{"id":1497,"date":"2016-09-27T08:00:21","date_gmt":"2016-09-27T12:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordoncollegefootball.com\/?p=1497"},"modified":"2018-01-13T00:48:08","modified_gmt":"2018-01-13T05:48:08","slug":"golden-hurricane-bite-bulldogs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/2016\/09\/27\/golden-hurricane-bite-bulldogs\/","title":{"rendered":"Tulsa Golden Hurricane Bite Bulldogs in Thriller"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Tulsa<\/strong>\u00a0Golden Hurricane<\/strong> are used to putting up yards and points at an efficient pace. But on Saturday against Fresno State,<\/strong> they found themselves down 31-0 midway through the second\u00a0quarter. From that moment forward, Tulsa concluded the biggest comeback victory in program history over Fresno State. Dane Evans<\/strong><\/a> came up big with a 18-yard touchdown run in double overtime to give the Golden Hurricane a 48-41 victory.<\/p>\n

Hurricane struggle early<\/h3>\n

The Golden Hurricane couldn’t have imagined a more inauspicious start to the game. The first seven offensive possessions netted only 36 yards of offense for Tulsa. There were five, three and outs and a fumble that contributed to the early offensive woes. \u201cI can\u2019t explain it,\u201d Philip\u00a0<\/strong>Montgomery<\/strong> said. \u201cI really thought we were ready to play, but obviously we weren\u2019t in the first quarter. \u2026 There was no momentum, no emotion on the sideline. That\u2019s not how we play.\u201d Fresno State had struggled in the first two games of the season, but came out strong in this game.<\/p>\n

The Bulldogs<\/strong> scored touchdowns on three of their first four possessions en route to a 31-point first half. \u201cThey gave us everything they had,\u201d safety Jeremy Brady<\/strong> said. \u201cIt was just our will and knowing the work we put in, we were just going to fight. We were going to fight to get back into it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brewer paces comeback for Tulsa<\/h3>\n

In spite of finding itself down early, the Hurricane awakened with a Dane Evans to Justin Hobbs<\/strong> 23-yard touchdown connection. Building on that momentum, Tulsa found pay-dirt twice in a span of less than five\u00a0minutes to get the Golden Hurricane back in the game. While he was unable to get in the end zone, D’Angelo Brewer<\/strong> was a workhorse for the Hurricane. Brewer carried the ball 46 times for 252 yards on the afternoon. \u201c(Winning in double overtime) is exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time,\u201d Brewer said. \u201cWe love moments like this. It makes us better as a team moving on from situations like this. It was a good experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

Defense key down the stretch<\/h3>\n

Not surprisingly, the offense normally gets the accolades, and that was certainly present on Saturday. The Hurricane completed the game with 617 yards of total offense, but it was the defense that allowed the comeback to happen. After giving up 31 points and 282 yards of total offense in the first half, Tulsa only gave up 10 points and 171 yards in the second half and overtime.<\/p>\n

“What a game! We spot then 31 points, and come back and win in overtime. There was never quit in this team, and we had enough left in the tank to finish it off,” said Tulsa Head Coach Philip Montgomery. “At halftime, we felt like we were in a good spot, only down by 10 points. The game was there for us to take.”<\/p>\n

Up Next<\/h3>\n

The Golden Hurricane will have an open week next Saturday before beginning American Athletic Conference<\/strong> play at home against the SMU Mustangs<\/strong> on Friday night, October 1st<\/sup>, from H.A. Chapman Stadium<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Main Photo<\/p>\n

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Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n