Imperial Bowl XIV

[Vic Carucci]

I'm here with Matt Sanford,


Matt after last year's heart breaking loss, many experts thought you guys would be right back here again, and here you are. What has that journey been like?

We know what we have here in Tulsa. The loss last year only intensified the work the team has put in. The Wednesday after that loss, we held meetings and tossed the ball around. Of course, the special teams were out on the field working their butts off. We went out there and helped as much as was allowed.
Since the day after the loss, everything has been done for this moment. Sunday. In Louisville. For the Imperial League Championship. This would top my National championship I was apart of.


What did you learn from having played in the big one last year that you can take into this game?

I learned that every person that is apart of the game is absolutely wound up for this game. The refs, the players, the coaches, the announcers, the fans. It is almost surreal how intense it is. I am working with the skill guys to slow things down. To be proactive and not reactive.


What does Tulsa have to do to win against a legend in Jay Caro and his Seals?

I love watching Caro play. I grew up watching him play. What a competitor from the old school. He finally got that issue taken care of is on fire.
We need to cover the receiver and get to Caro. Flush him out. Be quick to the ball. We do that. We can hang in.

Thanks for your time and good luck!

Back to the booth for the opening kickoff!!!

[Matt]

Tulsa Tigerhawks0

Portland Seals0

[Matt]

Are you ready for some Football?

[Matt]

Played in Louisville, KY, weather: 35 degrees, snow, 17 mph wind.
Tulsa won the toss and elected to receive.

[Matt]

Start of first quarter.

[Matt]

(1Q: 15:00) Alan Ballard kicked off 76 yards from the POR30. Touchback.

[Matt]

Tulsa: Pro formation, strength is right. The defense is in a 43 and 2-deep bump-and-run coverage, expecting the run.
1-10-TUL20 (1Q: 15:00) Richard Southward ran outside the right tackle for 1 yard. Tackled by DT Ross Franzwa, assisted by S Keith Porter.



Tulsa: Single-Back formation with two tight ends, strength is left. The defense is in a 43 and 2-deep man-to-man coverage, expecting the run. Ward is blitzing.
2-9-TUL21 (1Q: 14:15) Ken Singleton ran around right end for 2 yards. Tackled by DT Broderick Strange, assisted by S Adrian Craig.



Tulsa: Single-Back formation with four receivers, strength is right. The defense is in a 43 with dime personnel and 3-deep zone coverage, keying aggressively on the pass. Ward, Parrish and Craig are blitzing.
3-7-TUL23 (1Q: 13:40) Matt Sanford pass completed to WR Martin Witt for 19 yards. Tackled by S Keith Porter, assisted by CB Jackie Gutsche. The receiver ran his route right over the middle of the field.



Tulsa: Single-Back formation, strength is right. The defense is in a 43 with dime personnel and 2-deep man-to-man coverage, expecting the pass. Ward and Craig are blitzing.
1-10-TUL42 (1Q: 12:59) Ken Singleton ran inside the left tackle for 2 yards. Tackled by S Adrian Craig, assisted by DE Fernando Moss.



Tulsa: Single-Back formation with two tight ends, strength is left. The defense is in a 43 with nickel personnel and 2-deep man-to-man coverage, expecting the pass.
2-8-TUL44 (1Q: 12:21) Ken Singleton ran inside the right tackle for -1 yards. Tackled by DE Brian Adamov.



Tulsa: Weak formation with three wide receivers, strength is right. The defense is in a 43 with nickel personnel and 3-deep zone coverage, keying aggressively on the pass. Smith, El-Mashtoub and Prince are blitzing.
3-9-TUL43 (1Q: 11:40) Matt Sanford sacked by CB Chad Prince for a loss of 8 yards. Sack allowed by Louie Grier.



4-17-TUL35 (1Q: 11:10) Lester Clements punted 57 yards. Jon Novack returned the kick 5 yards to the POR13. Tackled by Harold Jeffries.

[Matt]

Portland: Pro formation, strength is right. The defense is in a 43 and 2-deep man-to-man coverage, expecting the run. Torres is blitzing.
1-10-POR13 (1Q: 10:59) Mercury Troyer ran inside the left tackle for 6 yards. Tackled by ILB Bernie Sanford, assisted by OLB Rex Torres. Key block delivered by Norbert Parten. Parten ran over Hardy Thomas to set up the play.



