2011 Armed Forces Bowl, BYU Vs. Tulsa: Cougars Score Go-Ahead TD In Final Seconds, Win 24-21

3.4: Tulsa’s per-play average over their final nine drives. The Tulsa defense lived up to expectations, but after a good start, the Golden Hurricane just couldn’t generate enough offense to hold on for the win. They gained 153 yards (6.4 per play) over their first five drives, and they took a 14-3 lead. But in their final nine drives (which included two turnovers, a missed field goal and five punts), they gained just 119 yards in 35 plays. It took all game, but eventually BYU got, and stayed, ahead on the scoreboard.

Nelson made a nice throw, hitting a Hoffman in stride in the end zone. He made what could have been a fatal error on BYU’s previous drive, however, throwing straight into the arms of a waiting Tulsa defender while getting hit. The Golden Hurricane took over on the Cougars’ 35-yard line, but would go on to miss a field goal from 46 yards out, giving Nelson a chance to redeem himself.

BYU drove 71 yards in nine plays for the score. Nelson completed three straight passes for 57 yards on the drive.

Nelson’s touchdown pass was by far his best of the game. Otherwise, the junior quarterback has been spotty, making poor decisions under constant duress. For the game, he is just 8-for-18 passing for 116 yards and an interception in addition to his lone touchdown. His Tulsa counterpart G.J. Kinne has been better, going 9-for-16 for 115 yards and two touchdowns.

Both teams will look to establish some offensive rhythm in the second half. Together, Tulsa and BYU have combined for 306 yards of offense at halftime, or less than a quarter of the 1,397-yard outburst of Thursday’s night’s Alamo Bowl between Baylor and Washington.

For more on the Armed Forces Bowl, visit BYU blog Vanquish The Foe. Visit ourStoryStream for more updates and previews from today’s game. For more news and analysis from this bowl season, check out our College Football hub.

Both teams have compiled those records mostly by beating teams who were clearly out-classed. Their two losses, in fact, were to the only two teams they each played that are currently ranked. The Cougars lost 38-28 to TCU -- unranked then but ranked No. 18 now -- back on Oct. 28. The Golden Hurricane -- now ranked No. 19 -- lost much more recently, falling in their regular-season finale to Houston 48-16.

Those losses aside, BYU and Tulsa have both looked very good and done it in different ways. While the Cougars have been more of a defensive team, the Golden Hurricane is very much offense-first.

Nelson took over for Heaps midway through the 2011 season, passing for a team-high 1,467 yards with 16 touchdowns and just five interceptions. In nearly 100 more pass attempts, Heaps had 1,452 yards with nine touchdowns and eight interceptions. Nelson also rank for 376 yards and a touchdown on the ground, an area of the game that is not a strong suit for the Kansas-bound Heaps.

In other Armed Forces Bowl news, Utah-based coffee retailer Lock-n-Load Java has signed on as a sponsor for Friday’s bowl game, The Salt Lake Tribune reports.