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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Tulsa flattens Ball State in rain

By JOHN ZENOR
Associated Press

MOBILE, Ala. — Tulsa raced through the rain to another GMAC Bowl win and a couple more records, too.

Tarrion Adams rushed for 207 yards and three touchdowns, David Johnson passed for three scores and Damaris Johnson did a little bit of everything in the Golden Hurricane's 45-13 GMAC Bowl victory over No. 23 Ball State on a soggy Tuesday night.

Tulsa (11-3), which set a school record for victories, had 439 yards rushing and 632 overall — hardly slowed down a bit by rain that first formed puddles and then covered nearly the entire field during a second-half deluge.

"We expected to win. We weren't going to have it any other way," Golden Hurricane coach Todd Graham said. "I felt like where we had an advantage on them was how physical we are.

"We got into a rhythm early and we had them off-balance on some things."

Ball State (12-2) didn't have a first down or completion in the second half, managing a feeble 22 yards after halftime.

The nation's No. 1 offense after the other bowls — No. 2 in the regular season — was unstoppable. Adams passed Micheal Gunter to become Tulsa's career rushing leader and broke Gunter's single-season mark, too.

David Johnson passed for 193 yards, most of that to freshman Damaris Johnson. Tulsa kicker Jarod Tracy became the school's career scoring leader.

Adams needed just 19 carries, though one was a season-long 56-yard touchdown scamper.

Damaris Johnson supplied many of the big plays for Tulsa's no-huddle offense and had 274 all-purpose yards. He had 135 yards receiving, 76 yards rushing — including a tackle-breaking 62-yarder in the fourth quarter — and returned three kicks for 63 yards.