Tulane Football Falls Short at ECU, 52-29

Saturday, October 2

Greenville, NC

2:30 P.M.

Tulane University

1-4 , 0-1

East Carolina

3-2 , 1-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Tulane

East Carolina

Oct 2, 2021 | Football

Box Score

GREENVILLE, N.C. – The Tulane University football team dropped its American Athletic Conference opener to ECU 52-29 Saturday afternoon at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.

Tulane's loss to ECU marked the Green Wave's first loss to the Pirates since the 2014 campaign. The Green Wave entered the game having won each of the past three meetings.

"I just told the team that our margin for error is very small. It's always going to be that way," head coach Willie Fritz said. "There are a bunch of teams that have won games doing things right. We can't make multiple mistakes and expect to win. It's not going to happen. We have to play really well. If we do that, we have a chance to win every game. You can't just roll the ball out there and beat somebody. My job is to find a way to help us play better."

Tulane quarterback Michael Pratt led the way offensively for the Green Wave, as he passed for 268 yards and accounted for three touchdowns (one passing and two rushing). With his passing score in the second quarter, Pratt extended his consecutive passing touchdown streak to 14 games.

The Green Wave also got a strong offensive performance from running back Cameron Carroll. The Mississippi native accounted for 147 all-purpose yards (80 yards rushing and 67 yards receiving). He also rushed for a touchdown.

Defensively for the Green Wave, Dorian Williams, Jadon Canady and Macon Clark each had eight tackles apiece.

As a team, Tulane was outgained 612-404. The Green Wave also had four turnovers which ECU turned into 14 points.

The Pirates came out swinging as they scored on each of their first four drives of the game and opened up a 24-0 lead. ECU held Tulane in check for most of the first quarter, as it held the Green Wave to just 11 yards of total offense.

"This one is on everybody," Fritz said. "Me, my assistants and players. We did not play or coach very well. You've got problems when you dig a hole as big as we did."

Tulane got its offensive in gear in the second quarter, as the Green Wave engineered a 10-play, 75-yard drive. Pratt found running back Ygenio Booker in the endzone for a 16-yard pitch and catch.

ECU responded with a scoring drive just before the end of the half to open up a 31-7 lead.

Tulane came out firing in the third quarter, as it outscored the Pirates 14-0 in the period. Rushing scores by Pratt and Carroll moved the Green Wave to within one score with 3:22 remaining in the third quarter (31-23).

ECU once again had an answer for the Green Wave's offensive charge, as it found he endzone on its next two scoring drives to open up a 45-23 advantage midway through the fourth quarter.

Tulane added another score with just under seven minutes to go in the game, as Pratt rushed in from two yards out.

The Green Wave would get no closer as ECU went on to secure the win with another scoring drive to make the score 52-29.

Tulane returns to action on Thursday, as it welcomes Houston to Yulman Stadium. The two teams will kickoff at 6:30 p.m. CT.

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