NEW ORLEANS — No. 24 Tulane quarterback Michael Pratt completed 14 of 15 passes for 294 yards and four touchdowns, and the Green Wave beat South Alabama 37-17 in South Alabama’s season opener Saturday night at Yulman Stadium.
South Alabama committed five turnovers and allowed several long pass plays, including a pair of 47-yard touchdown passes and a 48-yarder.
“I’m very disappointed in just the lack of execution of the things we say we wanted to do to win,” South Alabama head coach Kane Wommack said. “The first thing, you’ve got to take care of the football. We turned the ball over five times. That’s not winning football, that’s not the way we have won here in the past.”
Early Fumble Sets Up Tulane
La’Damian Webb lost a fumble on the second play from scrimmage, giving Tulane a short field. The Green Wave needed four plays to score the game’s first touchdown.
Diego Guajardo’s 53-yard field-goal attempt for South Alabama fell short, and Tulane added a 29-yard field goal for a 10-0 lead.
Bradley Scores on Review
The Jaguars got on the board early in the second quarter when quarterback Carter Bradley rolled right and dove for the pylon. He was initially ruled out of bounds short of the goal line, but officials reviewed the play and overturned the call, awarding a touchdown.
Tulane answered in three plays. After a 4-yard run, Pratt hit Dontae Fleming for 39 yards, though a facemask penalty took back 15 yards. Pratt then found Jha’Quan Jackson for a 47-yard touchdown and a 17-7 lead.
Following a South Alabama punt, a 6-yard run set up Pratt’s 47-yard touchdown pass to Lawrence Keys, making it 24-7.
Bradley was intercepted at the Tulane 27, but South Alabama’s defense quickly forced a turnover when Khalil Jacobs strip-sacked Pratt and Ke’Shun Brown recovered at the 13. The Jaguars settled for a 36-yard field goal, and Tulane led 24-10 at halftime.
Second Half
Tulane received the second-half kickoff. A few plays into the third quarter, Yam Banks forced a fumble that Ricky Fletcher recovered at the South Alabama 47. Banks did not return after entering the concussion protocol.
South Alabama followed with a 12-play, 53-yard drive that ended with Bradley’s 7-yard touchdown pass to Devin Voisin, cutting the deficit to 24-17.
Tulane scored the final 13 points on a 48-yard touchdown pass from Pratt to Jackson and two field goals.
Statistics
South Alabama gained 265 total yards, with 75 rushing yards on 32 attempts and 190 passing. Tulane totaled 436 yards, including 142 rushing on 38 carries and 294 passing.
- Carter Bradley: 23-of-30, 190 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT
- La’Damian Webb: 9 carries, 40 yards
- Kentrel Bullock: 12 carries, 37 yards
- Braylon McReynolds: 2 carries, 9 yards
- Caullin Lacy: 7 catches, 60 yards
- Jamaal Pritchett: 5 catches, 63 yards
- Devin Voisin: 1 catch, 7-yard TD
- James Miller and Jamie Sheriff: 7 tackles each
- Khalil Jacobs: team’s only sack
- Forced fumbles: Jamie Sheriff, Khalil Jacobs, Yam Banks
For Tulane, Pratt was 14-of-15 for 294 yards and four touchdowns without an interception and also ran 11 times for 39 yards. Makhi Hughes led the Green Wave with 41 rushing yards on eight carries. Jackson caught three passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns, Keys had four catches for 96 yards and a touchdown, and Chris Brazzell added four receptions for 53 yards and a touchdown.
Injuries
Banks, Jalen Jordan and McReynolds each left the game with injuries and did not return. Their availability for next week’s game will be monitored.
Wommack: Secondary Must Be Disciplined
Wommack said the defense’s plan to limit explosive plays was not executed.
“We said defensively we wanted to limit explosive plays, and we’ve got a very experienced secondary that put their eyes in the wrong place,” he said. “Credit them, they had a good plan, but it’s a hard pill to swallow when you just don’t execute.”
“Two of the issues were things we have worked tirelessly to get corrected,” Wommack said. “And they did not. It’s unfortunate, but we’re going to have to show our guys again how truly disciplined they have to be on the back end.”
The performance followed South Alabama’s appearance in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl in December, when Western Kentucky’s Austin Reed passed for 497 yards and four touchdowns in a 44-23 Hilltoppers win at the Caesars Superdome.
“We’ve got to find those holes on film and patch them up,” Jaden Voisin said. “People are going to attack us based on that (Western Kentucky) film. We’ve got to clean some things up in that area.”
Home Opener Next
South Alabama opens its home schedule against Southeastern Louisiana at Hancock Whitney Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 9, at 4 p.m. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and carried on the Jaguar Radio Network.
