Spring Break
Pirates blown away by Tulsa, 31-10
Golden Hurricane pulls away in second half
Ron Clements
Issue date: 10/12/06 Section: Sports
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The Tulsa football team will never win any style contests, but the Golden Hurricane does win. Tulsa forced three turnovers and pulled away in the second half for an ugly 31-10 win over ECU Saturday at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.
The Golden Hurricane defense, ranked number one in Conference USA coming in, shut down the ECU offense, limiting the Pirates to 241 yards of total offense. ECU was only able to muster 115 yards through the air and 126 yards on the ground.
"They're averaging giving up 115 yards in the air, which is in the top five in the country," Holtz said. "And what'd we throw for today, 115."
Following three straight emotional home games, the Pirates, playing without suspended safety Travis Williams, came out flat and their early mistakes cost them. Williams was suspended for a violation of team policy. The Pirates were also without injured standout receiver Aundrae Allison.
"I was worried about an emotional letdown," Holtz said. "I'm not saying it was, but it was a concern of mine."
ECU (2-4, 1-2 C-USA) forced a three-and-out on Tulsa's first possession, but then Brandon Simmons fumbled the ball away on his first carry of the game at his own 29, and Tulsa was set up with a scoring opportunity. Tulsa (5-1, 2-0 C-USA) capitalized five plays later as Paul Smith snuck it in from a yard out and the Golden Hurricane was up, 7-0.
ECU was seemingly unfocused to start the game with the Simmons fumble, James Pinkney missing a wide open Bobby Good on his third pass attempt, and a drop by Chris Johnson on the next play.
"I certainly don't think we came out and put our best foot forward against a very good football team in Tulsa," Holtz said. "It's obvious why they're conference champs. We didn't go out there and play very well."
On the ensuing possession for Tulsa, Pierre Parker tipped a Smith pass in the air, then caught it for his second interception of the year.
"It bounced off my head and I just tried to focus on it," Parker said. "I just tried to make a good play."
The Golden Hurricane defense, ranked number one in Conference USA coming in, shut down the ECU offense, limiting the Pirates to 241 yards of total offense. ECU was only able to muster 115 yards through the air and 126 yards on the ground.
"They're averaging giving up 115 yards in the air, which is in the top five in the country," Holtz said. "And what'd we throw for today, 115."
Following three straight emotional home games, the Pirates, playing without suspended safety Travis Williams, came out flat and their early mistakes cost them. Williams was suspended for a violation of team policy. The Pirates were also without injured standout receiver Aundrae Allison.
"I was worried about an emotional letdown," Holtz said. "I'm not saying it was, but it was a concern of mine."
ECU (2-4, 1-2 C-USA) forced a three-and-out on Tulsa's first possession, but then Brandon Simmons fumbled the ball away on his first carry of the game at his own 29, and Tulsa was set up with a scoring opportunity. Tulsa (5-1, 2-0 C-USA) capitalized five plays later as Paul Smith snuck it in from a yard out and the Golden Hurricane was up, 7-0.
ECU was seemingly unfocused to start the game with the Simmons fumble, James Pinkney missing a wide open Bobby Good on his third pass attempt, and a drop by Chris Johnson on the next play.
"I certainly don't think we came out and put our best foot forward against a very good football team in Tulsa," Holtz said. "It's obvious why they're conference champs. We didn't go out there and play very well."
On the ensuing possession for Tulsa, Pierre Parker tipped a Smith pass in the air, then caught it for his second interception of the year.
"It bounced off my head and I just tried to focus on it," Parker said. "I just tried to make a good play."
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