Field Level Media
Sep 12, 2020
Cameron Carroll had two of Tulane's four rushing touchdowns as the Green Wave scored the final 21 points and defeated host South Alabama 27-24 in a nonconference game Saturday night.
The Green Wave (1-0), 7-6 a year ago, were playing their season opener after their Sept. 3 home game against Southeastern Louisiana was canceled.
The Jaguars (1-1), who began the season by ending a 15-game road losing streak with a 32-21 road victory against Southern Miss on Sept. 3, were playing their first game in the new Hancock Whitney Stadium on campus in Mobile, Ala.
Keon Howard completed 14 of 30 passes for 190 yards and rushed for 31 yards and a touchdown for Tulane. Amare Jones ran 16 yards for the winning touchdown with 3:18 remaining and Tyjae Spears didn't score, but added 105 yards on 11 carries.
Chance Lovertich came off the bench to throw two touchdown passes, completing 18 of 30 for 249 yards and two touchdowns, for the Jaguars.
USA led 14-6 at halftime and Carlos Davis' 2-yard run and Diego Guajardo's 49-yard field goal pushed the lead to 24-6 midway through the third quarter.
Carroll's 12-yard touchdown run pulled Tulane within 24-13 at the end of the third quarter.
Howard's 1-yard touchdown run less than a minute into the fourth quarter made it 24-19.
Jones' score completed a 67-yard drive and the comeback as the Green Wave won its season opener on the road for the first time since 1998 when they finished 12-0.
Both teams lost a fumble on their first possessions, then turned the ball over on downs on their second as the first quarter ended scoreless.
The Jaguars sent Lovertich in to replace Desmond Trotter at quarterback in the second quarter and the change immediately reaped dividends.
Lovertich threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to Kawaan Baker to complete his first possession and break the scoreless tie.
On the first play after the ensuing kickoff, Spears ran 41 yards, leading to Carroll's 6-yard touchdown run. A missed extra point left the Jaguars with a 7-6 lead.
Lovertich's 13-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Wayne pushed USA's lead to 14-6 at halftime.
--Field Level Media