and never gave up the lead as the Oilers beat the Jacksonville Sharks, 57-49, in IFL action on Saturday evening at the BOK Center.

Tulsa took a quick 14-point lead in the first quarter when TJ Edwards II connected with TJ Davis on a 4-yard touchdown play, and then Edwards carried the ball into the end zone from 10 yards out.

Jacksonville got on the scoreboard with a 17-yard field goal before adding a deuce on the ensuing kickoff to trim the Tulsa lead to 14-5 at the end of the first quarter.

The Oilers answered early in the second quarter, as Ketron Jackson Jr. caught a short touchdown pass along the goal line to push the Tulsa lead to 21-5.

Jacksonville responded with its first touchdown of the night and added another deuce to cut the deficit to 21-14.

Late in the first half, Edwards II found Jerminic Smith Sr. with a 17-yard touchdown pass, giving Tulsa a 27-14 advantage. The touchdown was Smith’s 34th career receiving touchdown, breaking the franchise record previously held by Alexis Rosario.

On the next Jacksonville possession, Tulsa forced a fumble that was recovered by John McMullen. The Oilers led 27-14 at halftime.

Jacksonville opened the second half with a rushing touchdown to make it 27-21 before Tulsa answered right back. Edwards II found Smith Sr. on a shovel pass inside the five-yard line for his second touchdown of the night, restoring the Oilers’ two-score lead at 34-21 with 8:10 remaining in the third quarter.

The Sharks again answered with a touchdown to make it 34-28, but Smith Sr. struck once more, hauling in his third touchdown reception of the evening to extend Tulsa’s lead to 41-28. The Oilers then recovered an onside kick attempt to close out the third quarter with momentum.

Tulsa added to its lead early in the fourth quarter as Caleb      Ramseur powered in from one yard out to make it 48-28 with 12:10 remaining. Jacksonville responded with a deep touchdown pass, but the Oilers countered once again when Edwards II found Jackson Jr. in the back right corner of the endzone on a play-action pass, extending the lead to 55-35 with 5:16 left to play. Axel Perez followed with a successful deuce to make it 57-35.

The Sharks mounted one final rally with a pair of late touchdowns, but failed to recover an onside kick, allowing Tulsa to run out the clock and secure the 57-49 victory.

Tulsa will host the Quad City Steamwheelers this Saturday at 7:00 p.m. at the BOK Center.