Tulane handles Memphis in finale, 35-21

NEW ORLEANS – The Tulane football team closed its 2020 regular season with a 35-21 American Athletic Conference home victory over Memphis on Senior Day at Yulman Stadium.

Freshman quarterback Michael Pratt accounted for four total touchdowns, including two passing and two rushing, while throwing for 254 yards.

Senior running back Stephon Huderson ran for a game-high 67 yards on just 10 carries, as Tulane outgained Memphis, 165-45, on the ground in the ballgame.

Junior wide receiver Duece Watts and sophomore wideout Jha’Quan Jackson each hauled in one touchdown reception, respectively.

The Green Wave (6-5, 3-5 AAC) used their first possession to muster a 10-play drive that started at their own 25 yard-line and ended on a 15-yard touchdown pass from Pratt to Watts on an over-the-shoulder catch in the left corner of the end zone. The Tigers (6-3, 4-3 AAC) were quick to respond however, connecting a 59-yard touchdown strike over the top of the Wave’s defense to tie the game at seven just 53 seconds later.

Two possessions later, Tulane lit up the scoreboard on Pratt’s second touchdown pass of the first quarter – a 42-yard connection with Jackson – to reclaim the lead with four minutes remaining.

Pratt found the end zone for a third time in the first half when he capped a nine-play, 83-yard drive by running it in from three yards out with 11:09 left in the second quarter to extend the advantage 21-7. The Tigers cut their two-score deficit in half with 1:18 remaining by finishing off a 13-yard drive with a short touchdown rush.

Leading 21-14 at halftime, Tulane outgained Memphis, 229-170, in total yardage. Despite going 1-of-7 on third down, the Green Wave held the Tigers to 1-of-6 in the same situation.

Following a stop by the defense to start the second half, Pratt and the Green Wave marched down the field with flurry of rushing attacks sandwiching one pass completion before the drive ended with Pratt using his legs to score his second touchdown of the game on the ground from 10 yards out to increase the lead to 28-14.

Memphis got back within striking distance on its next possession with a nine-play scoring drive that concluded with a six-yard touchdown pass to pull back within seven.

Tulane made it a two-touchdown advantage, 35-21, early in the fourth quarter after an impressive, 11-play, 80-yard drive that chewed up over four minutes of game clock and ended with redshirt sophomore running back Cameron Carroll pounding in a rushing touchdown from nine yards out.

The score proved to be the final tally on the scoreboard for either team on the day and was Carroll’s team-leading 10th rushing touchdown of the season.

Defensively, sophomore linebacker Dorian Williams led all players with nine tackles (eight solo) and one pass breakup. Freshman defensive back Cornelius Dyson and junior safety Larry Brooks each recorded one interception.

TULANE 35, MEMPHIS 21 – POSTGAME NOTES

TEAM NOTES
• With the win, Tulane captured its fourth win in five games to finish the regular season with a winning record.
• With the win over Memphis, Tulane has now defeated the Tigers in back-to-back games at home. Tulane has not defeated Memphis in back-to-back home games since the 1988 and 1989 seasons.
• Tulane closed out the regular season by winning its final three home games. The Green Wave’s two losses at home came by a combined total of six points. Since the start of the 2017 season, Tulane has posted a 17-7 mark at Yulman Stadium.
• Tulane and Memphis met for the 37th time in program history. With the win, Tulane secured its 13th all-time win over Memphis. Since 2000, Tulane has only defeated Memphis three times. Two of those victories have come under the direction of head coach Willie Fritz.
• Prior to its matchup with Memphis, Tulane honored its 17 seniors.
• Tulane’s 2020 senior class have combined to win 25 games over their careers. The 25 wins are the most by any senior class during a four-year period since 2000.
• The Green Wave scored 30-or-more points for the eighth time this season.
• Tulane outgained Memphis by a 419-300 count.
• Memphis entered the game averaging 488.1 yards of total offense per game. This is just the third time this season Memphis has been held to under 350 yards of total offense.
• The 2020 senior class served as the gameday captains for today’s game.
• The Wave of Change flag carrier was DL De’Andre Williams.
• The No. 18 flag was carried by CB Chase Kuerschen.
• With the win, Tulane head coach Willie Fritz improves to 222-106-1 all-time. His 29 wins at Tulane rank sixth all-time in program history.

OFFENSIVE NOTES
• Offensive starters for the Green Wave were QB Michael Pratt, WR Duece Watts, WR Jha’Quan Jackson, WR Mykel Jones, RB Stephon Huderson, TE Tyrick James, OL Sincere Haynesworth, OL Caleb Thomas, OL Trey Tuggle, OL Joey Claybrook and OL Josh Remetich.
• Pratt finished the game with a pair of touchdown passes. The freshman signal caller has now thrown for multiple touchdown passes in seven games.
• In nine appearances this season, Pratt has thrown 18 touchdowns. Pratt’s 18 passing touchdowns are the most by a Tulane quarterback since Ryan Griffin threw 20 as a senior in 2012.
• Wide receiver Phat Watts had a career-high 55 yards receiving.
• Duece Watts and Jha’Quan Jackson both hauled in their team-best sixth touchdown receptions of the season.
• Jackson finished the game with 132 all-purpose yards (57 yards receiving, 43 kick return yards and 15 punt return yards).
• Redshirt sophomore running back Cam Carroll has rushed for his 11th touchdown of the year. He now has 12 touchdowns on the year. Carroll has rushed for a touchdown in six of the Green Wave’s 11 games this season.
• Senior running back Stephon Huderson finished the game with a team-best 67 yards rushing.
• As a team, Tulane surpassed 100 yards rushing also rushed for over 100 yards 63rd time in its last 64 games.

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DEFENSIVE NOTES
• Defensive starters for the Green Wave were LB Dorian Williams, LB Marvin Moody, S Chase Kuerschen, S Larry Brooks, CB Jaylon Monroe, CB Willie Langham, DL Noah Seiden, DL Adonis Friloux, DL Patrick Johnson, DL Cameron Sample, and DL Jeffrey Johnson.
• Larry Brooks recorded an interception for the third straight game. Brooks leads the team with three interceptions on the season.
• Dorian Williams led the team with nine tackles.
• Cornelius Dyson collected his first career interception.
• Adonis Friloux tallied his first career sack.
• Patrick Johnson tallied a tackle for loss. He now has 40 career tackles for loss which ranks sixth all-time.
• As a team, Tulane finished the game with eight tackles for loss and three sacks. Tulane’s defensive unit has tallied 37 sacks this season – a figure that sixth all-time in program history.

SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
• Ryan Wright finished the game with five punts for 216 yards (43.2 average). Wright entered the game leading the American Athletic Conference in punting average
• Merek Glover connected on five extra points. He now has 292 career points kicking which ranks third all-time.