Jackson State Tigers vs Tulane Green Wave Match Player Stats On Aug 29, 2013

Tulane 34, Jackson State 7: Orleans Darkwa rushed for two touchdowns and the Green Wave forced six turnovers as they cruised to a home win over the Tigers in the season opener for both squads.

Nick Montana – a University of Washington transfer and the son of NFL Hall of Famer Joe Montana – threw for 144 yards and two scores in his Tulane debut. Ryan Grant, who led Conference USA with 1,149 receiving yards a season ago, had three catches for a team-high 82 yards.

Tulane took an early lead when Cairo Santos drilled a 22-yard field goal after Lorenzo Doss intercepted LaMontiez Ivy on the Tigers' first possession. Darkwa capped the next drive with a 5-yard TD run and Santos added a 34-yard field goal late in the first quarter following another Jackson State interception.

Montana connected on his first scoring pass since November 2011 on the ensuing drive, finding Justyn Shackleford from 14 yards out with 5:41 left before the break. Jordan Sullen intercepted Evan Ingram in the third quarter and Darkwa turned the mistake into another score from a yard out with 3:30 remaining in the stanza.

Devon Breaux stretched the margin to 34-0 with 9:38 remaining when Montana hit him on a slant for an 11-yard score. Tulane forced its most turnovers since 2003 and appeared poised for its first shutout since 1997, but yielded a 9-yard score to Ingram with 4:34 left as the Tigers went 95 yards in 13 plays.