Tulsa dominates Myrtle Beach Bowl
Davis Brin threw for 285 yards and two touchdowns, and Tulsa closed the season with its fourth straight victory, beating Old Dominion 30-17 at the Myrtle Beach Bowl on Monday in Conway, South Carolina.
Josh Johnson had eight catches for 129 yards including a 23-yard reception as the Golden Hurricane (7-6) won their second straight bowl game and third in their last four appearances.
As effective as Tulsa’s offense was, its defense was just as good. It held the Monarchs (6-7) of Conference USA to 135 yards through the first three quarters.
Things started strongly for Old Dominion, which won its last five of the regular season to qualify for the bowl, when LaMareon James opened the game in historic fashion with a 100-yard kick return for a touchdown.
It was the first such return on the opening kick in its 11 seasons of football.
But the Monarchs struggled to find an attack as Tulsa of the American Athletic Conference took control.
It took until the fourth quarter for Old Dominion to post an offensive touchdown on Blake Watson’s 2-yard run. By then, Tulsa was up 30-17 and not about to surrender the lead.
Shamari Brooks ran for 107 yards and a 1-yard touchdown, Tulsa’s answer that came less than two minutes after Old Dominion’s kick return score.
Johnson’s touchdown catch on the next series put Tulsa up for good.
And things could’ve been worse if the Monarchs hadn’t taken over on downs when Tulsa, needing a yard at midfield, failed to convert on third and fourth downs.
Tulsa took advantage of safety LJ Wallace’s interception — he twisted in front of the receiver to make the play — for a 35-yard field goal by Zack Long right before halftime to lead 17-10.
Johnson had his sixth 100-yard receiving game this season by the half with five receptions for 101 yards.
There was a brief flurry of lunacy in the final quarter. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty left Tulsa at fourthand-17 and lining up to punt.
But punter Lachlan Wilson inexplicably took off running straight into a wall of Old Dominion defenders for a 1-yard loss.
The Monarchs, down 23-10, jumped on the break with a 22 yard run by Watson and a pass from Hayden Wolff to an open Ali Jennings inside the 10.
As Jennings headed toward the end zone, cornerback Tyon Davis forced the ball loose for a touchback to end the threat.
Old Dominion couldn’t rally, losing a bowl game for the first time in two appearances since joining the FBS in 2013.
Tide turns up protocols: As COVID-19 cases surge nationwide due to the new omicron variant, Alabama is returning to its safety protocols from a year ago as it prepares for the College Football Playoff.
Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban said Monday that the team is back to wearing masks in the facility and social distancing during meetings.
Saban added that more than 90% of players are vaccinated and have received their booster shots.
“Am I concerned?” Saban said. “I’m always concerned when there’s an issue out there, and we want to do the best we can to help our players be concerned about the issue and respect it so they have the best opportunity to stay safe.”
Top-ranked Alabama will play No. 4 Cincinnati in the first CFP semifinal on New Year’s Eve.