Fort Worth, TX - Louie Sakoda connected on all four of his
field goals as Utah downed Tulsa, 25-13, to win the Armed Forces Bowl.
Brett Ratliff threw for 240 yards with a touchdown and an interception for the
Utes (8-5), who are a perfect 6-0 in bowl games since 1999. The versatile Eric
Weddle rushed for 56 yards and a touchdown and also intercepted Tulsa
quarterback Paul Smith on the last play of the game.
Smith finished with 158 yards passing while running for two scores for the
Golden Hurricane (8-5), who were making back-to-back post-season appearances
for the first time since 1964-65.
The Utes took advantage of a good field position on their first possession of
the game for the first score. Ratliff's 16-yard completion to Brian Hernandez
set up Sakoda's first boot of the game, a 45-yarder with just under eight
minutes to play in the first.
Tulsa survived a muffed punt late in the first quarter before embarking on a
10-play, 80-yard scoring drive that bridged the first and second quarters.
Courtney Tennial rushed for 42 yards on the drive as Smith dove across the
goal line from one yard out to put Tulsa up 7-3 early in the second quarter.
Ratliff began to heat up on Utah's next possession, completing three
consecutive passes before hooking up with Brent Casteel for a 17-yard gain
down to the Tulsa three yard line. However, Casteel was called for illegal
touching after stepping out-of-bounds and the catch was nullified. Utah
instead settled for a 39-yard Sakoda field goal that made it 7-6 with 8:50
left in the first half.
The Utes got the ball back with just over a minute left to play and put
together an impressive late scoring drive. Ratliff scrambled for a 19-yard
gain to the Tulsa 48-yard line before hitting Marquis Wilson for a 24-yard
reception with just two seconds left on the clock. Sakoda stepped on the field
and nailed a 41-yarder to put Utah up 9-7 at the break.
Utah came out strong to start the second half with a seven-play, 74-yard
scoring march capped by Casteel's touchdown off a hook-and-ladder play.
Ratliff threw out to the left flank to Hernandez, who tossed the ball back to
Casteel. Casteel then ran untouched into the end zone to give the Utes a 16-7
lead.
Sakoda's 34-yarder on Utah's next possession gave the Utes a 19-7 lead with
3:02 left in the third.
Ratliff's errant throw early in the fourth quarter gave the Golden Hurricane
some life as Bobby Blackshire came up with the interception. Tulsa capitalized
on the short field as Smith scored his second TD of the game. Jarod Tracy
pushed the extra point wide right to keep the score 19-13.
Tulsa then got the ball back with a chance to take the lead, but the Golden
Hurricane stalled with a three-and-out. The subsequent punt and return gave
Utah good field position and the Utes were able to take advantage.
With Weddle lined up primarily at the quarterback position, Utah ran the ball
down Tulsa's throat, with Weddle scoring from four yards out to ice the game.
Game Notes
Hernandez finished with eight catches for 55 yards for the Utes, while Casteel
rushed seven times for 66 yards.
Tarrion Adams was Tulsa's leading receiver
with nine catches for 63 yards.
© 2006 The Sports Network
USA
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