Tulane Routs SW Louisiana, 72-20
Jun 21, 1999 | Football
Associated Press
NEW ORLEANS - Winning is the best medicine for Shaun King's aching wrist.
King, his left wrist still tender after being broken a month ago, personally outgained Southwest Louisiana by 102 yards and accounted for three touchdowns as No. 19 Tulane, with its best record in 67 years, routed Southwestern Louisiana 72-20 on Saturday.
"My wrist hurts a lot when I get hit," said King, whose break was on his non-throwing hand. "But when you're winning nothing bothers you that much, especially if you play at Tulane. This is a really big year for us."
King, the nation's passing efficiency leader, was 20-of-38 for 380 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 28 yards for Tulane (7-0), which is assured of consecutive winning seasons for the first time since 1981. Southwestern Louisiana (1-7) was limited to 306 yards, 146 after Tulane rested its starters in the fourth quarter.
"It feels really good when we can rack up yards and score points like that," Tulane receiver JaJuan Dawson said. "I think we've reached the point that we can pass if they stack up against our run and run if the try to stop our passing."
Brandon Stokley caught touchdown passes of 8, 7 and 61 yards for Southwestern Louisiana, giving him 220 receptions for 3,344 yards in his career, both figures in the top 15 in NCAA history.
Stokley's mother, Jane, died last week in a fall at her home. After his first touchdown, he tapped his heart and pointed skyward. He finished with seven receptions for 181 yards.
"That's for my mom," Stokley said of the gesture he made. "Usually I point to the sky and thank the Lord. I wore my mom's initials on my jersey as a little tribute to her, because she was my number one fan without a doubt, so I wanted to give her a little Hi."'
Jane Stokley's funeral was Tuesday. Stokley was sick all week with tonsillitis and had not practiced.
The Green Wave led 44-7 at the half after three touchdowns by Jamaican Dartez -- two 1-yard runs and a 45-yard reception. Tulane outgained Southwestern Louisiana 415 yards to 115 in the first half and had 706 yards overall.
"We really let it get away from us there in the second quarter," Southwestern coach Nelson Stokley said. "It was 16-7 with about eight minutes left in the half and they just took control of the football game offensively, and all of a sudden we look up there and it was 44-7 at halftime and we were out of it."
Tulane's defense got into the scoring column with a safety and Wayne Blair's 34-yard fumble return.
