Tulane Takes over Tampa with 45-31 Victory Over USF

Saturday, October 15

Tampa, FL

3 p.m.

Tulane University

6-1 , 3-0

University of South Florida

1-6 , 0-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Tulane

South Fla.

Photo by: Parker Waters

Tulane Takes over Tampa with 45-31 Victory Over USF

Oct 15, 2022 | Football

Box Score

By: Victoria Ahlbrecht

FINAL STATS | POSTGAME FRITZ PRESS CONFERENCE | GALLERY BY PARKER WATERS

TAMPA, FL – Led by a career performance from Michael Pratt who passed for a career high 329 yards going 23-35 with four touchdowns, Tulane (6-1 overall, 3-0 AAC) grabbed its third straight conference victory of the season on Saturday versus USF (1-6, 0-3) inside Raymond James Stadium.

The victory made Tulane the first team in the AAC to gain bowl eligibility this season. This is the fourth time the team has been bowl-eligible under head coach Willie Fritz.

Tyjae Spears also surpassed a career milestone as his 75-yard rushing touchdown would best his career long of 69-yards last November at home versus USF. Spears totaled 148 yards and had two touchdowns in Saturday's victory.

Opening the game's scoring was kicker Valentino Ambrosio with a 27-yard field goal to give Tulane a early lead. With just two minutes left in the first, USF threw a touchdown to go up 7-3 heading into the second quarter.

With a quick quarterback keeper, Pratt regained the lead for the Green Wave. The Bulls responded fast and maintained a 14-10 lead for most of the second quarter, but a 11-yard reception from Duece Watts in the final seconds of the half gave Tulane the 17-14 lead heading into the locker room.

USF knotted it up with a field goal to open the third, but back-to-back touchdowns from Spears gave the Green Wave a two-score lead, 31-17.

The Green Wave continued to put points on the board in the fourth with Dea Dea McDougle pulling down a 16-yard reception and Pratt putting another one in on the ground. With the momentum in Tulane's favor, USF wouldn't be able to pull off a comeback. Finishing off in victory formation, the Green Wave took the game 45-31.

Tulane faces Memphis at home on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. in its Homecoming game, a contest that will carried on ESPN2.

NOTES
The win makes Tulane 6-1 or better for the first time since 1998 and the 11th time in school history…The program will finish the year with six or more wins for the 36th time…. Tulane is guaranteed of finishing at .500 or above for the 59th time in school history… The win for Coach Fritz was historic as it was his 37th at the helm of the program and his 230th career victory… The 37 career wins at Tulane for Fritz is tied for the second-most in school history along with Chris Scelfo (1998-2006) and 22 from tying the all-time coaching victories mark of 59 set by Clark Shaughnessy (1915-20 and 1922-26).

TICKETS
Tickets for the 2022 season can be purchased by calling 504-861-WAVE (9283), logging on to TulaneTix.com or visiting the ticket office at the James W. Wilson Jr. Center.

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