Tulane University
Navy
Football Falls to Navy in Final Seconds, 41-38
Oct 26, 2019 | Football
ANNAPOLIS, Maryland – The Tulane football team (5-3, 2-2) was just short of pulling off a come-from-behind win after trailing Navy (6-1, 4-1) 24-0 in the second quarter, but the Green Wave ultimately fell to the Midshipmen after a field goal in the last seconds of the game made the final score 41-38 in favor of the home team.
Though Tulane totaled only 14 yards of total offense in the first quarter –compared to Navy's 172 – the Green Wave completely turned things around and ultimately outgained their opponents, finishing the game with 477 total yards compared to the Midshipmen's 453.
Senior quarterback Justin McMillan led the Olive and Blue with five touchdowns (three passing and two rushing), going 20-29 in the air. Senior wide receiver Darnell Mooney's five receptions put him at 112 yards in the game, while redshirt freshman running back Cameron Carroll led the team on the ground with 71 yards on eight attempts. Senior linebacker Lawrence Graham topped Tulane's defensive stats, totaling a career-high 10 tackles.
Navy started off quick, dominating the first quarter of the game with two rushing and one passing touchdown to take a 21-0 lead after one.
But the Green Wave came out fighting and put points on the board in the second quarter, with a 34-yard reception from Mooney sparking some offensive momentum with a Tulane first down. McMillan ran it in for six from one yard out to make it a 24-7 game.
The Olive and Blue kept it rolling before halftime, as sophomore running back Amare Jones ran for 28 yards to get the three-play, 72-yard drive started. McMillan's 22-yard pass to Mooney put Tulane in the end zone, cutting the deficit to 10 with a 24-14 score.
The Midshipmen closed the second half with a pick six to keep the home team ahead with a 31-14 score at the end of the second.
Tulane was the first team to score in the second half, as junior wide receiver Jaetavian Toles scored his first touchdown of the season at the start of the third quarter. A five-yard pass from McMillan ended a seven-play, 46-yd drive to close the gap and put the Green Wave just 10 behind the Midshipmen at 31-21.
Tulane forced its 11th turnover of the season at the end of the third, as senior safety P.J. Hall grabbed the third interception of his career to get Tulane the ball back at Navy's 39-yard line. McMillan's two-yard pass to redshirt freshman running back Ygenio Booker gave the Green Wave six points and made it a one-possession game with a 31-28 score.
A 39-yard field goal from redshirt junior placekicker Merek Glover solidified an 11-play, 68-yard drive at the start of the fourth quarter, tying the game with a 31-31 score and 10:17 left on the clock.
Navy's 15-yard rushing touchdown put the Midshipmen back in the lead, 38-31, with 5:23 to go in the ball game.
Tulane came out strong on its next drive, with a 19-yard pass from McMillan to Mooney putting the Green Wave in scoring position at the one-yard line. McMillan ran it in to record his ninth rushing touchdown of the season to tie the game at 38-38 with 1:01 left on the clock.
With just 00:02 remaining in the game, Navy's Bijan Nichols made a 48-yard field goal to avoid overtime and solidify the win for the Midshipmen with a 41-38 final score.
Tulane is back at home next weekend, hosting Tulsa at Yulman Stadium on Saturday at 3 p.m. Fans are able to purchase tickets starting at $25 here.
Download the official mobile app of Tulane Athletics. Now, you can stay in touch with the Green Wave anytime and anywhere on your Android or iOS mobile device.
Follow Tulane football on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at @GreenWaveFB. Follow Tulane Athletics on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
WE ARE NOLA BUILT
Tulane University is located in the city of New Orleans. It is a city built on tradition and resiliency. The lessons Green Wave student-athletes have learned through their connection with this university and city have BUILT doctors, lawyers, business leaders, conference champions, all-conference players, All-Americans, professional athletes and NCAA tournament teams. The city of New Orleans has shaped us into who we are today. We are One City. We are Tulane. We are NOLA BUILT. Check out our story at NolaBuilt.com.
