MOBILE, Ala. - One team managed to establish its run game and the other didn't. The team that found success also found victory Tuesday night.
The University of Tulsa, looked at by many as a predominant passing team, rushed early and often in route to a 45-13 win in the GMAC Bowl. In the first quarter the Golden Hurricane rushed 11 times for 55 yards compared to eight passes. Then came the second quarter and Tarrion Adams along with it.
Adams, Tulsa's feature running back, ran for 83 yards in the quarter with 56 coming on a touchdown run where he raced by multiple Ball State University defenders.
"I think I did try to push that speed button a little bit," he said. "Coach [Todd] Graham told me I was looking slower. He told me I hadn't had a big run since 2005. ... A couple of my teammates used to tease me and say I was slow and would always get caught so I hope they don't say that to me anymore."
The touchdown put the Golden Hurricane up 24-10 and the Cardinals would never get back within single digits.
Adams would only get better in the second half. He rushed for 58 yards in the third quarter on five carries, including his second touchdown, to push his game total at the end of third quarter to 148 yards on 14 carries.
He would finish the game with three records he previously didn't hold. He ran for a GMAC Bowl record 207 yards enroute to surpassing both Tulsa's single season rushing record and career rushing record.
"My teammates cared about the records I think more than I cared," he said. "They talked to me after every play, after every series and let me know exactly where I was at."
Adams finished with 19 carries giving him a 10.9 yards per rush average and had three touchdowns, earning himself the 2009 GMAC Bowl MVP honors.
As a team Tulsa racked up 439 yards rushing, the most allowed by Ball State since playing the Naval Academy last season, on 64 carries.
On the flip side, Ball State had its worst rushing game of the season. The Cardinals compiled 78 yards on the ground, 74 less than its previous season low set in the Mid-American Conference Championship Game.
"We didn't block well. You can cut it any way you want but we didn't block well," Ball State coach Stan Parrish said. "We didn't play well up front."
Ball State running back MiQuale Lewis rushed for 35 yards on 16 carries. His previous season low was 75 yards in a victory against Eastern Michigan University where he had 10 carries. Lewis also failed to score a touchdown for only the third time this season.
"I think Tulsa did a great job of disguising their defense," Lewis said. "They ran blitz's we haven't seen all season. They did a great job and there was nothing we could do."
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