WHEN: 1:00 p.m. CST Saturday, September 17, 2016
WHERE: Chapman Stadium, Tulsa, OK
TELEVISION: ESPN3
SERIES: First meeting between the two schools
THREE THINGS TO WATCH
1. Tulsa passing attack against NC A&T secondary. Through two games, Tulsa quarterback Dane Evans is averaging just 162.5 yards per game with one touchdown pass. The Hurricane played in tough weather conditions last weekend, and they leaned heavily on the rushing attack in week one after jumping out to a big lead before halftime. Since North Carolina A&T normally stacks the box to stop the run, TU has a chance to put up big numbers throwing the football. If Evans can string together a few completions early and get comfortable, it will be a long afternoon for the Aggies secondary. Josh Atkinson and Justin Hobbs should have opportunities to stretch the field vertically.
“We've got to do a good job of being who we are and executing at a level that we need to execute,” said Tulsa head coach Philip Montgomery. “We're still going to run the football, but we've got to do a better job as far as our eye discipline and what we're reading. We've got to do a better job of running routes, and we've got to do a better job of catching the football.”
2. Tulsa running game versus NC A&T front seven. The Hurricane’s ground attack has excelled so far. D’Angelo Brewer and James Flanders combined for 101 yards on 30 carries against a stout Ohio State defense last weekend, and in week one, TU rushed for 305 yards and three touchdowns. However, the NC A&T defense prides itself on stopping the run.
“They do a great job of stopping the run,” said Montgomery. “They keep the box pretty heavy in a variety of different ways. Obviously, in their first ballgame they blew out Saint Augustine. Last week, Kent State, which has some talented players, they really kept in check throughout the game.”
For the past several years, the Aggies have held half of their opponents under 100 yards rushing, including last week, when they limited Kent State to 97 yards on the ground. But Tulsa’s offensive line has played strong through two games, so it would not be surprising to see the Hurricane have success.
3. Aggies running game versus Tulsa front seven. North Carolina A&T’s most dynamic player is Tarik Cohen. The 5-foot-6 running back ran for 133 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries last week against Kent State. He also made nine catches for 125 yards.
“That guy – I always say that he’s special, but I’m going to change that – he’s a freak,” said NC A&T head coach Rod Broadway. “And as Rick James says, he’s a super freak. I’m just so glad he’s on our football team because that guy’s special.
“We’ve seen that from Tarik since he’s been here, making plays like that. As the world has an opportunity to see him, they see what a special player he’s been, but for us it’s routine because we’ve had an opportunity to witness it every day.”
Tulsa’s defense is allowing 160.5 rushing yards per game, but they held San Jose State to just 53 yards on the ground in the season opener. Containing Cohen will certainly be a goal for TU defensive coordinators Bill Young and Brian Norwood.
NC A&T at TULSA QUICK LINKS
• Tulsa’s defense is stepping up this season
• TU offense looking to get back on track
• Looking back at Ohio State and ahead to North Carolina A&T
• Game Week Newsstand: NC A&T at Tulsa
• 4-star PG on official visit; will attend football game
