Going into the game, Ohio State was a 25.5-point favorite over the University of Tulsa, however, the No. 9 Buckeyes certainly didn’t look like a Top-10 team early on, as OSU beat Tulsa, 41-20, Saturday in Columbus, Ohio.
Tulsa (0-3) kept the game close for the first three quarters, and looked like a much-improved team from what we saw in their previous two games.
“I thought all three phases contributed,” Tulsa head coach Philip Montgomery said after the game. “We did some good things and gave ourselves an opportunity there late.”
The Golden Hurricane got on the board first with 5:40 remaining in the first quarter as Zack Long kicked a 22-yard field goal.
The Buckeyes (2-1) answered with a 43-yard field goal by Noah Ruggles, with 57-seconds left in the first quarter.
With 10:47 left in the second quarter, Tulsa took the lead, 6-3, on a 31-yard field goal by Long.
It looked like this was going to be a battle of the kickers, however, Ohio State scored a touchdown with 8:44 remaining in the second, as TreVeyon Henderson carried the ball five yards for the score.
The Buckeyes added yet another field goal before halftime, to take a 13-6 lead into the intermission.
As is often the case, both teams looked completely different in the second half.
Henderson carried the ball 48 yards for his second touchdown of the game, and the Buckeyes took a 20-6 lead.
With only a minute left in the third quarter, TU quarterback Davis Brin connected with the head coach’s son, Cannon Montgomery, on a 21-yard TD pass. Then, with no time left on the clock in the quarter, Henderson scored his third touchdown of the game on a 52-yard run, keeping Ohio State ahead, 27-13.
Tulsa’s final scoring play of the game came with 12:07 remaining in the fourth, as Josh Johnson caught a 22-yard touchdown pass from Davis.
With 3:07 left to play, the Buckeyes Garrett Wilson scored on a 12-yard pass from C.J. Stroud, and less than two minutes later, Cameron Martinez intercepted a Brin pass and returned it 61 yards for a touchdown.
Ohio State was coming off a loss to Oregon the week before, and a game in which the Buckeye defense struggled. OSU head coach Ryan Day feels his team still has a lot of improving to do.
“We’re kind of getting last week out of our system,” Day said. “Certainly a lot of things to work on.”
Amazingly, Tulsa played very well against one of the nation’s top football programs, and the stats were pretty even.
The Golden Hurricane compiled 501 total offensive yards (73 rushing/428 passing), while OSU 508 total yards (323 rushing/185 passing). Tulsa edged OSU in first downs, 25-24, and time of possession, 31:34 to 28:26.
Tulsa will host Arkansas State (1-2) this Saturday at 4:00 p.m. at H.A. Chapman Stadium. The Golden Hurricane are favored to win this game and will be looking for their first win of the season.