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Memphis, Tenn. • Tulsa capped one of the greatest seasons in school history by relying on the two strengths that carried the Golden Hurricane all season: running the ball and rushing the passer.
Trey Watts rushed for 149 yards, Alex Singleton ran for three scores and Tulsa avenged a season-opening loss to Iowa State with a 31-17 victory in the rainy Liberty Bowl on Monday.
Tulsa's defense recorded five sacks, forced three turnovers and held Iowa State scoreless over the final three quarters as the Golden Hurricane erased an early 10-point deficit.
"We never wavered, not for a second," said Watts, selected as the game's most valuable player.
The Golden Hurricane (11-3) posted the second 11-win season in school history. Tulsa, which has the smallest enrollment of any Football Bowl Subdivision program, also finished 11-3 in 2008.
Iowa State (6-7) rallied to beat Tulsa 38-23 on Sept. 1, but the Golden Hurricane put together the comeback in the rematch. Tulsa trailed 17-7 at the end of the first quarter. —
Tulsa 31, Iowa St. 17
Iowa St. 17 0 0 0 — 17
Tulsa 7 14 7 3 — 31
First Quarter
ISU • FG Arceo 33, 10:47.
ISU • Reeves 31 interception return (Arceo kick), 7:44.
Tlsa • Singleton 2 run (Schwarz kick), 4:47.
ISU • Brun 69 pass from S.Richardson (Arceo kick), 3:46.
Second Quarter
Tlsa • Green 8 run (Schwarz kick), 14:33.
Tlsa • Singleton 2 run (Schwarz kick), 11:10.
Third Quarter
Tlsa • Singleton 1 run (Schwarz kick), 1:50.
Fourth Quarter
Tlsa • FG Schwarz 40, 12:49.
Attendance • 53,687.
ISU Tlsa
First downs 9 23
Rushes-yards 28-98 60-317
Passing 170 93
Comp-Att-Int 14-28-2 11-23-1
Return Yards 41 0
Punts-Avg. 8-35.8 8-36.4
Fumbles-Lost 1-1 3-0
Penalties-yards 9-84 9-73
Time of Possession 24:28 35:32
Individual Statistics
Rushing • Iowa St., S.Richardson 10-46, J.White 10-36, Woody 2-8,
Jantz 4-6, Gary 1-2, Horne 1-0. Tulsa, Watts 25-149, Douglas 8-79,
Green 10-58, Singleton 15-35, Team 2-(minus 4).
Passing • Iowa St., S.Richardson 10-21-1-129, Jantz 4-7-1-41. Tulsa,
Green 11-23-1-93.
Receiving • Iowa St., Brun 4-102, Lenz 2-29, J.West 2-12,
J.White 2-(minus 2), Tiller 1-16, Young 1-8, Horne 1-5, Nealy 1-0.
Tulsa, Watts 4-17, Garrett 3-19, T.Roberson 2-35, Carter 1-19, James 1-3.