Trailing any team by double-digits in the fourth quarter can be a compromised position. Especially when that team is Army, which closed its last victory on an 18-play possession that consumed the final 9:53 of clock. Add a road environment in West Point to the mix, and you can chalk up a loss.
Unless it’s the Tulsa Golden Hurricane. As road underdogs nearly 1,400 miles away from home, Tulsa was completely unfazed by a 25-14 deficit to Army with under five minutes remaining. Yet, the Golden Hurricane emerged
with a stunning 26-25 road upset, preventing the Black Knights from attaining bowl eligibility Saturday.
The comeback initiated with 4:17 remaining in the contest when kicker Seth Morgan sunk a 48-yard field goal — one yard short of matching his career-high. Army made the surprising decision to drop back for a deep ball on the second snap of the ensuing drive, and Tulsa ensured the Black Knights would pay for it. Army quarterback Cade Hellum’s deep ball was snatched in double coverage by leaping free safety Lento Smith Jr., setting the Golden Hurricane up 40 yards from the end zone.
Trailing by eight, Tulsa gave Army a dose of running back Dominic Richardson, and then quarterback Baylor Hayes put on the finishing efforts, threading the needle to Josh Smith in the end zone right at the 2-minute timeout. That touchdown sliced the deficit to 25-23, and Tulsa needed the two-pointer for the tie. While Hayes’ pass fell incomplete, that failed conversion ended up being the best thing to happen to Tulsa on Friday. It only meant the Golden Hurricane could win in regulation.
Army recovered the onside kick and picked up seven yards in three plays, facing a 4th and 3 from the Tulsa 39-yard line. Jeff Monken kept his troops on the field, fully understanding a three-yard conversion would seal the deal for the Black Knights. Tulsa cornerback Elijah Green stuffed Hellums’ rushing attempt, breathing new life into the Tulsa offense with 1:36 to go. From there, Tulsa just called upon Richardson until Army could stop him, and it couldn’t. The running back amassed 37 yards on five-consecutive runs, helping position Tulsa for a 27-yard field goal in the waning seconds. With 12 ticks remaining, Morgan drilled a 27-yard attempt, allowing the Golden Hurricane to knock off the defending American Conference champions.
Richardson, who produced a touchdown on the opening drive as a tone-setter, ran free on the Black Knights all afternoon. The well-traveled sixth-year senior shattered his career-high with 203 yards on 28 carries, attaining his fourth 140-yard game in his first season with the Golden Hurricane. With Richardson dominating in the backfield, Tulsa (230 rushing yards) nearly equaled Army’s ground output (247 rushing yards). Given each team’s offensive schematics, the Golden Hurricane predictably threw for over 200 yards more than the service academy — and Tulsa won the yardage battle, 497-311.
Army (5-6, 3-4 American) watched its 2-game win streak snap as home favorites. Tulsa provided the Black Knights’ their fourth one-score defeat of the year — two which went to overtime and two which involved Army surrendering the go-ahead score in the final 30 seconds of regulation. Given the unique nature of its schedule, as the annual Navy matchup falls after bowl selections are solidified, the Black Knights must defeat UTSA next Saturday to qualify for bowl eligibility.
Tulsa (4-7, 1-6 American) snaps the longest active losing streak in the American. The Golden Hurricane lost 10-straight conference matchups, dating back to last year’s 46-45 comeback win over UTSA, but that stretch of futility is no more. Tulsa secured its first American victory under head coach Tre Lamb, and while it can’t attain bowl eligibility, the team rattled off wins over Oklahoma State, Oregon State, and Army in Lamb’s first year at the helm.
