Oilers Defeat San Diego Strike Force for First Time in Franchise History
Published on May 2, 2026 under Indoor Football League (IFL)
Tulsa Oilers News Release
Tulsa, Okla. - Tulsa Oilers Football, a proud member of the IFL and powered by Community Care, defeated the San Diego Strike Force 51-42 on Saturday night at the BOK Center.
The Oilers wasted no time hanging points on the board after being forced into the opening possession via a San Diego possession deferment. TJ Edwards III dropped back on the opening play of the night, slinging a bomb over the top of the Strike Force defense that hit an in-stride Jerminic Smith who dove past the goal line to put Tulsa up 6-0 X into the game. Bailey Hale tacked on the extra point, placing Tulsa up 7-0, following up with a successful rouge to extend the Oilers' lead to 8-0 in the opening 90 seconds of the contest. San Diego answered with a nine-play scoring drive that featured two fourth-down conversions to make it an 8-7 game with 8:10 left in the first quarter. The Oilers offense didn't get a chance to add to its one-play, one-score resume, as Mike Kerrigan housed the ensuing San Diego kickoff to restore Tulsa's eight-point advantage, 15-7 with 6:52 left in the opening quarter. San Diego capped off another long, methodical drive with a rushing score to cut Tulsa's to 15-14 through one quarter.
Edwards III opened the second-quarter scoring 4:42 into the frame, freezing the San Diego defensive unit before scampering into endzone from the four-yard line. The Strike Force blocked Hale 's PAT attempt to set the score 21-14. The remaining 11:18 of the quarter saw zero scoring, despite both teams reaching the red zone.
Shane Hooks resumed the scoring on the opening drive of the second half, hauling in a one-handed touchdown catch, bringing the Strike Force level 21-21 with 7:53 remaining in the third quarter. Edwards III put the Oilers back on top 28-21 with a franchise-leading 30 th rushing touchdown of his tenure - his second of the night - second rushing touchdown of the night. A crucial TFL from Tre Harvey on the final play of the third quarter sent Tulsa into the fourth quarter with its 28-21 lead intact.
Nate Davis once again found the clutch gene - and along with it, the hands of Hooks- converting yet again on fourth-and-goal on San Diego's second play of the fourth quarter. Edwards III and Smith answered on the following play, producing a near-mirror of the opening play of the game on Tulsa's first play of the fourth quarter, a thirty-yard pitch-and-catch that placed the Oilers on top 35-28 with 12:02 remaining in the frame. Hale followed up with more heroics, this time a successful onside kick, to give the Oilers possession following their score. Edwards III found paydirt with his legs for the third time of the night with a herculean 12-yard rush, placing Tulsa up 42-28 with 7:50 remaining in the game. Davis found his fourth touchdown of the game to pull San Diego back to 42-35 with 4:13 remaining. Harvey erased the score on the following kick off, scooping a muffed return at the six-yard line before trotting into the end zone. A missed PAT held the Oilers' lead to 48-35. Davis linked up with former Oiler Cole Blackman for touchdown number five of the game, cutting Tulsa's lead to 48-42 - the narrowest margin of the second half - with 1:50 remaining on the clock. A failed onside kick from the Strike Force set the Oilers up in enemy territory late in the contest. Tulsa grinded down the clock to the 10-second mark and the ball down 10-yard line via three rushes before calling Hale to the field for a field goal attempt. The future lawyer negotiated the uprights, pushing the Oilers past the 50-point mark and sealing a 51-42 Oilers' victory.
Tulsa will go on the road to face the Jacksonville Sharks on Sunday, May 10 th. Kickoff is set for 3:00 p.m. CT.
Season tickets and group outings are available for the 2026 season.
Call the Tulsa Oilers front office at 918-632-7825 or visit tulsaoilersfootball.com for more information.
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Indoor Football League Stories from May 2, 2026
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