ECU lost their 2nd conference game of the season in New Orleans. The Pirate passing attack put up 288 yards on the number on pass defense in the country, the most the Green Wave defense had allowed all year. In the absence of Rahjai Harris, Marlon Gunn Jr. filled in as the 2nd back. He caught 3 balls for 25 yards and rushed 7 times for 67 yards. The Pirate offense seemed to move the ball fine but couldn’t finish drives.
The teams picked up some first downs on their first drive but ended up trading punts. ECU drove down inside the Green Wave 10 on their 2nd drive and had to settle for a 27-yard Owen Daffer field goal, the first points let up by Tulane in the 1st quarter this year. The quarter came to an end with the Green Wave deep in Pirate territory in thanks to a 46-yard pass from Michael Pratt to Jah’Quan Jackson. Pratt then hit Tyrick James for a 3-yard TD to give the Green Wave a 7-3 lead. The Pirates responded in just 5 plays with a 24-yard TD from Holton Ahlers to CJ Johnson, but Daffer missed his 5th PAT of the season. Giving the Pirates a 9-7 lead. The following drive the Green Wave went 93 yards in 16 plays in 7:50 and it was capped off by a 1-yard touchdown run by Pratt to give the Green Wave a 14-9 lead. The Pirates tried a late field goal from 46 and it was blocked by Alfred Thomas. Tulane took a 14-9 lead into the locker room.
Late in the 3rd ECU was driving with hopes of taking the lead and Ahlers was picked off in the end zone by Larry Brooks for the first takeaway of the game. Tulane rode the momentum and scored just three plays later when Pratt hit Duece Watts for a 44-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 21-9. With 4:30 left Valentino Ambrosio added a 42-yard field goal to extend the Green Wave lead to 24-9. The Pirates made a late push but after being shutout in the 2nd half fell 24-9.
The Pirates fall to 1-2 in AAC play and 3-3 on the season. They welcome Memphis next week for Homecoming who is coming off a heartbreaking loss to Houston on Friday Night.