Tulane University
Army
Mistakes Plague Tulane in 45-6 Loss at Army
Oct 1, 2011 | Football
Oct. 1, 2011
Final Stats | Quotes | Notes
WEST POINT, N.Y. - Turnovers and penalties plagued the Tulane football team Saturday afternoon in a 45-6 loss to Army on homecoming at Blaik Field at Michie Stadium at the United States Military Academy.
The Green Wave (2-3, 1-1 C-USA) turned the ball over four times that led to 17 points for the Black Knights (2-3), and committed 10 penalties that resulted in 92 yards.
"Obviously, turnovers played a big part in the game as well as penalties," Tulane head coach Bob Toledo said. "We couldn't keep drives alive because of major penalties. We didn't have the ball very much. I think we had a little over 50 snaps and that should be a little over half for a game. We didn't have the ball because we couldn't do anything offensively, and we couldn't stop Army's offense to get the ball back. They took it to our defense pretty good, especially inside where they just ran through us."
Orleans Darkwa was a bright spot for Tulane. The sophomore running back collected 138 yards on 16 carries, including the Green Wave's lone score of the afternoon. The Nashville, Tenn., native rattled off a career-long 67-yard run on the game's second play from scrimmage that set up his 3-yard touchdown run the very next play.
That score put Tulane up 6-0 after a missed extra point by sophomore Cairo Santos. Unfortunately that would be the only time Tulane would crack the scoring column. Army scored 45 unanswered points to even the series against the Green Wave at 9-9-1.
Army took the ensuing drive and marched 70 yards on 10 running plays capped by a 2-yard touchdown run by Larry Dixon. The extra point then gave the Black Knights a 7-6 lead, one they would not give up.
Tulane's first turnover of the game, an interception by Army's Josh Jackson, was returned to the Green Wave 13 yard line on the next possession to set up the Black Knights second score of the game, a 2-yard run by quarterback Trent Steelman, to go up 14-6.
Steelman added another touchdown, from one yard out, with 1:07 left in the second quarter, that secured a 21-6 lead for Army going into halftime.
Steelman finished the game with eight carries for 54 yards and two touchdowns. He also had a season-high passing day, going 3-3 for 70 yards and his first passing touchdown of the season.
Tulane had two fumbles in the second half that led to an Army touchdown and a field goal that all but put the game out of reach. The first fumble came right after Tulane's Darryl Farley forced Army's Jared Hassin to fumble on the first play of the second half. That turnover gave the Green Wave the ball on Army's 27-yard line, trailing 21-6, but a bad handoff exchange between quarterback Ryan Griffin and Darkwa put the ball on the ground to be recovered by Thomas Halloway at their own 11.
Army marched 89 yards in just five plays capped by a 40-yard pass from Steelman to Davyd Brooks to put the Black Knights up 28-6.
Darkwa fumbled on Tulane's next play from scrimmage that led to an Alex Carlton 23-yard field goal with 7:47 left in the third quarter.
Army added two more touchdowns, both on the ground. The Black Knights tallied 353 yards on the ground on 62 carries. Raymond Maples led the way with 141 yards on 15 carries.
Griffin completed the afternoon 10 for 19 with one interception and 74 yards. Joe Kemp was once again Tulane's leading receiver. The senior pulled down three receptions for 28 yards.
A pair of freshmen led the Green Wave defense. Matthew Bailey and Sam Scofield each posted career-high 10 tackles in the loss. Scofield collected his during his first career start at safety.
Tulane returns to action next Saturday when they play host to BIG EAST foe Syracuse in the Louisiana Superdome. Kickoff for that game will be 7 p.m. and the game will be carried live on Cox Sports Television.
Season ticket sales are still available through the Tulane Athletics Ticket Office, with packages starting as low as $90. Single-game sideline tickets are $35, adult endzone seats selling for $20 and youth endzone seats cost $10. The Ticket Office is located on the first floor of the James W. Wilson, Jr., Center on Ben Weiner Drive, and tickets can be purchased in person, over the phone at 504-861-WAVE (9283) or via the Internet at www.TulaneGreenWave.com.
