Tulane University
East Carolina
Green Wave Drops Home Opener, 51-24
Sep 8, 2001 | Football
Sept 8, 2001
By BRETT MARTEL
Associated Press Writer
NEW ORLEANS - Leonard Henry had a 92-yard touchdown run and finished with 218 yards on 19 carries as East Carolina used big plays to beat Tulane 51-24 on Saturday.
The Pirates (1-1, 1-0 Conference USA) also scored on Richard Alston's 54-yard halfback pass to Arnie Powell, and set up another score when David Garrard - forced out the pocket on third-and-long - hit Aaron Harris with a 58-yarder to the Tulane 1.
Henry also broke off a 54-yard run that set up Art Brown's 15-yard, fourth-quarter touchdown run.
East Carolina, coming off a 21-19 loss to Wake Forest, racked up 539 yards against Tulane (0-3, 0-1), which has given up 1,767 yards and 161 points this season.
Marvin Townes had a 62-yard kickoff return for East Carolina and a late 2-yard touchdown run, while Garrard completed 10 of 21 passes for 166 yards.
Tulane's high-flying offense moved the ball effectively, finishing with 429 yards, but two first-half interceptions resulted in a potential 14-point swing. Early in Tulane's second drive, Patrick Ramsey's pass was picked off by Christshawn Gilliam, who returned the ball 30 yards to give East Carolina a 10-0 lead.
In the waning moments of the second half, Ramsey drove Tulane 75 yards to the East Carolina 6, but Reggie Hamphill intercepted a pass to end the threat, leaving the Pirates' 20-7 lead intact.
Tulane pulled to 23-17 in the third quarter on Seth Marler's Conference USA-record 54-yard field goal, and Ramsey 6-yard TD pass to Roydell Williams. But East Carolina then scored four straight touchdowns.
Ramsey finished with 211 yards on 26 completions and two touchdown passes before being pulled in the fourth quarter for J.P. Losman, who hit Williams with a 50-yard scoring pass.
Tulane running back Mewelde Moore had 107 yards on the ground and 66 yards receiving, including a 12-yard touchdown catch. Williams caught 13 passed for 154 yards and two touchdowns.
