Navy hits field goal on final play to down Tulane, 41-38

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(Photo: Parker Waters)

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.

With just two seconds remaining in the game, Navy’s Bijan Nichols made a 48-yard field goal to avoid overtime and seal the win for the Midshipmen.

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.

The Wave 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.

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.

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NAVY 41, TULANE 38 – POSTGAME NOTES (31,118 – Attendance)

TEAM NOTES
• Tulane rallied from 24 points to tie the score twice in the fourth quarter, but fell 41-38, as time expired.
• Tulane fell to 10-4 in its last 14 games dating back to last season.
• With the loss, Tulane dropped to 5-3 on the year.
• Tulane moved to 12-11-1 all-time against Navy.
• The Green Wave outgained Navy by a 477-453 count. Tulane outgained Navy by a 463-281 count over the final three quarters.
• Team captains for today’s game were OL Keyshawn Mcleod, S Larry Bryant, S P.J. Hall and OL Corey Dublin.
• Redshirt sophomore TE Connor Prouet carried the New Orleans flag. Graduate transfer DL Mike Hinton carried the American Athletic Conference Power 6 flag.
• Sophomore WR Jacob Robertson Jr. carried the No. 18 flag in honor of Devon Walker.
• With the loss, head coach Willie Fritz fell to 214-98-1 all-time. Fritz owns a 75-48 mark in the month of October.

OFFENSIVE NOTES
• The Green Wave offensive starters were QB Justin McMillan, RB Amare Jones, TE Tyrick James, TE Will Wallace, WR Darnell Mooney, WR Jalen McCleskey, OL Ben Knutson, OL Keyshawn McLeod, OL Corey Dublin, OL Christian Montano and OL Joey Claybrook.
• Mooney made his 36th consecutive start, while Dublin made his 33rd straight start.
• Tulane has now scored points in 27 of 32 quarters this season.
• The Green Wave surpassed 400 yards of total offense for the 23rd time since 2016. Tulane owns a 19-4 record in those games.
• McMillan fell to 10-4 as a starter. He is 4-4 on the road.
• McMillan finished the night by going 20-of-29 for 290 yards, adding three passing touchdowns and two rushing scores.
• McMillan has now run and passed for a score for the eighth time in his career. McMillan leads the team with nine rushing touchdowns on the year.
• McMillan has now rushed and passed for a touchdown in five straight games.
• Mooney extended his consecutive catch streak to 27 games, as he hauled in five receptions for 112 yards and one touchdown.
• Mooney now has seven career 100-yard receiving games.
• Mooney now has 19 career receiving touchdowns, which is tied for eighth all-time in program history.
• The Green Wave have now surpassed 100 yards rushing in 48 straight games. Tulane finished the game with 146 yards rushing.

DEFENSIVE NOTES
• The Green Wave defensive starters were DL Patrick Johnson, DL De’Andre Williams, DL Cameron Sample, NT Davon Wright, LB Malik Lawal, LB Lawrence Graham, LB Larry Bryant, CB Jaylon Monroe, S P.J. Hall, S Chase Kuerschen, and CB Thakarius Keyes.
• Tulane registered 4.0 tackles for loss against Navy. The Green Wave have tallied 4.0-or-more tackles in every game this season.
• Senior safety P.J. Hall tallied his second interception of the season in the third quarter.
• Tulane now has 11 turnovers gained this year (eight interceptions and three fumble recoveries).
• Senior linebacker Lawrence Graham finished with a career high 10 tackles.

SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
• Redshirt junior kicker Merek Glover missed his first field goal of the year in the first half, as he missed wide right from 40-yards out. He would later connect on a 39-yard field goal with 10:17 remaining in the fourth quarter.
• Sophomore Ryan Wright finished the game with three punts for 144 yards. He also dropped two punts inside the 20-yard line and had one punt travel over 50 yards.

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.

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