Sample, Jones start Tulane in right direction for comeback win

MOBILE, Ala. – Uncle Mo, like one of those countless tropical systems churning in the Atlantic basin this time of year, made a slow and steady turn at the grand opening of the University of South Alabama’s Hancock Whitney Stadium Saturday night.

Before Tulane could walk away on this night with a 27-24 victory, it had to take the tiny steps to flip the momentum in a game that could have easily turned into a blowout for the home team.

About midway through the third quarter, Tulane was trailing South Alabama 21-6 – not what Willie Fritz, or the oddsmakers, expected from this season opener.

The Jaguars had scored touchdowns on three of their last four possessions and had the ball at the Tulane 22, looking for a possible kill shot.

The Green Wave forced a third-and-13, and then it backed up the Jags even more when Cam Sample sacked Chance Lovertich for a 6-yard loss, forcing a long-range field goal. While the Jags converted to extend the lead to 24-6 with 7:38 left in the quarter, the first little turn had happened.

On the ensuing kickoff, Amare Jones brought it out of the end zone, got to the edge and not only gave Tulane great field position at its 40, but Jones took on South Alabama coverage man Keith Gallmon and delivered a blow that knocked Gallmon’s helmet off before Jones stepped out of bounds.

That moment provided a lift to the visitors’ bench like no other through the first 37 minutes on this humid night.

Keon Howard, the Southern Miss transfer making his first start at Tulane, had struggled after an accurate start before a couple of completions quickly moved the Wave to the USA 23. Four plays later, Cam Carroll scored his second touchdown of the night on a 14-yard run, and it was 24-13.

The defense kept it going, starting a string of three consecutive three-and-outs against a South Alabama offense that had none in its first 19 drives of the season.

Early in the fourth quarter, Howard scored on a 1-yard run to make it a 24-19 game – a drive that started with a pair of touches by Jones, who hadn’t done much offensively to that point but gained 13 yards on a run and catch after Tulane had gotten the ball at the Jaguar 42 following a short punt.

An exchange of punts and a penalty allowed Tulane to pin South Alabama back to its 3 with 12:48 left. The Jaguars converted three consecutive third downs and crossed midfield, but a Patrick Johnson sack of Lovertich killed the drive.

Jones returned the ensuing punt 19 yards to the 33, and six plays later, Jones finished things with a 16-yard run to give the Wave its first lead of the night. A two-point conversion pass made it a three-point game with 3:18 to play.

Now it was time for the defense to finish the job. Sample had an 11-yard sack – Tulane’s fifth of the night – sandwiched around a pair of incompletions on rushed throws. Facing fourth-and-21 at his 14 with a little over 2½ minutes to play and two timeouts left, South Alabama coach Steve Campbell made the only choice he could make – punt, and try to play defense.

The Jags would get a stop – sort of. They forced Tulane to punt, but a “leaping” penalty on the punt rush gave Tulane an automatic first down, and Fritz got to send his offense back out, this time in victory formation.

In the midst of what was a great day for the Sun Belt Conference, this could have been another big win, but Sample, Jones and others wouldn’t let happen to Tulane what had already happened to the Big 12 Conference.

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Tulane now gets ready for a visit from Navy and a network television audience on Saturday at Yulman Stadium, in front of just friends and family.

The adage in coaching says your team makes the most improvement from Week 1 to Week 2. Navy certainly has plenty to improve on after its woeful Labor Day loss at home to BYU. Fritz will no doubt be coaching up the Green Wave as well, but it comes after a victory instead.

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