Tulsa Oilers Football, proud member of the IFL, lost at home on the final play of the game 58-55 to the Green Bay Blizzard.
Tulsa jumped out to an early lead courtesy of a 24-yard touchdown run from Dalton James — the longest in Oilers’ history. Victor Leventritt knocked through a crucial extra point, as Green Bay’s Jared Wood missed his after Shaq Curenton’s nine-yard touchdown reception, giving the Oilers a 7-6 lead. Jonathan Nance snagged a four-yard grab from Andre Sale in the back of the end zone, advancing the Oilers to a 14-6 lead with 6:50 left in the first quarter. Josh Crockett high-pointed a 17-yard toss from Sale with 2:12 left, sending the Oilers into the first quarter break with a 20-6 lead.
Terrance Smith opened the scoring of the second quarter, securing a pass from Max Meylor before a fighting effort across the goal line earned the Blizzard six points. Smith’s score pulled Green Bay within eight after another missed extra point from Jared Wood 2:58 into the second quarter. Ka’Ronce Higgins scored his first touchdown in the BOK Center with 10:56 left in the half, corralling a slant pass from Sale and charging into the end zone. Higgins’ score gave Tulsa a 27-12 lead. With 5:13 remaining in the second quarter, Meylor scampered in for a one-yard rushing touchdown. A failed two-point conversion kept the Oilers up two possessions — 27-18. The biggest play of the first half came just 2:29 later when Blizzard defensive back Ravarius Rivers housed an interception 35 yards, pulling Green Bay within one point after a two-point conversion. Sale found Nance for the second time on the evening with 1:07 remaining, floating a 17-yard pass into the SEC product’s hands to put Tulsa ahead 35-26. Meylor added another goal line touchdown rush to his stat line as the first half expired, cutting the Oilers’ lead to 35-34 at the break.
The Oilers defense halted Green Bay on its opening drive of the second half before scoring on their own via a deceitful 10-yard touchdown run by Sale. The former LSU quarterback pump faked the Blizzard defense before tucking into the end zone to put the Oilers up 42-34 with 4:27 left in the third quarter. Green Bay nabbed another last-second touchdown rush, this time a run from Smith that tied the game 42-42 heading into the final quarter after a Marquise Irvin two-point snag.
James rushed for his second touchdown of the game, a seven-yard effort just 2:34 into the final quarter, putting Tulsa up 49-42 after a successful PAT. Blizzard receiver Mike Green shook off an open-field tackle for a 42-yard score on the next drive. Steve Newbold took a broken trick play into his own hands on the two-point attempt, willing his way past the goal line to give the Blizzard their first lead of the night — 50-49 with 4:20 left in the game. Sale and Nance linked up for the third time in response, setting the Oilers up 55-50 with just 1:15 remaining. A freak tip-and-catch play from Green Bay put the Blizzard in scoring position, allowing a late touchdown tally from Newbold to place Green Bay up 56-55 with three seconds remaining. Another successful two-point play from Green and Meylor closed the score line 58-55. A broken up Hail Mary pass halted Tulsa’s chance at a comeback as time expired.
Tulsa heads into a bye week before closing its inaugural season at home, hosting the Quad City Steamwheelers for the second time on the campaign on Saturday, July 15 at 7:05 p.m. at the BOK Center.