Backup quarterback Dexter Williams II threw three touchdowns in a 42-0 rout of East Texas A&M on Saturday, Sept. 19, at H.A. Chapman Stadium. The defense held the Lions scoreless for the Golden Hurricane's first shutout since 2002.

The win gave Tulsa (3-0) its best start since 2008 and ended a 24-year shutout drought dating to a 20-0 victory over UTEP on Oct. 26, 2002, according to CBS Sports.

Williams, a seventh-year senior making his first start as a Golden Hurricane, completed passes for 164 yards and three scores. He stepped in after starter Baylor Hayes was held out with a sprained knee suffered in the Week 2 win at Sam Houston. Head coach Tre Lamb said at his Tuesday, Sept. 15, press conference that the move was precautionary.

"Baylor's gonna be out this week. He's got a sprained knee. He's fine. We avoided disaster there, which is good," Lamb said at the press conference, per Underdog Dynasty.

Williams wasted no time.

He connected with Oran Singleton on a 27-yard touchdown on Tulsa's opening drive, then hit Donnell Gee Jr. for a 24-yard score to open the second quarter. Trequan Jones blew the game open with a 98-yard kickoff return to start the third quarter, according to ESPN's game recap.

Damari Alston added a 19-yard rushing touchdown later in the third. Jackson Shockley caught a 22-yard pass from Williams in the fourth, and Seth Davis broke free for a 51-yard scoring run to cap the rout. Davis finished with 90 yards on nine carries.

Tulsa piled up 450 total yards, including 286 on the ground, while limiting East Texas A&M (1-3) to 288 yards, according to the official box score.

The defense was relentless. Zane Woodham, Sam Stone and Thomas Davis each recorded a sack. Carter Langenderfer picked off a pass, and Chris Thompson Jr. led the team with eight tackles. East Texas A&M failed to score, settling for seven punts, two turnovers on downs and a missed field goal.

Williams arrived at Tulsa after previous stops at Indiana (2020–23), Georgia Southern (2024) and Kennesaw State (2025). Lamb praised his offensive line after the season-opening 24-10 win over Oklahoma State on Sept. 5. He told the Tulsa Beacon on Sept. 10: "I thought we kicked their butts, in every phase of the game. Lines of scrimmage were a big difference."

Tulsa travels to Arkansas on Saturday, Sept. 26.