Late mistakes bring aboutowls’ demise
TULSA, Okla.— David Bailiff walked out of the visiting locker room with the same disappointing look that has come to define his six seasons as head football coach at Rice.
“It just really hurts,” Bailiff said after Chris Singleton scored on a 1- yard run with 1: 31 remaining to rally Tulsa to a 28- 24 victory over the upset- minded Owls at H. A. Chapman Stadium.
“We’re so close to being a good football team.”
Close is being a tackle, two or five away from stopping Ja’Terian Douglas on a 75- yard run that set up the game- winning touchdown.
Close is usually reliable kicker Chris Boswell missing two second- half field goals.
Close is losing the last three Conference USA games by a combined 11 points, leaving the Owls 2- 6 for a third consecutive season.
“We’re just heartbroken,” Bailiff said. “It was there. We didn’t finish, and we have to do that.”
Boswell made a 35- yard field goal to give the Owls a 24- 21 lead early in the fourth quarter. The Owls had a chance to extend the lead, but the offense stalled after driving to the Tulsa 18- yard line, and Boswell, a Lou Groza Award candidate, missed a 36- yard attempt with 2: 55 remaining.
On the next play, Douglasmade amove to the right side, broke several tackles and cut back before being dragged down at the Rice 5- yard line. Two plays later, Singleton scored on a 1- yard run to give the Golden Hurricane their only lead.
Turner’s effort wasted
Freshman running back Luke Turner gave Tulsa problems in the Wild Owl formation, finishing with a career- high 102 rushing yards, all in the second half. Taylor McHargue accounted for the Owls’ two offensive touchdowns on a 20- yard run and 8- yard pass to tight end LukeWillson.
The Owls’ other touchdown came on a blocked punt by SamMcGuffie, who picked up the loose ball and returned it 12 yards. It was the Owls’ first punt return for a
Tulsa 28, Rice 24