Tulsa Survives Tricks, Tops Titans, 20-10

Flash-flood warnings brought on by Hurricane Paine hit parts of northeast Oklahoma Thursday, forcing many residents to evacuate and others to seek shelter from the storm. It was into this environment that Cal State Fullerton came to continue its search for higher ground.

With the ESPN cameras awaiting, the Titans came here with a chance to prove to anyone with cable television that their 1-4 record was misleading. Results were mixed.

Fullerton may have gained a small measure of respect but left the field still searching for its second victory of the season after a 20-10 loss to Tulsa in front of 11,988 soaked spectators in Skelly Stadium.

With the defeat, Fullerton was left with a 1-5 record and the cold realization that moral victories don’t show up in the standings. The Titans had several, but not enough to overcome some demoralizing setbacks.

“We became a better football team tonight,” Fullerton Coach Gene Murphy said. “Unfortunately, the scoreboard doesn’t show it, but I know we’re a better team after this game.”

Said Fullerton defensive tackle Ron McLean, whose tackle for a safety in the first quarter was the Titans’ only score until late in the fourth: “Each week we get a little more respect. We’ll win some football games as soon as we stop beating ourselves.”

This time, the self-inflicted wounds came in the form of missed scoring opportunities. The Titans had the ball inside the Tulsa 15-yard line four times without scoring. Tulsa finished with a 339 to 330 advantage in total yardage. When it was over, Golden Hurricane Coach Don Morton wasn’t sure whether to celebrate or worry.

“Cal State Fullerton came in and played hard and their players kept hanging in there,” Morton said. “I felt like they underestimated themselves and overestimated us.”

But Tulsa (4-2) took a 20-2 lead into the fourth quarter and survived some wacky Fullerton trick plays. Golden Hurricane running back Derrick Ellison--son of former Ram running back Willie Ellison--rushed for 134 yards in 23 carries, and quarterback Steve Gage rushed for 97 yards, 63 of them on a third-quarter touchdown run that proved more important than it seemed at the time.

Fullerton running back Rick Calhoun ran for 130 yards in 25 carries, his fourth straight game of 100 yards or more, to lead an otherwise struggling Fullerton offense.

There were times when ESPN viewers must have thought they had tuned in to Australian Rules football. Fullerton’s list of wacky plays included a fake field goal in which holder Todd White pretended he forgot the kicking tee, wandered back toward the Titan sideline, then turned downfield to receive a pass from kicker Len Strandley before a confused Tulsa defense could catch on. The play was entertaining, but a yard short of a Titan first down.

That was almost blase compared to a fake field goal that the Titans attempted early in the fourth quarter. George Pritchard lined up alone over the ball, with the rest of his teammates all several yards to his left, except for two posing as a kicker and holder. On the snap, Pritchard scooped the ball back to Tim Byrnes, who headed around left end before handing to White on a reverse. White, now rolling to his right, threw into the end zone to Pritchard but the ball landed just out of his reach.

That Fullerton had to resort to such gimmicks makes a statement about the Titans’ inconsistency on offense. Murphy said he was generally pleased with his defense, but, outside of Calhoun, the offense left many yards to be desired.

So, the Titans will have to settle for minor moral victories.

“We’re the best damn 1-5 team in the country,” McLean said.

He may be right. For whatever that’s worth.