Being Stubborn Pays for Tulsa in Victory : Nonconference: Hurricane stops itself three times in final quarter before scoring to upset Texas A&M;, 35-34.

A touchdown away from one of the biggest upsets in school history, Tulsa would not take no for an answer in the fourth quarter.

The Golden Hurricane, which became an independent in 1986 and has taken its lumps ever since, scored a 35-34 upset of No. 15 Texas A&M; when T.J. Rubley and Chris Penn connected on a 63-yard pass play with 2:47 remaining.

Billy Cole recovered a fumble on the kickoff, and Tulsa (3-1) ran off the final 2 1/2 minutes before players and fans created a huge pileup in a midfield celebration.

“Today we asked them one thing at halftime, just not to give up,” Tulsa Coach Dave Rader said.

The Hurricane never did, despite trailing, 28-10, at halftime and stopping itself with three turnovers in the final quarter.

The winning score was about as improbable as Tulsa’s victory.

The Aggies (1-1) led, 34-29, after redshirt freshman Jeff Granger threw a 28-yard scoring pass to Tony Harrison, Granger’s fourth of the game and the second to Harrison.

Tulsa’s first four possessions of the fourth quarter ended with a failed fourth-down conversion, an interception and two fumbles. The Hurricane got the ball with 3:45 left on its four after a punt.

Rubley hit Brian Thompson for 13 and 20 yards, then he found Penn on a crossing pattern. As Penn headed for the sideline, Patrick Bates and Marlin Haynes collided, and Penn sailed down the sideline for the touchdown.

“Our guys didn’t quit,” said Rubley, ineffective most of the game until it counted the most. “It wasn’t a Mount Everest game for us, regardless of what anyone says. We really thought we could win it.

“All these years finally paid off.”

Rader had been disappointed that his offense had not come up with a big play through three games. The Hurricane got plenty Saturday, mostly from Chris Hughley, who rushed for 231 yards and three touchdowns.

Hughley was the first back to rush for more than 200 yards against the Aggies since SMU’s Eric Dickerson in 1982.

Hughley had a 10-yard touchdown run and scored from 53 yards as Tulsa scored three touchdowns in the first 6:16 of the third quarter to take a 29-28 lead.

“They might have thought since they were up 28-10 that they could slack off,” Hughley said. “They are human, just like we are. We were never intimidated. I know Texas A&M; is a good team, but I knew we could play with them.”