Tulsa's David Wells Jr. tips ball to himself for improbable touchdown in wild play against Navy

Tulsa’s Unconventional Scoring Drives a Surprise Edge Over Navy

In a Saturday college‑football matchup that saw the Tulsa Golden Hurricane visit the Navy Midshipmen, a bizarre series of events produced an early lead for the Vols that stunned both teams and fans alike.

With the first quarter underway and the score tied 7‑7, Tulsa found itself on Navy’s 10‑yard line with just under two minutes to play. Quarterback Baylor Hayes handed the ball to wide receiver Oran Singleton Jr., who was nearly stopped for a loss. Singleton, however, slipped past the defender, turned the ball in the air, and sent a “floating prayer” toward the end zone. One of Tulsa’s receivers, David Wells Jr., tipped the ball backwards, caught it just outside the goal line, and sprinted into the end zone for a touchdown that could not have been called up by any playbook.

The play was a textbook example of improvisation at the highest level of the sport, and it set the tone for the rest of the game.

Later in the second half, Singleton delivered a second touchdown of his own, giving Tulsa a 26‑14 lead early in the third quarter. The Golden Hurricane’s offense continued to press, while Navy struggled to find its footing on both sides of the ball.

The Midshipmen enter the game with a recent legacy of success. Navy finished last season as a nationally ranked team, capturing the Commander‑in‑Chief’s Trophy after victories over both Air Force and Army, and capped the year with a Liberty Bowl win for an 11‑2 record. However, the team has already accumulated more losses than in any previous season as the 2024 schedule unfolded.

Tulsa, meanwhile, has begun the season with a 3‑2 record, a significant improvement over last year’s 4‑8 campaign. The Golden Hurricane’s early triumph in this encounter may signal a turning point as they look to build momentum in the months ahead.

While the final score of the game remains to be seen, the opening weeks of the season have already proven that college football can deliver moments of surprise, drama, and unexpected heroics on the field.