Spencer Rattler, No. 2 Oklahoma Fend Off Tulane in Thrilling Season Opener
Sep 4, 2021
Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler (7) during an NCAA college football game against Baylor Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in Norman, Okla. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Heisman Trophy hopeful Spencer Rattler
threw for over 300 yards Saturday to help No. 2 Oklahoma escape with a season-opening
40-35 victory over Tulane at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial
Stadium in Norman.
The Sooners, who are aiming to win the
program's first national championship since 2000, were supposed to
start the campaign with a road game against the Green Wave, but the
contest was moved to OU's campus because of Hurricane Ida's
impact on New Orleans.
WR Mario Williams (OU): 6 catchers for 37 yards, 1 TD
Rattler, OU Face Plenty of Room for Improvement After Narrow Win
Oklahoma overcame a sluggish start—Tulane led 14-7 late in the first quarter, and the game remained tied
until five minutes into the second period—to pick up the victory
and avoid putting itself in a must-win situation for the
remainder of the regular season, and that's all that truly matters in Week 1.
That said, it was far from the most
efficient performance for Lincoln Riley's group in a game that still hung in the balance late in the fourth quarter.
Rattler was playing pitch-and-catch
with his receivers against an overmatched Tulane secondary for much
of the game, but in situations where he was forced to throw in to
coverage he sailed several throws over the heads of his targets. His first interception came on an attempt into triple coverage down the field.
Oklahoma also failed to take advantage
of back-to-back fumbles by Green Wave quarterback Michael Pratt in
the second quarter. It set the Sooners up with dream field position
in opposing territory both times, including once at the Tulane 11,
but they only came away with a pair of field goals. They must convert those chances against better teams.
The OU defense really toughened up
after the first quarter, but even it has some teaching points after
allowing touchdown drives of 55 and 75 yards the first two times
Tulane had the ball. It also appeared to tire in the second half to leave the door open for a comeback.
That's not to say there weren't plenty
of positives for the Sooners in the win.
Mario Williams gets his first touchdown as a Sooner. OU is now up 34-14 with 3:01 left until halftime. pic.twitter.com/JZtZjcIEm7
Rattler was terrific when given time to
stand tall in the pocket to deliver strikes, including a 50-yard
connection with Marvin Mims that was initially called a touchdown
before being reversed on review because the sophomore receiver
stepped out of bounds at the two.
Running back Kennedy Brooks looked
fresh and primed for a big year after opting out of the 2020 campaign. He helped seal the win in the final two minutes after a Tulane rally.
The defensive front seven was able to
wear down the Tulane offensive line to create constant pressure and
set the stage for OU's 23-0 second quarter.
Kicker Gabe Brkic was also among the
standouts with four field goals, highlighted by three from beyond 50
yards.
Gabe Brkic just became the first player in #Sooners history to convert three field goal attempts of 50+ yards in a single game.
Oklahoma has championship-level
expectations, however, and it takes nearly flawless football come
playoff time in order to reach that potential. Few programs know that
better than OU, which has reached the CFP three times in the past
four years but failed to advance beyond the semifinals.
Saturday's win was a first step in the
12-week regular-season journey for the Sooners. They got the win, but
there's plenty of work to do and errors to iron out in the months
ahead as they pursue the title.
What's Next?
Oklahoma is back in action next
Saturday when it hosts FCS opponent Western Carolina. It marks the
second of four straight home games to open the season for the Sooners.
The Green Wave were also scheduled to
play at home next Saturday against Morgan State. That game has been
changed to a neutral-site contest at Legion Field in Birmingham,
Alabama.
Tulane's Tyler Judson Arrested on Battery Charge, Allegedly Punched Woman
May 28, 2020
NEW ORLEANS, LA - OCTOBER 29: A Tulane Green Wave logo is seen on a helmet during a game against the Southern Methodist Mustangs against the Tulane Green Wave at Yulman Stadium on October 29, 2016 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
Tulane safety Tyler Judson has been charged with second-degree battery following an arrest Monday after he allegedly hit a woman.
Per Devin Bartolotta of WWL-TV, Judson was arrested after police said he punched 18-year-old high school student Denisha Coleman in the face outside of a Waffle House in Zachary, Louisiana. He was released from custody after posting bail.
Desiree Coleman, Denisha's mother, told Bartolotta her daughter was hospitalized with "multiple facial fractures" that will require surgery.
Tulane issued a statement, per Bartolotta: "Tulane Athletics is aware of Tyler Judson's arrest. He has been suspended indefinitely from the Tulane football program. Tulane Athletics will have no further comment at this time."
Desiree Coleman told Bartolotta her daughter didn't know Judson. Denisha suffered eye fractures and a broken nose. She will be forced to miss her high school graduation ceremony on Friday while recovering from her injuries.
Judson, who was raised in Zachary, is a redshirt freshman on Tulane's football team. He appeared in four games for the Green Wave during the 2019 season.
