Football Rolls Over Visiting UMass, 42-10

Saturday, September 3

New Orleans, LA

6 P.M.

Tulane University

1-0 , 0-0

University of Massachusetts

0-1 , 0-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Massachusetts

Tulane

Photo by: Parker Waters

Sep 3, 2022 | Football

Box Score

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

NEW ORLEANS – The Tulane football team (1-0) opened the 2022 season on winning note with a resounding 42-10 victory over visiting UMass (0-1) on Saturday night at Yulman Stadium.

It was an even two halves for Tulane as it scored three touchdowns in each. The Green Wave defense pitched a shutout over the last 30 minutes, while limiting the Minutemen to a total of 217 yards for the game.

Junior running back Tyjae Spears led the balanced offensive attack for Tulane with three rushing scores and 57 yards. Junior quarterback Michael Pratt was a dual threat with 55 yards rushing and a touchdown, plus he connected on 12 of 20 passes for 164 yards and two more scores. Redshirt junior receiver Lawrence Keys III was Pratt's favorite target with four catches for 27 yards and a touchdown. Redshirt senior tight end Will Wallace caught the other touchdown for Tulane. Redshirt freshman Iverson Celestine ran for 46 yards on only six carries for an average of 7.7-yards per carry.

The Tulane defense was led by senior linebacker Dorian Williams' 10 tackles. Nine of his tackles were solo. Senior safety Macon Clark tallied seven tackles, a forced fumble and intercepted a pass. Senior safety Larry Brooks totaled six tackles. Jarius Monroe had an interception that he returned for 22 yards. He also had a stop for a loss. Jesus Machado had four tackles including one for loss. Parker Peterson had three tackles including a stop for loss. Bailey Despaine had three tackles, including one behind the line of scrimmage.

The Green Wave outgained the Minutemen 369-217 for the game. The program ran for 196 yards on 39 carries with four touchdowns and threw for 173 yards on 13 completions and two scores. The offensive line kept the Tulane quarterbacks upright in not allowing a sack. The Green Wave defense limited the Minutemen to just 17 yards passing and 3.4 yards a carry on 58 attempts. Tulane was 5-for-6 in the red zone in the contest.

Tulane began the scoring on a Spears' six-yard touchdown run with 8:37 remaining in the first quarter. The jaunt finished off a six play, 31-yard drive. UMass tied the score up to start the second quarter at the 14:56 mark. Tulane took the lead for good on Spears second rushing touchdown of the game from a yard out with 8:31 remaining in the second quarter. The run finished off a 13 play, 77-yard drive and put Tulane up 14-7. Spears made it a hat trick with his third rushing touchdown of the game from four yards out to finish off a three play, 36-yard drive and increase the Green Wave lead to 21-7. UMass was able to sneak in a 21-yard field goal just before the break to make the halftime score 21-10.

The second half scoring started for Tulane with a 20-yard rush from Pratt at 12:37 in the third quarter to put the Green Wave up 28-10 and complete five play, 65-yard drive. The lead jumped to 35-10 Tulane on a Pratt to senior Duece Watts' 31-yard connection. The drive covered five plays and 65 yards. The Green Wave finished off the game scoring with Pratt and Keys hooking up on a two-yard pitch and catch at the 4:14 mark of the third quarter to complete a seven play, 27-yard drive.

The Tulane football team continues its two-game homestand to begin the campaign by hosting Alcorn State on Saturday night, Sept. 10, at Yulman Stadium. The start time for that game is also 6 p.m.

Notes: Tulane improved to 5-2 all-time in season openers under Willie Fritz…This game was the first time that Tulane has started the season at home since 2019…With the win, Tulane improved to 2-0 all-time against UMass…Michael Pratt has now thrown at least one touchdown pass in 21 of his 22 games. …Tulane has run for 100 yards as a team in 75 of the last 78 games.

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