Tulane University
3-3 , 0-2
Memphis*
5-1 , 2-0
Football Falls 24-14 to Memphis in Friday Night Clash
Oct 14, 2016 | Football
Green Wave had 7-3 lead before Memphis rallied with 21 unanswered points
Photo Gallery | Printable Stats
Postgame News Conference
NEW ORLEANS – Tulane football struggled to find its offensive rhythm on Friday night, as the visiting Memphis Tigers emerged with the 24-14 victory inside Yulman Stadium. The Green Wave boasted a 7-3 lead early in the second quarter thanks to a Kendall Ardoin touchdown reception, but the Tigers responded with 21 unanswered points, ultimately sealing the road victory.
The Green Wave (3-3, 0-2 American Athletic Conference | West) defense recorded a strong first half, holding the Tigers (5-1, 2-0 The American | West) to just three points in the opening quarter. It marked the fourth time in six games this season the Wave held its opposition to a field goal or less in the first 15 minutes.
The Wave got on the board at the 13:13 mark in the second quarter, when the Olive and Blue recorded a 10-play, 66-yard drive, capped by a 20-yard pass from Glen Cuiellette to Ardoin, as the tight end achieved his first touchdown reception of the season.
Later in the second quarter, Memphis took over on Tulane's seven yard line after a muffed punt, but the Wave defense responded my limiting the damage to a field goal to preserve the 7-6 lead.
However, Tulane's defense had one small leak in the first two quarters and it came with just 1:01 until the half, when Memphis' Riley Ferguson threw a screen pass to Darrell Henderson for 46 yards and the touchdown, resulting in a 13-7 lead at the midway point for the Tigers.
Memphis then extended its lead to 16-7 at 1:07 in the third quarter when Jake Elliott connected on a 50-yard field goal. Later, at 11:52 in the fourth quarter, Memphis' Henderson struck again, recording a 45-yard touchdown rush, and after a two-point conversion, pushed the lead to 24-7.
Tulane reached the end zone one more time, as Cuiellette earned his first career rushing touchdown with a two-yard carry, but with just 47 seconds remaining and a failed onside kick attempt one play later, the Green Wave comeback fell short.
Up next, Tulane hits the road once more, traveling to Oklahoma to clash with Tulsa on Saturday, Oct. 22, at 2:45 p.m. CT. The game will air live on ESPNU.
Green Wave Notes
• This marked the 33rd meeting between Tulane and Memphis. The Tigers lead the series 21-11-1.Tulane is now 9-9-1 at home in the series.
• The Green Wave have logged a forced fumble and fumble recovery in five straight games.
• Tulane held its opponent to a field goal or less in the first quarter for the fourth time in six games.
• A first-quarter sack on Memphis's opening drive was senior DE Ade Aruna's second on the season and sixth of his career.
• In the first quarter, redshirt junior CB Parry Nickerson notched both a forced fumble and fumble recovery on the same play, resulting in his first on the season and third in his career in both categories.
• In just the first half, Nickerson matched his career high of three pass breakups, a record set at Wake Forest on Sept. 1.
• Redshirt sophomore TE Kendall Ardoin notched his first touchdown of the year and the third of his career in the second quarter on a 20-yard pass, the longest reception of his career.
• The touchdown to Ardoin was the sixth career passing touchdown for redshirt sophomore QB Glen Cuiellette, who has now thrown touchdown passes in three straight games.
• Cuiellette scored his first career rushing touchdown on a two-yard carry with 0:47 left in the game.
• Freshman WR Darnell Mooney and redshirt sophomore WR Terren Encalade now have receptions in three straight games. Mooney set a career-high in receptions with four, totaling 45 yards.
• Junior NT Sean Wilson recorded the first multi-sack game of his career with his second and third sacks of the season, totaling six in his career.
• Senior NB Richard Allen caught his first career interception in the third quarter.
• Junior LB Rae Juan Marbley tied a career high in tackles with six, dating back to the UConn game last November.
• Sophomore P Zachary Block punted a career-long 59 yards in the fourth quarter.
• Senior LB Nico Marley forced his second fumble of the season and fifth of his career in the fourth quarter. The ball was recovered by redshirt junior DE Ade Aruna for his second career fumble recovery.
• Six Tulane players extended their double-digit starting streaks on Friday against Memphis: OG Chris Taylor (33), LB Nico Marley (31), DT Tanzel Smart (30), CB Parry Nickerson (27), FS Jarrod Franklin (18), OT Todd Jacquet (18).
• Redshirt sophomore DT Eldrick Washington carried out the No. 18 Flag in honor of former Green Wave player Devon Walker.
• Game captains were Encalade, Wilson, redshirt senior OT Todd Jacquet and senior LB Casey Spinelli.
• Attendance for tonight's game was 21,098.
Team Stats
MEM 3, TLN 0
MEM - ELLIOTT, Jake 37 yd field goal 14 plays, 60 yards, TOP 6:21
MEM 3, TLN 7
TLN - ARDOIN, Kendall 20 yd pass from CUIELLETTE, G. (DiROCCO, Andrew kick) 10 plays, 66 yards, TOP 4:43
MEM 6, TLN 7
MEM - ELLIOTT, Jake 21 yd field goal 4 plays, 3 yards, TOP 0:45
MEM 13, TLN 7
MEM - HENDERSON, D. 46 yd pass from FERGUSON, Riley (ELLIOTT, Jake kick) 5 plays, 65 yards, TOP 1:53
MEM 16, TLN 7
MEM - ELLIOTT, Jake 50 yd field goal 5 plays, 17 yards, TOP 1:38
MEM 24, TLN 7
MEM - HENDERSON, D. 45 yd run (CRAFT, Sam rush), 4 plays, 80 yards, TOP 1:44
MEM 24, TLN 14
TLN - CUIELLETTE, G. 2 yd run (DiROCCO, Andrew kick), 9 plays, 80 yards, TOP 2:56
