Football Holds on for 24-18 Win Over ECU

NEW ORLEANS – The Tulane Green Wave football team produced 535 yards of total offense, but it was the defense that stood strong when the team needed it most late in a thrilling 24-18 victory over the ECU Pirates Saturday night in Yulman Stadium.

Holding on to a lead of just six points for the final 12 minutes of the game, Tulane (5-5, 4-2 American Athletic Conference) weathered four consecutive ECU (2-7, 0-6) offensive drives in the fourth quarter that resulted in no points for the Pirates to secure the victory.

The Green Wave successfully broke up 20 passes over the course of the game, setting a new NCAA record. Roderic Teamer Jr. led the defense with 10 total tackles which tied his career high, including a sack and tackle for loss. P.J. Hall recorded the first interception of his career as he and Donnie Lewis finished tied for second in tackles with six each.

Quarterback Justin McMillan threw for a career-best 372 yards and three scores in the win for the Green Wave, becoming the first signal caller since Ryan Griffin in 2012 to throw for over 350 yards in a game and toss three touchdown passes since Jonathan Banks last year against SMU.

Wide receiver Darnell Mooney finished the night with a career-high 217 yards receiving in the game and two touchdowns on six receptions. Not only did Mooney set the Yulman Stadium record for the longest play from scrimmage with an 86-yard touchdown reception, but his 36.2 yards per catch average is also a new school record.

Terren Encalade caught the other McMillan touchdown, as the senior became the 11th Tulane player in program history to eclipse 2,000 yards receiving in a career with his one catch for 73 yards.

Running back Darius Bradwell led Tulane in rushing with 77 yards on 19 carries, followed by Corey Dauphine's 47 yards on 17 carries.

Tulane sacked ECU quarterback Holton Ahlers five times in the contest, as the visiting quarterback finished the game throwing 21-for-67 for 360 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. The Pirates ended the game with 450 yards of total offense but was 3-for-21 on third downs.

After ECU was able to get on the board first with a field goal early in the first quarter, it would take some time for Tulane to finally get something going offensively. Fortunately, on the team's third drive of the day, McMillan tossed a dart to Mooney who broke free coming across the middle for an 86-yard score to put the Green Wave up 7-3.

On the ensuing drive for the Pirates, a pair of big plays got ECU into Tulane territory and threatening, but on second and nine at the Green Wave 36, Hall intercepted Ahlers in the end zone and returned it 20 yards to end the drive.

Deep in their own territory in the second quarter, McMillan found Mooney for a 13-yard gain on third down to get out of the shadows of their own end zone and keep the drive alive. On the very next play, Encalade hooked up with McMillan, and thanks to a big block from tight end Will Wallace went 73 yards for the score to make it 14-3.

An 80-yard touchdown pass for the Pirates near the end of the first half made it a one-score game again, but out of the break the Green Wave struck again. McMillan once again found Mooney coming across the middle and hit the senior in stride, this time going 79 yards to put Tulane up 21-10.

On ECU's second drive of the fourth quarter, Ahlers connected with receiver Trevon Brown for a 31-yard touchdown pass to make the score 24-16. The Pirates went for the two-point conversion and was successful, making the score 21-18.

It would be the final score for ECU, as Merek Glover connected for a 33-yard field goal with 7:35 left on the clock to push the Green Wave lead back to six. The Pirates would not be able to score again after that, as two of the next three ECU drives ended in a turnover on downs and one punt.

The Green Wave will be back in action next Thursday, traveling to take on the Houston Cougars at TDECU Stadium at 7 p.m. The game will be televised live on ESPN.

Players Mentioned

Jonathan Banks

Darius Bradwell

Corey Dauphine

Terren Encalade

Merek Glover

P.J. Hall

Justin McMillan

Darnell Mooney

Roderic Teamer Jr.

Will Wallace

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