Tulane University
0-1
Duke
1-0
Football Drops Season Opener to Duke, 37-7
Sep 4, 2015 | Football
Final Stats | Quotes | Notes | Photo Gallery 
NEW ORLEANS -- Despite forcing two turnovers, Tulane's football squad could not stop Duke from scoring, while the Green Wave offense struggled to put points on the board in a 37-7 loss to the Blue Devils during the 2015 season opener at Yulman Stadium on Thursday night.
Tulane managed 271 yards of offense on the night -- with 99 yards coming on one drive - but Duke nearly doubled that with 530.
The Green Wave never gave up, though, as they fought until the clock ran out. Trailing 23-0 in the fourth quarter, Tulane got on the board with the program's longest passing play since 2012 as redshirt-sophomore quarterback Tanner Lee connected with redshirt-junior Devon Breaux on a 76-yard touchdown reception to complete a four-play, 99-yard drive in the fourth quarter.
On the ensuing kickoff, however, Duke's DeVon Edwards returned redshirt-senior Trevor Simms' kick 95 yards for a touchdown.
On the evening, Lee was 24-of-42 for 246 yards and one touchdown, while sophomore wide receiver Teddy Veal and redshirt-sophomore running back Dontrell Hillard paced the team with five receptions apiece. Breaux led the way with 92 yards receiving in his first-career multi-reception game, as he snagged four passes.
The Blue Devils struck first on an otherwise sloppy first quarter for both teams. Ross Martin kicked a 32-yard field goal with 5:41 remaining in the opening stanza after each team committed three penalties. Tulane's defense did manage to stop Duke on their opening drive, as redshirt-sophomore defensive end Ade Aruna forced a fumble on Duke's Johnell Barnes that was recovered by redshirt-sophomore defensive back Jarrod Franklin.
Duke reached the endzone shortly after the start of the second quarter, as Duke's Thomas Sirk connected with Shaquille Powell on a three-yard shovel pass to cap off a nine-play, 39-yard drive. Near the end of the first half, Duke retained the ball after an offsides penalty on Tulane during a punt before running out the clock and adding a field goal to take a 13-0 lead at the intermission. On the first drive of the second half, Duke tacked on their third field goal of the contest.
Tulane's defense forced their second turnover of the game with their backs against the wall in the middle of the third quarter when an errant backwards pitch by Sirk was scooped up by senior safety Darion Monroe in the red zone. The fumble recovery by Monroe was the seventh of his career, tying him for the Tulane career record with Jay Rink, who was honored with a moment of silence prior to the contest after succumbing to ALS earlier this year.
Junior linebacker Nico Marley was Tulane's leading tackler on the evening with a career-high 15 (13 solo, 2 assists). Franklin (8 solo, 2 assists) and junior Richard Allen (8 solo, 2 assists) were also in double-digit tackle totals during career outings.
The Green Wave will return to action next Saturday, Sept. 12, in Atlanta when Tulane will visit Georgia Tech for a 2:30 p.m. CT contest. Tulane will return to Yulman Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, for a tilt against Maine at 7 p.m. CT.
For more information regarding tickets, visit www.TulaneGreenWave.com, or call the Tulane Ticket Office at 504-861-WAVE (9283).
Team Stats
DU 3, TLN 0
DU - Martin, R 32 yd field goal 11 plays, 57 yards, TOP 4:40
DU 10, TLN 0
DU - Powell, S 3 yd pass from Sirk, T (Martin, R kick) 9 plays, 39 yards, TOP 3:12
DU 13, TLN 0
DU - Martin, R 25 yd field goal 12 plays, 84 yards, TOP 3:31
DU 16, TLN 0
DU - Martin, R 46 yd field goal 8 plays, 47 yards, TOP 3:08
DU 23, TLN 0
DU - Barnes, J 29 yd pass from Sirk, T (Martin, R kick) 1 plays, 19 yards, TOP 0:25
DU 23, TLN 7
TLN - BREAUX, Devon 76 yd pass from LEE, Tanner (DiROCCO, Andrew kick) 4 plays, 99 yards, TOP 2:04
DU 30, TLN 7
DU - Edwards, D 95 yd kickoff return (Martin, R kick)
DU 37, TLN 7
DU - Boden, Z 1 yd run (Martin, R kick), 11 plays, 75 yards, TOP 4:59
