Tulane University
UAB
Risks Pay Off For Green Wave
Oct 19, 2002 | Football
Oct 19, 2002
By BRETT MARTEL
Associated Press Writer
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - J.P. Losman accounted for three touchdowns, and Tulane scored on a punt return and an interception in a 35-14 victory over Alabama-Birmingham on Saturday.
Mewelde Moore ran for 88 yards and caught a touchdown pass. The junior has 3,039 career yards rushing, 56 short of a school record set by Eddie Price in 1949.
The Green Wave (5-3, 3-2 Conference USA) pulled off risky but successful laterals to score on a punt return and an interception.
Lynaris Elpheage went 57 yards on a punt return in the first quarter, then flipped the ball as he was being tackled to Gerald Brobbey, who raced the remaining 21 yards for a touchdown.
"It was just something that happened at the time," Elpheage said of his lateral. "I'm just out there trying to make plays. If we turn it over, I'll take the heat for it. If we score, then I'll take the credit for that, too."
Sean Lucas took a short pitch after an interception by Trawick Boger and returned it 53 yards, giving Tulane a 35-14 lead at the end of the third quarter.
Like Elpheage, Boger was wrapped up and about to go down as he tossed the ball.
With four games left, including home dates against struggling Army and Navy, Tulane has its best opportunity for a bowl berth since 1998 - when the Green Wave went 11-0 under Tommy Bowden and won the Liberty Bowl after the coach bolted for Clemson.
Losman threw two touchdown passes and ran 7 yards for another score on a fourth-and-1 play. He finished with 108 yards passing.
Alabama-Birmingham (3-4, 2-1) led 14-13 in the second quarter after Darrell Hackney hit Roddy White with a 7-yard fade pass to the corner of the end zone. But that was UAB's last lead.
Hackney completed 18 of 37 passes for 194 yards and two touchdowns, but was under constant pressure and was sacked six times. He threw one interception. His other touchdown was a 25-yard pass over the middle to Willie Quinnie in the first quarter.
Dan Burks led UAB on the ground with 92 yards on 18 carries.
Tulane did not commit a turnover and was not penalized until an excessive celebration call on Lucas' return with 30 seconds left in the third quarter.
Seth Marler had a career-high 68-yard punt that pinned the Blazers at their own 6-yard line late in the first half. The kick set up a defensive stand that allowed Tulane regain the ball for a last-minute, 51-yard touchdown drive that ended when Losman hit Moore over the middle with a 14-yard pass.
Losman's other touchdown pass was a 5-yarder to tight end Jerome Landry, capping a 52-yard drive to start the game.