Portland: Weak formation with three wide receivers, strength is right. The defense is in a 43 with nickel personnel and 2-deep bump-and-run coverage, expecting the pass. Oliver is blitzing.
2-4-POR19 (1Q: 10:29) Mercury Troyer ran around the left tackle for 4 yards. Tackled by CB Harold Jeffries. Key block delivered by Troy Stickney.



Portland: Single-Back formation, strength is left. The defense is in a 43 and 2-deep man-to-man coverage, expecting the pass. Torres is blitzing.
1-10-POR23 (1Q: 10:01) Riddick Newsome ran around the left tackle for 2 yards. Tackled by S Walter Fitzgerald, assisted by S Earnest Porter.



Portland: Strong formation with three wideouts, strength is left. The defense is in a 43 with nickel personnel and 3-deep zone coverage, expecting the pass. Oliver is blitzing.
2-8-POR25 (1Q: 09:16) Jay Caro pass fell incomplete, intended for WR Dominic Field. CB Oliver McKenzie defended the pass. The quarterback threw into double coverage.



Portland: Five-Receiver Spread formation, strength is right. The defense is in a 43 with nickel personnel and 4-deep zone coverage, keying aggressively on the pass. Oliver is blitzing.
3-8-POR25 (1Q: 09:10) Jay Caro pass completed to WR Jon Novack for 3 yards. Tackled by CB Edgar Fyie. The quarterback threw away from the double coverage.



4-5-POR28 (1Q: 08:34) Vince Walters punted 45 yards. The ball was marked out of bounds at the TUL27.

[Matt]

Tulsa: I formation, strength is right. The defense is in a 43 and 1-deep, bump-and-run coverage, expecting the run. Ward is blitzing.
1-10-TUL27 (1Q: 08:24) Ken Singleton ran outside the right tackle for 6 yards. Tackled by CB Jackie Gutsche, assisted by DE R.J. Doyle. Key block delivered by Brock Heath.



Tulsa: Strong formation, strength is right. The defense is in a 43 and 3-deep zone coverage, expecting the run.
2-4-TUL33 (1Q: 07:48) Matt Sanford pass completed to WR Ken Albriktsen for 25 yards. Tackled by OLB Preston Ward. The receiver ran his route right over the middle of the field. Albriktsen gained 2 yards after the catch.



Tulsa: Single-Back formation with two tight ends, strength is right. The defense is in a 43 and 2-deep bump-and-run coverage, expecting the run. Ward is blitzing.
1-10-POR42 (1Q: 07:00) Matt Sanford pass completed to WR Ken Albriktsen for 11 yards. Tackled by ILB Gary El-Mashtoub. Albriktsen gained 1 yard after the catch.



Tulsa: Single-Back formation with four receivers, strength is right. The defense is in a 43 with nickel personnel and 3-deep zone coverage, expecting the pass. Smith and El-Mashtoub are blitzing.
1-10-POR31 (1Q: 06:23) Matt Sanford pass was thrown incomplete, intended for RB DH Singleton.



Tulsa: Strong formation with three wideouts, strength is right. The defense is in a 43 with nickel personnel and strong-side man, otherwise cover-7 zone coverage, keying aggressively on the pass. Smith and El-Mashtoub are blitzing.
2-10-POR31 (1Q: 06:15) PENALTY: Tulsa was called for a False Start.



Tulsa: Strong formation with three wideouts, strength is left. The defense is in a 43 and 2-deep bump-and-run coverage, expecting the run.
2-15-POR36 (1Q: 06:09) Matt Sanford pass completed to WR Chris Andrews for 8 yards. The receiver went out of bounds. Tackled by S Keith Porter, assisted by OLB Preston Ward.



Tulsa: Weak formation with three wide receivers, strength is right. The defense is in a 43 with nickel personnel and 4-deep zone coverage, keying aggressively on the pass. Smith, Walsh and Porter are blitzing.
3-7-POR28 (1Q: 05:35) Matt Sanford pass completed to WR Chris Andrews for 6 yards. Tackled by DT Ike Cook. Andrews gained 1 yard after the catch.



4-1-POR22 (1Q: 04:49) Carlos McClurken attempted a 39 yard field goal and it was blocked by Kirk Parrish. POR Jackie Gutsche recovered the ball at the POR33.

[tarcone]

Special teams.

