Tulsa Football: Inside the Numbers - Week 3

Tulsa recovered nicely from its disappointing performance against Ohio State with a satisfying 58-21 victory over FCS opponent North Carolina A&T. All three phases of the game were well represented and a large halftime lead gave fans the chance to catch a sneak peek into the future.

Here’s a look at what happened Saturday afternoon and how things are shaping up in the TU record books after the Golden Hurricane’s dominant performance.

WR KEEVAN LUCAS

• Lucas finished the game with 119 yards and three touchdowns (all in the first half). It was his eighth career 100-yard receiving game.
• For his career, Lucas now has 2,354 receiving yards, 20 receiving touchdowns, and 175 career receptions.
• With just 36 receiving yards, Lucas will surpass #12 Chris Penn (1991-93), #11 Trae Johnson (2,372), #10 Steve Largent (1973-75), and #9 Garrett Mills (2,389) on TU’s all-time chart. With 87 more receiving yards, Lucas will also surpass #8 Donald Shoals (1999-2001).
• He needs two touchdowns to tie #7 Keyarris Garrett (2013-15) and three touchdowns to tie #6 Mills on TU’s all-time chart.
• Lucas needs 10 receptions to tie #8 Shoals on TU’s all-time chart.

QB DANE EVANS

• Evans finished the game with 282 passing yards (19-29) and three touchdowns.
• Evans now has 691 career completions and has surpassed T.J. Rubley (1987-91) for third on TU’s all-time chart.
• He now has 8,939 career passing yards and needs 386 yards to surpass Rubley (1987-91) for third on TU’s all-time chart.
• Evans also has 8,995 career yards of total offense and needs 85 yards to surpass Rubley for third on TU’s all-time chart.
• He currently is averaging 13.02 yards per completion, which is fifth best in TU history.

DB McKINLEY WHITFIELD

• Whitfield’s punt blocks marked the first time in two seasons since a Tulsa player has blocked a punt (Luke Snider vs. East Carolina on November 28, 2014). It is currently unknown if Tulsa has previously blocked two punts in the same game or if one player has accomplished that feat (although the latter is considered to be highly unlikely).
• Whitfield also recorded his first career interception in the first quarter.

DL KOLTON SHINDELAR

• Shindelar’s 65-yard interception return for a touchdown was the second for his career and not even his longest. Last year, he returned an interception 89 yards for a touchdown against Tulane (November 21, 2015).

QB RYAN RUBLEY

• Rubley saw his first career action and threw his first career touchdown on a nine-yard pass to Rob Riederer (who also recorded his first career touchdown on the play).

DL TREVIS GIPSON

• Gipson (a redshirt freshman) recorded his first career sack in the third quarter for a 10-yard loss.

TEAM NOTES

• Tulsa is now 18-1 against FCS schools (formerly Division I-AA).
• Tulsa’s 58 points were the most since Tulsa defeated Nicholls State 66-16 (September 15, 2012) and the most in 16 games under head coach Philip Montgomery.

PASSING YARDS

1. Paul Smith – 10,936 (2003-07)
2. G.J. Kinne – 9,472 (2009-11)
3. T.J. Rubley – 9,324 (1987-91)
4. Dane Evans – 8,939 (2013-pres.)

COMPLETIONS

1. Paul Smith – 808 (2003-07)
2. G.J. Kinne – 732 (2009-11)
3. Dane Evans – 691 (2013-pres.)
4. T.J. Rubley – 682 (1987-91)

PASSING TOUCHDOWNS

1. Paul Smith – 83 (2003-07)
2. G.J. Kinne – 81 (2009-11)
3. T.J. Rubley – 73 (1987-91)
4. Dane Evans – 56 (2013-pres./thru NCAT)

TOTAL OFFENSE

1. Paul Smith – 11,602 (2003-07)
2. G.J. Kinne – 10,831 (2009-11)
3. T.J. Rubley – 9.080 (1987-91)
4. Dane Evans – 8,995 (2013-pres.)

YARDS PER COMPLETION

1. Ronnie Morris – 17.5 (1950-52)
2. David Johnson – 15.1 (2005-08)
3. T.J. Rubley – 13.7 (1987-91)
4. Paul Smith – 13.5 (2003-07)
5. Dane Evans – 13.02 (2013-pres.)

RECEIVING YARDS

1. Howard Twilley – 3,343 (1963-65)
2. Dan Bitson – 3,300 (1987-89, 1991)
3. Keyarris Garrett – 3,209 (2011-15)
4. Damon Savage – 2,952 (1996-99)
5. Damaris Johnson – 2,746 (2008-10)
6. Wes Caswell – 2,562 (1993-98)
7. Charles Clay – 2,544 (2007-10)
8. Donald Shoals – 2,441 (1999-2001)
9. Garrett Mills – 2,389 (2002-05)
10. Steve Largent – 2,385 (1973-75)
11. Trae Johnson – 2,372 (2007-10)
12. Chris Penn – 2,370 (1991, 1993)
Keevan Lucas – 2,354 (2013-pres.)

RECEPTIONS

1. Howard Twilley – 261 (1963-65)
2. Keyarris Garrett – 219 (2012-15)
3. Damon Savage – 212 (1996-99)
4. Garrett Mills – 201 (2002-05)
5. Wes Caswell – 196 (1993-98)
6. Charles Clay – 189 (2007-10)
7. Damaris Johnson – 188 (2008-2010)
8. Donald Shoals – 185 (1999-2001)
9. Keevan Lucas – 175 (2013-pres.)
10. Dan Bitson – 163 (1987-89, 1991)

RECEIVING TOUCHDOWNS

T1. Howard Twilley – 32 (1963-65)
T1. Steve Largent – 32 (1973-75)
3. Dan Bitson – 29 (1987-89, 91)
4. Charles Clay – 28 (2007-10)
5. Trae Johnson – 27 (2007-10)
6. Garrett Mills – 23 (2002-05)
7. Keyarris Garrett – 22 (2013-15)
Keevan Lucas – 20 (2013-pres.)