Sports editor Jaralynn Tammi Morellano says the TU had back-to-back visits to the endzone.
The University of Tulsa football team came out of its season opener roaring after it took down the Northwestern Demons 62-28 on Aug 29. Former walk-on and redshirt freshman Francis Kirk made the starting lineup in front of 16,482 fans at H.A. Chapman Stadium.
“I know the opponent we’re playing is kind of starting over a little bit, and the coaching staff and guys have always done well, but the kids were battling hard,” said Tulsa Head Coach Kevin Wilson. “I would say a little bit ugly early. We settled in and found some runs. Kirk played pretty well. Guys caught it pretty decently. A lot of things to clean up but a lot of good out there, and it was a great first start.”
Despite the Golden Hurricane doubling the Demons’ score in the end, Northwestern had TU sweating in the first quarter when it took the first touchdown less than a minute in when Lacy Kennieth came into the endzone off an uncontested 75-yard run.
A battle followed, but the Golden Hurricane was able to make it to the scoreboard when Kirk found Kamdyn Benjamin in the open and made a successful 36 yard pass to finish off an 80 yard battle and get him to TU’s first touchdown of the season. Benjamin would prove to be a favorite throughout the game with five receptions on seven targets for 65 yards. His explosive presence on the field brought TU to its first lead of the game (14-7) after he found himself in the endzone two minutes later.
NSU’s Cadillac Rhone blocked a field goal attempt by Seth Morgan, and TU saw the ball returned 74 yards by Dermon Jeremiah Keppard with just a minute left on the clock. The first quarter ended 14-14, which marks the highest first quarter score in Wilson’s career at TU.
The Golden Hurricane would get greedy and take all the touchdowns in the second quarter. Kirk utilized multiple players that night, the two players making these scores being Jeremiah Ballard, this being his first TU touchdown, and Anthony Watkins. The last two touchdowns in this series of plays would be made by redshirt sophomore Connor Vaughn, the last of which was just barely in the south endzone.
“Conner Vaughn is one of our best tight ends,” said quarterback Kirk. “He is really twitchy, a great mover, and he made two incredible catches tonight that made me look really good, so I appreciate him for that.”
Both teams would struggle to score in the third quarter, the only touchdown coming from TU’s Braylin Presely after a 19 yard run past NSU’s defense. The score would sit at 48-14 as the quarter closed.
The fourth quarter scoreboard would see an even endzone visit from both teams, the first being from NSU’s Myles Kitt-Denton. Seconds later on the kick return, Lloyd Avant of the Golden Hurricane would make a 100 yard return to put TU further ahead and take his first career touchdown. The Demons would not go down without a fight and would make it to the endzone once more before the competition came to an end. The Golden Hurricane would finish the game with a touchdown by Cardell Williams.
Northwestern will march solemnly to its next match against Duke. The Golden Hurricane, with an electrifying start, will now go on the road to Arkansas to face Arkansas State on Sep. 7 at 6 p.m. CDT.
