Tulane Rolls to Senior Day Win Over USF, 45-14

Saturday, November 20

New Orleans

11 A.M.

Tulane University

2-9 , 1-6

USF

2-9 , 1-6

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

USF

TULANE

Tulane Rolls to Senior Day Win Over USF, 45-14

Nov 20, 2021 | Football

Box Score

NEW ORLEANS – An offensive outburst of 35 unanswered points in the first half by the Tulane University football team (2-9) carried the Green Wave to a 45-14 victory over South Florida (2-9) at Yulman Stadium on Saturday.

With the win, head coach Willie Fritz moved into a tie with Henry E. Frnka for the fifth most head coaching wins at Tulane with 31.

Tulane scored 28 points in the first quarter for the first time since it posted the same score against Southern on Sept. 10, 2016, at Yulman Stadium. The 45 unanswered by the Wave was the largest scoring run by Tulane since it scored 45-straight points earlier this season against Morgan State on Sept. 11.

As a team, Tulane outgained the Bulls 501-297. The Green Wave posted a season-best 311 yards through the air and surpassed 100 yards rushing for the ninth time this season with 190 yards on 35 carries.

"It was just a good, solid team win," Fritz said. "In all three phases we played well and we had zero penalties. I don't know the last time we had zero penalties."

Freshman Michael Pratt eclipsed 300 yards passing for the first time in his career completing 79 percent (19-24) for 311 yards and three touchdowns. This marks the 15^th game with multiple touchdown passes in Pratt's career and the seventh this season. Nine different receivers hauled in at least one catch, as Shae Wyatt led the Tulane air attack with four catches for 89 yards. Jaetavian Toles, Cam Carroll and Tyrick Wallace accounted for the three receiving scores for the Wave.

"It was awesome to see the offense dominate," Pratt said. "The offense finally went out there and started early. That's been one of the biggest things for us is needing to go out there and start fast and that's what we did today. The energy transferred to the defense and it just kept going all day."

Redshirt freshman Tyjae Spears led the Green Wave on the ground with career-high 111 yards on 13 carries. He also found the endzone twice for his team-best sixth and seventh rushing touchdowns of the season.

Defensively, Tulane recorded five total sacks and forced a pair of turnovers. Sophomore Dorian Williams led the Wave with six total tackles. Jeffery Johnson led Tulane with two stops in the backfield including one sack. Macon Clark with an interception and Jaylon Monroe with a fumble recovery combined to force the turnovers for the Wave.

"Coach Fritz said before the game 'let's go out there and give it our all,'" junior linebacker Nick Anderson stated. "This season didn't really hand us a good card but it's not about how you start, it's about how you finish. It was about your attitude, having pride, and being on your home field one last time this year and going out there to give it your all. And that's what we did. I'm so proud of this team."

Merek Glover passed Seth Marler with 334 points to become Tulane's all-time scoring leader after knocking through the extra point on the Green Wave's first touchdown of the day. He currently sits at 337 career points.

The Wave was rolling in the first quarter scoring 28 unanswered points after USF scored a touchdown on the opening drive of the game. Spears opened the scoring for Tulane with a 69-yard touchdown for his sixth rushing score of the season. Macon Clark's fourth interception of the year set up Tulane to take the lead on a nine-yard touchdown catch by Cam Carroll. After a three-and-out by the Bulls, Pratt connected with Tyrick James for a 30-yard score. In the final minute of the quarter, Spears found the endzone again this time from six yards out.

The offense slowed down for Tulane in the second quarter as the Green Wave scored once on a 48-yard pass from Pratt to Toles. The Green Wave defense kept the Bulls scoreless in the quarter to head into the locker room with a 35-7 advantage at the half.

Tulane tallied 356 yards of total offense in the first half with Pratt accounting for 230 through the air and Spears led the ground attack with 94 yards on eight carries for two touchdowns.

Carroll's second score of the contest and his first on the ground accounted for the only points of the third quarter. The Tulane defense limited the Bulls to just 29 yards in the quarter including nine yards on nine carries.

The Green Wave added a 36-yard field goal from Glover early in the fourth quarter. USF accounted for the final points of the contest as it found the endzone with 5:37 remaining. Tulane claimed the win by a final tally of 45-14.

"You go through this adversity and a lot of times it reveals character or a lack of character," Fritz said. "Our guys have done a good job of staying together and not acting a fool."

Tulane is back in action for the season finale Saturday, Nov. 27, on the road against Memphis. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. CT and will be aired on ESPNU.