[Matt]

Portland: Single-Back formation, strength is right. The defense is in a 43 and 2-deep bump-and-run coverage, expecting the pass.
1-10-POR33 (1Q: 04:41) Riddick Newsome ran around the left tackle for 0 yards. Tackled by DT Deon Berry, assisted by OLB Hardy Thomas. DT D.J. Barrios crushed Gerald Stevenson to wreck the play. PENALTY: Tulsa was called for Unsportsmanlike Conduct.



Portland: Single-Back formation with trips receivers, strength is right. The defense is in a 43 and 2-deep bump-and-run coverage, expecting the run.
1-10-POR48 (1Q: 04:31) Mercury Troyer ran around left end for 2 yards. Tackled by S Earnest Porter.



Portland: Strong formation, strength is right. The defense is in a 43 with nickel personnel and 2-deep bump-and-run coverage, expecting the pass.
2-8-POR50 (1Q: 03:48) Riddick Newsome ran inside the left guard for 5 yards. Tackled by ILB Kurt Becnel.



Portland: Pro formation with two tight ends, strength is left. The defense is in a 43 with nickel personnel and 2-deep man-to-man coverage, expecting the pass. Oliver and Stevenson are blitzing.
3-3-TUL45 (1Q: 03:23) Jay Caro pass completed to RB Preston Everett for 3 yards. Tackled by S Walter Fitzgerald, assisted by S Horace Cardenas.



Portland: Single-Back formation with two tight ends, strength is right. The defense is in a 43 with nickel personnel and 2-deep man-to-man coverage, expecting the pass.
1-10-TUL42 (1Q: 02:45) Mercury Troyer ran around the left tackle for 9 yards. Tackled by S Earnest Porter. Key block delivered by Jonathan Lee.



Portland: Strong formation, strength is right. The defense is in a 43 and 1-deep, man-to-man coverage, expecting the run. Oliver is blitzing.
2-1-TUL33 (1Q: 02:07) Riddick Newsome ran around left end for 9 yards. Tackled by DT D.J. Barrios. Key block delivered by Norbert Parten. Parten ran over Hardy Thomas to set up the play.



Portland: Pro formation, strength is left. The defense is in a 43 and 3-deep zone coverage, expecting the pass.
1-10-TUL24 (1Q: 01:39) Riddick Newsome ran around right end for -1 yards. Tackled by CB Duane Edwards.



Portland: Pro formation, strength is right. The defense is in a 43 and 2-deep man-to-man coverage, expecting the run.
2-11-TUL25 (1Q: 01:09) Jay Caro pass completed to WR Omar Robinson for 18 yards. Tackled by OLB John Oliver, assisted by CB Duane Edwards. Robinson gained 16 yards after the catch. PENALTY: Tulsa was called for Offsides. The penalty was declined.


Portland: Weak formation with two tight ends, strength is left. The defense is in a 43 and 2-deep man-to-man coverage, expecting the run. Torres is blitzing.
1-7-TUL07 (1Q: 01:02) Jay Caro pass fell incomplete, intended for TE Raymond Brewer. OLB Rex Torres hurried the quarterback into a bad throw.



Portland: Strong formation with three wideouts, strength is left. The defense is in a 43 and 2-deep man-to-man coverage, expecting the run. Torres is blitzing.
2-7-TUL07 (1Q: 00:56) Jay Caro pass fell incomplete, intended for WR Jon Novack. DT D.J. Barrios hurried the quarterback into a bad throw.



Portland: Pro formation, with the second receiver in the slot, strength is left. The defense is in a 43 with dime personnel and 2-deep man-to-man coverage, expecting the pass. Oliver and Fitzgerald are blitzing.
3-7-TUL07 (1Q: 00:52) Jay Caro pass completed to FB Rex Fialho for 4 yards. Tackled by DE David Prescott.



4-3-TUL03 (1Q: 00:23) Alan Ballard attempted a 20 yard field goal and succeeded. Portland 3, Tulsa 0

Tulsa Tigerhawks0

Portland Seals3

[jeffrey]

Dodged a bullet there.

[tarcone]

Yep.

[tarcone]

Bend but dont break.

[Matt]

(1Q: 00:17) Alan Ballard kicked off 73 yards from the POR30. Touchback.


Tulsa: Strong formation, strength is right. The defense is in a 43 and 1-deep, bump-and-run coverage, expecting the run. Lake is blitzing.
1-10-TUL20 (1Q: 00:17) Ken Singleton ran inside the right guard for 12 yards. Tackled by S Keith Porter, assisted by DT Ike Cook. Key block delivered by Harry Sanders.



Start of second quarter.