Tulane University
Navy
Tulane Overpowers Navy, 42-10
Nov 6, 2004 | Football
Nov. 6, 2004
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Lester Ricard completed 18 of 19 passes for 323 yards and four touchdowns as Tulane defeated Navy 42-10 in a non-conference game Saturday night.
Ricard, who completed his last 14 passes, had a .947 completion percentage, which was a school record.
Two of Ricard's touchdown passes went to Roydell Williams, who had six catches for 148 yards. Williams had his fourth 100-yard receiving game in the last five and became the Green Wave's career leader in touchdown receptions with 32, one more than JaJuan Dawson. Tulane improved to 3-5.
Navy (7-2) failed in its attempt to match its best record after nine games since 1963. That year, the Midshipmen started 8-1 behind Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Roger Staubach.
The Green Wave, who led 21-10 at halftime, extended the lead to 28-10 on a 28-yard touchdown pass from Ricard to Williams on their first possession of the second half.
After Navy's Geoff Blumenfield missed a 26-yard field goal, Tulane drove 80 yards and Ricard threw an 18-yard touchdown to Matt Forte to take a 35-10 lead.
Jovon Jackson's 22-yard touchdown run gave the Green Wave a 42-10 lead with 12:22 remaining in the game.
Tulane took the opening kickoff and drove 80 yards, taking a 7-0 lead on Jackson's 1-yard touchdown run.
The Green Wave were in scoring position again after Kelvin Johnson's interception gave them the ball at the Midshipmen's 32. After gaining one first down, Tulane attempted a 27-yard field goal. Nick Beucher's kick was blocked by Josh Smith and Jeremy McGown recovered the ball and ran 33 yards to the Green Wave 12.
Six plays later Kyle Eckel ran one yard for a touchdown to tie the score at 7. On the next possession on third-and-21, Ricard threw an 87-yard touchdown pass to Williams.
Navy got a 29-yard field goal from Blumenfield to get within 14-10 with 6:22 left in the second quarter.
Green Wave safety Joey Dawson recovered Eric Robert's fumble at the Midshipmen's 42, and two plays later Ricard threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to Chris Bush for a 21-10 lead with 3:02 left in the second quarter.
Navy drove to the Tulane 11 late in the second quarter, but on third-and-3 with no time-outs, the Midshipmen handed the ball to Marco Nelson, who was stopped for a 3-yard loss and time ran out before they could attempt a field goal.
