In a thrilling Saturday night at Skelly Field, the Tulsa Golden Hurricane secured a 24-10 victory over the Oklahoma State Cowboys, handing new head coach Eric Morris his first defeat. The win was anchored by a two‑touchdown performance from running back Damari Alston and a solid defensive effort that forced four turnovers.
Key Plays and Player Highlights
Alston broke free for a 29‑yard sprint around the left end early in the fourth quarter, giving Tulsa a two‑touchdown cushion with 8:38 remaining. He finished with 73 rushing yards on 15 carries and two scores. Quarterback Baylor Hayes contributed a 227‑yard passing day, completing 10 of 14 attempts before halftime, including a 47‑yard strike to Jimmy Calloway that set up a short rushing touchdown.
Defensively, Tulsa dominated. Defensive end Thomas Davis recorded a sack, forced fumble, tackle for loss, and four of the unit’s ten quarterback hits. The secondary intercepted Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker twice after the Alston burst, preserving the lead.
Coach Reactions
“It’s a big win, obviously, to beat those guys two times back‑to‑back, a new head coach,” Tulsa coach Tre Lamb said. “I think our crowd was the difference. Playing at home gave us a big advantage on defense.”
Eric Morris, speaking after the game, acknowledged the defeat: “First of all, hats off to Tulsa. We got outcoached, outplayed, out‑physicaled, out‑schemed on many levels. We never captured momentum.”
Oklahoma State Struggles
The Cowboys’ loss extended their 12‑game skid dating back to last season. Mestemaker, a highly touted transfer from North Texas, was limited to 81 passing yards in the first half and finished with 241 yards on 29 of 49 attempts. He admitted the performance fell short of the program’s standards: “It sucked, honestly. That wasn’t our brand of football.”
In the third quarter, a pass‑interference call gave Oklahoma State a first down at the Tulsa 19‑yard line, leading to a 6‑foot‑5 Justin Bowick touchdown that narrowed the gap to 17‑10. However, Tulsa’s defense held firm, stopping the Cowboys on four separate fourth‑down attempts.
Looking Ahead
Both teams have upcoming challenges. Oklahoma State will travel to face No. 2 Oregon on Saturday, while Tulsa heads to Sam Houston for its next matchup.
The victory not only marks Tulsa’s second straight win in the series—the first such streak since 1952—but also underscores the importance of home‑field support and disciplined defense in college football’s competitive landscape.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
