It was the same story but a different opponent for the University of Tulsa football team, as the Golden Hurricane were defeated by Arkansas State, 29-20, in front of 17,349 at H.A. Chapman Stadium on Saturday.

Turnovers and penalties proved to be costly in the TU loss.

“There were a couple times we shot ourselves in the foot with some penalties,” said Tulsa coach Philip Montgomery after the game. “That really backed us up. Our second drive we’re taking it right down the field. I mean, I have to see it on tape, we get a holding penalty that kind of backs us back up out of that, puts us in a hole or I think we score right there. You know, things like that that we have to eliminate on our part.”

The Golden Hurricane committed three turnovers that resulted in 17 points by the Red Wolves, including an interception by Demari Medley in the third quarter that was returned 53 yards for a touchdown.

Tulsa was penalized eight times for 64 yards, while ASU was flagged 11 times for 101 yards.

Tulsa opened the scoring as Corey Taylor ran the ball 1-yard run on fourth and goal, to give TU the 7-0 lead with 8:22 left in the first quarter.

Arkansas State’s Marcel Murray carried the ball three yards for a touchdown with 4:33 left in the second quarter, and with the addition of two field goals, ASU led 13-7 at halftime.

Tulsa scored on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Luke Skipper to Cole Neph to start the fourth quarter, and cut the ASU lead, 27-17.

The Golden Hurricane chipped at the ASU lead with a 38-yard field goal by Nate Walker with 11:13 left in the fourth quarter, with ASU 27-20.

After the Tulsa defense had a critical stop of the Red Wolves, Tulsa took possession at its own 4-yard line. However, Keylon Stokes was caught behind the line of scrimmage in the end zone for an Arkansas State safety and a 29-20 lead with 7:56 remaining in the game.

Tulsa will open American Athletic Conference play at Temple at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday on ESPN. Temple upset Maryland, 35-14, Saturday.

DRILLERS ARE CHAMPS

For the first time since 1998 the Tulsa Drillers are Texas League Champions, sweeping the San Antonio Missions, 3-0. In 2017, the Drillers faced the Midland RockHounds in the championship series, winning the first two at home, and then losing the next three in Midland.

This time, the Drillers didn’t let the title slip away. After winning games one and two at ONEOK Field, Tulsa traveled to San Antonio and put an end to the series quickly by winning game three, 5-2. San Antonio will be the home of a Triple-A franchise next season, and Amarillo, Texas, will take the Missions’ place in the Texas League.