[gorillapittpray]

SHOCKER IN TULSA!
SHARPE AND BLAZERS LOSE A TOUGH ONE IN TULSA 32-31 FOR SEASONS FIRST LOSS

~AP~ TULSA, OK--- Quarterback Andre Sharpe struggled again throwing three picks two which were returned for scores and the Tulsa Hurricanes got a Cummings to Wilson 34 yard touchdown with 44 seconds left to shock the unbeaten UAB Blazers 32-31

~RECAP~
The Blazers won the toss and elected to receive. Focused on establishing the run as they do every first drive the Blazers gave Tulsa a heavy dose of D. Pryor and he didn't disappoint gaining 25 yards on three carries but the drive stalled after a holding penalty pushed the Blazers out of field goal range. A shanked punt would give Tulsa Ideal field position and they capitalized with a D. Taylor 42 yard field goal.UAB would get the ball back as Pryor and Scott switched off getting good runs as the Blazers marched down the field, a play fake to Pryor would see Sharpe tossing the games first touchdown pass to receiver I. Wilson for a 31 yard score and the Blazers ended the first quarter up 7-3.

(WILSON GRABS HIS 8TH TOUCHDOWN RECEPTION OF THE SEASON IN THE FIRST QUARTER)

The second started off bad for the Blazers, after getting the Hurricane in a 3rd and 22 situation after forcing a fumble that Tulsa got back trying to run the option. Quarterback C. Cummings fired a pass down the middle of the field to B. Flowers who was hammered by safety N. Williams who was then flagged for pass interference. Two plays later would get a touchdown pass from Cummings to Flowers who managed to keep his feet in bounce as he made the falling catch for the score putting Tulsa up 10-7.
The next drive saw running back D. Pryor take a viscous forearm to the head and he had to get helped off the field by trainers. With Pryor out Sharpe and the Blazers were in trouble FS J. Utley stepped in front of a pass intended for UAB receiver Rawls and picked it off. The interception was short lived however as SS E. Jackson returned the favor picking off a C. Cummings pass in the flats and returning 31 yards for the score putting the Blazers up 14-10. Tulsa would get a late field 30 yard field goal from D. Taylor making the score 14-13 UAB heading into the Half.

(B. FLOWERS TOE TAPS EARLY IN THE SECOND QUARTER GIVING TULSA THE LEAD)


(#36 E. JACKSON'S PICK SIX GAVE UAB A ONE POINT HALFTIME LEAD)

UAB finally got word back that Pryor suffered a concussion and was done for the rest of the game during halftime. A stagnant UAB offense took the field after a quick three and out by Tulsa to start the half. immediately Sharpe threw his second interception of the game this time to outside backer C. Johnson. Johnson would break both Moses and Wilson's tackle as he returned it 35 yards for the score giving Tulsa the 19 to 14 lead after failing the 2-pt try. UAB could not get the run game going as Scott was constantly stopped in his tracks. UAB would grab a M. Alston 31 yard field goal to close out the quarter. 19-17

(LB C. JOHNSON RETURNED THIS INTERCEPTION GIVING TULSA THE SLIGHT LEAD IN THIRD QUARTER)

The fourth quarter started the same the third quarter did for UAB when corner J. Lee jumped a out route and intercepted the ball for the quick return score putting Tulsa up 25-17. It was the third pick from Sharpe on the day and UAB could not muster anything offensively as they routinely got bailed out by their defense. The defense was shutting down the Cummings for the majority of the day giving up only one touchdown back in the second quarter to Flowers and even that touchdown was hard to come by. Sharpe and the Blazer offense came back on the field and after a great return 4 yar return from Brooks the Blazers were in great field position. Sharpe would step back and throw a beautiful post ball to J. Moses who caught it in stride for the 57 yard score bringing the Blazers within one 25-24.
--
(THIS PICK 6 BY LEE GAVE TULSA SOME CUSHION AS WELL AS GIVING SHARPE HIS THIRD INT THROWN) (MOSES WOULD HELP UAB GET WITHIN A SCORE WITH THIS 57 YARD TOUCHDOWN CATCH)

With three minutes to go a tired UAB defense would step up and get a huge stop third down when Cummings decided to scramble on third and six he looked to have had room for the first, a first down that could have allowed Tulsa to run the clock out but out of nowhere FS N. Williams came down hill and put the big hit on Cummings just a yard shy of the sticks. UAB would get the ball back 2 minutes to go. A calm Sharpe looked his best all day. Starting from the 40 yard line Sharpe would zip a pass over a Tulsa defenders hand and into the hands of receiver Rawls for a gain of 19 yards. With the clock ticking down one and just out of field goal range UAB elected to play it safe by handing the ball off to tailback M. Scott. After Pryor's injury Scott and the run game has been essentially stuffed. But on this play Scott to a quick pitch to the left side of the field getting a great cut block from Wilson and seal from his O-line and raced down the sideline for the 40 yard touchdown run giving UAB the lead 31-25 with 57 seconds left.

(SCOTT BREAKS FOR A 40 YARD TOUCHDOWN GIVING UAB A LATE 4TH QTR LEAD)

Till this point the defense has been all over Tulsa, bending but not breaking, Holding Tulsa to just 5-13 on third downs. But the defense was tired being on the field for the majority of the game Cummings used that to his advantage, knowing they needed a touchdown UAB played a real soft zone giving Tulsa everything underneath. That plan backfired on third down when the speedy C. Wilson took a drag thirty yards to the UAB 34 yard line with 41 seconds left. A quick no huddle saw defenders out of place and Cummings hit Wilson down the field for the 34 yard touchdown pass wide open to give Tulsa a 32-31 lead.
UAB has been here before, in fact just last week against Mississippi State Sharpe led UAB on a fourth quarter drive comeback, he also brought them back against the Gators but was 37 seconds enough time. after a touchback the Blazers started at the 20 yard line, a 25 yard strike down the side line to Ross put the Blazers at the 45 yard. But with 15 seconds left a huge drop by Rawls over the middle which if he would've caught it the Blazers would have been at the 25 yard line and in field goal range forced the Blazers to have to go for the score a sack on the games finally play sealed the win for Tulsa 32-31

(THIS CATCH BY WILSON WITH 37 SECONDS WON THE GAME FOR TULSA)

PLAY OF THE GAME

CUMMINGS FINDS WILSON FOR GAME WINNER

TOP PLAYERS
UAB
M. SCOTT 13 CAR 80 YARDS ONE TOUCHDOWN
R. RAWLS 121 YARDS
N. WILLIAMS 12 TACKLES

TULSA
C. CUMMINGS 21-32 257 YARDS TWO TOUCHDOWNS ONE INTERCEPTION
B. FLOWERS 6 REC 115 YARDS 1 TOUCHDOWN
C. WILSON 4 CATCHES 85 YARDS 1 TOUCHDOWN
J. UTLEY 7 TACKLES 1 INTERCEPTION

Oct 15, 2011 - UAB at TU
TEAM	1ST	2ND	3RD	4TH	SCORE
UAB (4-1)	7	7	3	14	31
#22 TULSA (4-2)	3	10	6	13	32

Team Stats Comparison
UAB		TU
320	Total Offense	314
61	Rushing Yards	57
259	Passing Yards	257
10	First Downs	12
	Punt Return Yards
	Kick Return Yards
505	Total Yards	490
4	Turnovers	1
6-12	3rd Down Converstion	5-13
	4th Down Conversion
	2-Point Conversion	0-2
1-0-1	Red Zone Touchdowns/Field Goals	1-0-1
3-30	Penalties	1-10
10:30	Posession Time	17:30