Tulane University
Navy
Green Wave Rolls Over Midshipmen, 51-30
Oct 26, 2002 | Football
Oct 26, 2002
By BRETT MARTEL
Associated Press Writer
NEW ORLEANS - J.P. Losman threw for a season-high 329 yards and five touchdowns, and Mewelde Moore became Tulane's career rushing leader as the Green Wave defeated Navy 51-30 Saturday.
The game was played at Tad Gormley Stadium in New Orleans' City Park as part of Tulane's Homecoming. It was the first outdoor home game for the Green wave since 1974, when it played its final game at venerable Tulane Stadium.
"I thought it was great [the outdoor atmosphere]," Losman said. "I thought the fans before the game and after the game, the whole atmosphere they brought, I think it was wonderful. All the players, we were talking about the fan support we had the entire game."
Moore ran for 87 yards and a score. He also had a 6-yard carry on a fourth-and-1 near midfield to sustain an eventual touchdown drive.
Moore broke the old Tulane rushing mark of 3,095 yards - set in 1949 by Eddie Price - on a 17-yard run late in the first quarter. The play helped set up Moore's 1-yard scoring run that gave Tulane a 17-13 lead. Moore now has 3,127 career yards, 816 this season.
Tulane defensive end Chris Williams scooped up a fumble by Kyle Eckel and ran it back 35 yards for a score. Tulane (6-3) has scored a defensive touchdown in six games this season, all victories. The six defensive touchdowns set a single-season school record.
Tulane scored quickly to open the game. Three plays after Lynaris Elpheage returned the opening kickoff to the 39, Losman hit Damarcus Davis over the middle for a 54-yard score.
Navy (1-7), running a triple option offense unfamiliar to Tulane, responded with 80-yard scoring drives on its first two possessions.
"When you don't see something like their option but once a year, it's tough to prepare for," Tulane head coach Chris Scelfo said. "We talked about it in the hotel before we came over that it was something we couldn't simulate, but we got adjusted at halftime."
Tony Lane capped the first drive when he took a pitch and found room outside for a 26-yard run. Quarterback Craig Candeto carried it in from 21 yards on the second drive, giving Navy a 13-10 lead after the conversion kick went wide with 3:24 left in the first quarter.
 Damarcus Davis scampers into the end zone for a touchdown against Navy during the first quarter.  | |
An interception by Josh Smith, who returned the ball 28 yards to the Tulane 18, set up an 18-yard touchdown run by Eckel that gave Navy a 20-17 lead.
Shortly after Moore's fourth-down conversion, Losman hit Nick Narcisse with a 29-yard touchdown pass. On the next drive, Tulane stopped Navy on fourth-and-2 near midfield with 1:21 left in the half.
The Wave cashed in when Losman hit Bobby Hoover with a 2-yard touchdown pass for a 30-20 halftime lead.
In the second half, Losman had touchdown passes of 8 and 20 yards to Tristan Smith.
Lane led Navy with 80 yards on the ground. Candeto ran for 65 yards and hit four of nine passes for 63 yards.
