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Rice University Athletics
Tulsa Defeats Rice, 23-16
9/16/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
- Box Score
HOUSTON (AP) (Sept. 16, 2000) -- Donald Shoals returned a punt 71 yards for a touchdown and Tulsa capitalized on three Rice fumbles as the Golden Hurricane defeated the Owls 23-16 on September 16.
Tulsa (1-2) converted three fumble recoveries into Chris Earnest field goals, two in the second half, and held off a fourth quarter Rice charge to win its first game under first year head coach Keith Burns.
 Tulsa tight end Jarrod Roach tries to avoid Rice linebacker Dan Dawson at the end of a 27-yard pass play in the second quarter. (AP Photo/Tim Johnson) |
On Rice's next possession Keithan McCory recovered a fumble by Gilbert Okoronkwo at the Rice 45 and Earnest kicked a 42-yard field goal to give Tulsa a 23-6 lead with 5:42 left in the period.
The Owls (1-2) managed 10 fourth quarter points on a 33-yard field goal by Derek Crabtree with 13:06 left and a 12-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ben Wulf to Okoronkwo with 1:06 remaining
A pass from Wulf intended for Matt Webber was intercepted at the Tulsa goal line by Corey Brown as the game ended.
A scoreless first quarter ended with Rice failing on a fourth down and two situation at the Tulsa five. The Owls drove 60 yards before fullback Robbie Beck was stopped inches short of a first down.
 Rice fullback Robbie Beck leaps over one of his own blockers on his way to a 21-yard gain against Tulsa in the second quarter. (AP Photo/Tim Johnson) |
Tulsa tied the score, 3-3, on a 32-yard field goal by Earnest with 6;17 left in the second quarter. The field goal was set up by a fumble recovery by Keith Carey at the Rice 30 after Sean White fumbled on a punt return.
Tulsa took a 10-3 lead on its next possession, when Donte Hart scored on a three-yard run with 4:13 remaining in the second period. A 44-yard pass from quarterback Josh Blakenship to Brown moved the ball to the Rice 10 to set up the touchdown.
Tulsa increased its lead to 17-3 with 1:05 left in the half, when Shoals return a punt 71 yards for a touchdown.
Rice cut its deficit to 17-6 at the half on a 25-yard field goal by Crabtree.
