Birmingham, AL -- (Sports Network) - David Johnson threw for 332 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Tulsa Golden Hurricane past the UAB Blazers, 45-22, in Conference USA action at Legion Field.

Johnson, making his first career start, completed an efficient 20-of-24 tosses, as Tulsa (1-0, 1-0 CUSA) won its season-opener for the third straight year. Brennan Marion hauled in four balls for a team-high 125 yards in the win, while Charles Clay snared three passes for 87 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Tarrion Adams paced the ground attack with 63 yards and two scores on 12 totes.

Joe Webb guided UAB (0-1, 0-1) in the setback by throwing for 169 yards, two touchdowns and one interception on 17-of-31 pass attempts. He also carried the ball 18 times for a team-leading 136 yards. Frantrell Forrest caught a touchdown and returned a kickoff for another score in the losing effort.

UAB opened the game's scoring with a Webb 32-yard touchdown pass to Forrest midway through the first quarter.

Tulsa tied the score at 7-7 just over three minutes later, as Johnson hooked up with Jacob Collums on a 10-yard scoring strike.

With 13 seconds left in the opening frame, the Blazers regained the lead behind a nine-yard touchdown pass from Webb to Jeffery Anderson. The extra- point, though, was off the mark and UAB carried a 13-7 lead into the second quarter.

It took Tulsa less than a minute to strike in the second period, as Johnson hit Clay on a five-yard pass for a 14-13 edge.

Adams then scored on a three-yard run to push Tulsa ahead 21-13 with just over five minutes to play before the half.

UAB responded immediately, as Forrest took the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown. The two-point conversion attempt was no good, leaving Tulsa with a 21-19 advantage.

Swayze Waters connected on a 32-yard field goal on the last play of the opening half, giving the Blazers a 22-21 edge at the break.

Tulsa came out of the gate quickly in the second half and regained the lead courtesy of a nine-yard touchdown run by Adams less than three minutes into the frame.

Late in the third quarter, Tulsa made it a 35-22 score thanks to a one-yard touchdown plunge by Courtney Tennial.

With just under 10 minutes to play, the Hurricane put the game away with a 73- yard touchdown pass from Johnson to Clay.

A late 41-yard field goal by Kevin Fitzpatrick capped the scoring with Tulsa coming away with a 45-22 triumph.

Tulsa, which averaged a nation-best 543.9 total ypg in 2007, rolled up 601 yards in the victory.