Justin McMillan Leads Tulane Past Southern Miss 30-13 in Armed Forces Bowl
Jan 4, 2020
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 16: Justin McMillan #12 of the Tulane Green Wave runs with the ball against the Temple Owls at Lincoln Financial Field on November 16, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
For the first time in school history, the Tulane Green Wave have won postseason games in consecutive years thanks to their 30-13 victory over the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles in the 2020 Armed Forces Bowl.
Willie Fritz has steadily built Tulane's football team into a solid unit. He led the program to its first bowl appearance since 2013 and first bowl win since 2002 last year in the Cure Bowl.
Tulane headed into this matchup seemingly without momentum, coming off three straight losses to end the regular season.
It looked like that was going to continue early when Southern Mississippi jumped out to a 13-0 lead. Quarterback Justin McMillan, in the final game of his college career, led the Green Wave back with 30 unanswered points, including 24 in the second half.
Things looked bleak for Tulane out of the gate, as the defense allowed 158 yards and two touchdowns on Southern Mississippi's first two possessions.
The pass defense, in particular, was getting torched by Golden Eagles quarterback Jack Abraham. The junior went 11-of-14 for 142 yards and one touchdown to help his team jump out to a 13-0 lead.
Fritz and defensive coordinator Jack Curtis adjusted to what they were seeing, and the players tightened things up to give their offense a chance to settle in.
After those two scoring drives, Southern Mississippi washeld scoreless withjust 201yards, three turnover on downs and threw two interceptions on 12 possessions.
This #Tulane defense has been stellar since the first two drives.
It took the Green Wave offense three drives to sustain any momentum. Their first two possessions were three-and-outs in which they had minus-five net yards between a holding penalty andMcMillan taking a sack.
Tulane only had two field goals in the first half and was facing a 13-6 deficit going into the third quarter. It scored on each of its first four possessions in the third quarter, including three touchdowns, to blow the game wide-open.
A 214-yard quarter for @GreenWaveFB. Is that a lot? It sounds like a lot.
McMillan and Jalen McCleskey hooked up for the first score on a 52-yard touchdown to tie the game. After the defense forced a three-and-out, the Green Wave took their first lead on Merek Glover's field goal.
The last shift in momentum came on Southern Mississippi's next possession. Sophomore Tate Whatley took over for Abraham, who suffered a shoulder injury in the first half, and his third pass was picked off by Larry Brooks, who returned it to the Golden Eagles' 5-yard line.
Without Jack Abraham, it’s going to be really hard for USM to win this one. Tate just isn’t even close to him in terms of skill and know-how
McMillan tossed his second score of the game to Jacob Robertson Jr. to put Tulane up 23-13.
Southern Mississippi's attempt to respond did produce its best drive since the first quarter. Whatley took the offense 41 yards in seven plays, but things stalled when he threw three straight incompletions for a turnover on downs at Tulane's 34.
On the ensuing possession for Tulane, McMillan hit McCleskey for 35 yards on the first play. Cameron Carroll picked up 11 yards on two runs to set up Amare Jones' 20-yard touchdown catch.
Tulane QB Justin McMillan has been awesome since the start of the second quarter. Great comeback by the Green Wave.
In addition to Tulane's pass defense figuring things out, the run defense was stout all day. Southern Mississippi entered the bowl game averaging 122.4 yards per game on the ground, but it managed 58yards with 2.5 yards per attempt Saturday.
Watch Tulane's Jalen McCleskey Stun Houston with Epic Game-Winning TD
Sep 19, 2019
Green Waves don’t play for overtime.
Tulane stunned the Houston Cougars in a 38-31 victory in Thursday’s American Athletic Conference showdown with an incredible touchdown on its final offensive play. With the game tied and 12 seconds remaining at the snap, Justin McMillan rifled a pass through multiple defenders before Jalen McCleskey did the rest.
McCleskey caught the ball and stayed on his feet despite a stumble and broke free from the three defenders in the area for a 53-yard touchdown.
Tulane was only in position to win with the dramatics because of a fake kneel down that resulted in an 18-yard run from Amare Jones on the previous play.
It was only fitting that such a back-and-forth game ended in memorable fashion. Tulane marched 93 yards in 10 plays to tie the game late in the third quarter and then benefitted from a missed Houston field goal on the ensuing possession. The two sides then traded field goals before the Green Wave’s head-turning final touchdown.
McMillan was just 7-of-20 passing for 186 yards, but he ran for 91 yards and a score. He also threw for three touchdowns and zero interceptions, while his counterpart, D’Eriq King, had two touchdown throws and one pick to go with his 229 yards through the air.
King added 116 rushing yards and a touchdown, but it wasn’t enough to counter Tulane’s offense.
The Green Wave will look to keep the momentum rolling with a game against Army on Oct. 5, while Houston turns its attention toward a contest against North Texas on Sept. 28.
