Tulsa’s goal all season has been to win the Conference USA Championship. It did it with a 33-27 overtime win over Central Florida in the league title game Saturday at Skelly Field at H.A. Chapman Stadium.
The Golden Hurricane (10-3) had to rally to win, which was done with Alex Singleton leaping over a pile into the end zone for the winning TD.
“I guess we had to find something to finish the game that we hadn’t done before,” Tulsa coach Bill Blankenship said. “Done about everything else. This team came from behind. They played in the lead. They’ve done all those things. And I just couldn’t be prouder. This is a great moment for these players and hopefully for the city.”
As the 2012 C-USA Champion, the Golden Hurricane will play in the Liberty Bowl on New Year’s Eve in Memphis, Tenn.
The Knights (9-4) had possession first and were forced to kick a field goal. Cory Dorris blocked Shawn Moffitt’s 38-yard attempt and the Hurricane only needed a score to win. on a one-yard TD.
The Hurricane led 21-14 at halftime but found itself down 27-21 after UCF quarterback Blake Bortles ran in 28 yards on a third down keeper.
Trey Watts scored a 54-yard punt return with 5:06 left in the game. But Tulsa could only tie the game at 27-27 since the extra point was blocked.
Watts rushed for 134 yards on 15 carries and was named Most Valuable Player. Singleton ran for 100 yards on 25 handoffs and two touchdowns.
After UCF jumped ahead to a 14-7, Tulsa answered back fast.
Trey Watts and Alex Singleton made big gains on the ensuing drive, with Singleton getting his 40th career TD on a seven yard run to tie it at 14-14 with 2:35 left in the first half.
The Golden Hurricane did not want to go into halftime up by three points. They wanted the seven and got it.
Cody Green hit Thomas Roberson with a deep pass to the two-yard line with two ticks left in the half. On the next play, Ja’Terian Douglas scored and Tulsa led 21-14 going into the locker room.
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