Tulane University
Rutgers
Defensive Battle Won by Green Wave, 17-14
Oct 2, 2010 | Football
Oct. 2, 2010
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PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Alex Wacha's first career interception could not have come at a better time for the Tulane Green Wave football team. The senior safety picked off Rutgers' freshman quarterback Chas Dodd at the Tulane 24-yard line with 0:36 to play in the game to seal the 17-14 victory for the Green Wave over the Scarlet Knights on Saturday afternoon in Rutgers Stadium.
The Green Wave (2-2, 0-1 C-USA) win spoiled Rutgers (2-2) homecoming and also snapped a six-game road losing streak. Tulane also snapped a two-game skid on the season and came up with one of the biggest victories in the Bob Toledo era.
"The kids are really doing a good job," Toledo said. "They are starting to believe that they can play with anyone. That is what we are trying to preach. This program is at a point where someone goes down, someone else has to step in and play. We can play with anyone. We have to believe it and we have to expect to win."
Tulane was forced to come from behind to earn the victory as things did not look good early. Rutgers rattled off the longest touchdown run from scrimmage in school history when receiver Mohamad Sanu took the direct snap in a wildcat formation and ran 91 yards on the second play of the game for the opening score. Tulane's defense was then able to slow down the Scarlet Knights' offense, allowing only 80 yards of total offense and just six rushing the rest of the first half.
"It was a very physical game, a hard fought game," Toledo added. "Give credit to Rutgers, they did not give in easily. We both battled well. We missed tackles, they made passes and we couldn't run the ball very well against them. They were pretty stout. We had a couple trick plays that worked and that helped us to win the football game."
Tulane got on the scoreboard with a career-long 39-yard field goal by freshman Cairo Santos with 14:19 remaining in the second quarter after an eight-play, 30-yard drive.
On the ensuing kickoff, Rutgers' Joe Lefeged fielded the kick at his own five-yard line and proceeded to dart in an out of would-be Tulane tacklers and scampered 95 yards for a touchdown, but a holding penalty by RU's J.T. Tartacoff negated the score that would have given the Scarlet Knights a 14-3 lead. Instead, the ball was placed at their own 10-yard line. Tulane's defense then forced Rutgers to punt after a three-and-out that led to the Green Wave getting the ball in Rutgers' territory at the 33-yard line.
Five plays later sophomore Payten Jason made the most of the good field position when gave Tulane the lead on a two-yard touchdown run. Santos tacked on the extra point to make the score 10-7 and the Green Wave would not relinquish the lead.
Tulane expanded its lead to 17-7 on a trick play with 9:28 left in the third quarter. The play, a touchdown thrown by wide receiver D.J. Banks to fellow wide receiver Joe Kemp, went for 24 yards into the endzone. With Kemp lined up under center, the former quarterback threw a backwards pass to Banks, who then hit Kemp on the left side flat and Kemp tripped but kept his balance and scampered into the endzone.
On its ensuing possession, Rutgers climbed back to within three, 17-14, when Dodd connected with Sanu on a 10-yard touchdown pass with 2:37 remaining in the third quarter that capped a 15-play, 55-yard drive that ate 5:33 off the clock.
The two defenses, which controlled the game throughout, held the game scoreless in the final quarter of play.
Tulane totaled 245 yards of offense, including 208 passing. Rutgers tallied 353 yards of total offense that included 148 on the ground.
The Green Wave defense gathered four quarterback sacks and knocked Rutgers' starting quarterback, Tom Savage, out of the game late in the second quarter when TU's Trent Mackey tackled him for a two-yard loss on the Green Wave sideline. Mackey, who leads Tulane in tackles, collected 10 in the game for his fourth straight double figure tackles game.
Sophomore quarterback Ryan Griffin threw for 140 yards on 17-of-28 attempts, while Kemp was 1-3 for 31 yards and Banks completed both of his attempts for 37 yards. Jason led the Green Wave running game with 28 net yards on 15 carries.
Seniors Casey Robottom and Cody Sparks each pulled down six receptions. Robottom's six catches resulted in a season-high 71 yards, while Sparks' career-high six catches went for 37 yards.
Sanu led Rutgers with 191 all-purpose yards with 121 of those coming on the ground, including 91 on the second play of the game. He also pulled down five receptions for 70 yards.
"This helps to motivate us continually because when you win, it gives us a chance to get to our goal of going to a bowl game," Toledo concluded. "We know that we are now 2-2 and we have to get healthy. We have some guys banged up. We have to play better on offense, but defensively I think we're doing a great job."
The Green Wave returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 9 for a Homecoming showdown with Army in Louisiana Superdome. For ticket information to the Homecoming contest, as well as future Green Wave Athletic events, contact the Tulane Ticket Office at (504) 861-WAVE. Tickets can be purchase in the Ticket Office, which is located on the first floor of the James W. Wilson, Jr. Center, over the phone or online at www.TulaneGreenWave.com.
