Coming off a bye week with plenty of rest and high expectations, The Tulane Green Wave were looking to sustain the dominance they’ve displayed in the American Conference. Saturday’s game served as a wakeup call against a Rice team who held the Green Wave to their lowest scoring total during their 4-game winning streak.
Coach Sumrall gave Rice credit, describing them as “one of the best coached football teams” Tulane has played all year. Coming into the contest Rice had the 4th best ranked defense in the conference and Coach Sumrall spoke on the physicality, effort, and toughness that would be needed for the victory.
In the 1st half offensively, Tulane left a lot to be desired. The Green Wave were unable to assert their dominance on the ground with star running back Makhi Hughes being checked to just 40 yards on the ground. Freshman standout Darian Mensah struggled to find his rhythm early, nearly taking a safety on the first offensive possession, in addition to being unable to establish a connection with receivers.
It was the defense who would rejuvenate the spirits of the team, beginning in the 1st with an acrobatic interception from senior LB Tyler Grubbs setting up the offense in positive territory. The turnover would be the 1st of five for Tulane, who forced two fumbles in addition to three INTs. The second turnover, a fumbled forced on Dean Connors would be the impetus for a Makhi Hughes 29-yard TD reception to put the Green Wave up 10-7 at half.
The third quarter would present more of a defensive struggle with both teams deadlocked 10-10. It was the dawn of the 4th quarter where Tulane would get the long-awaited emergence of the Makhi Hughes Show. Doing his best Beast Mode impression, Hughes thundered through the defense, running through anything in his path. Hughes would cap the drive off with a 1-yard scamper that put the Wave up 17-10.
. The ensuing possessions the Green Wave smothered the Rice offense, scoring off a fumble return for a TD by LB Sam Howard and a miraculous tipped INT by DT Adonis Friloux. The tipped INT would come immediately after the scoop n’ score and Tulane effective put away the Owls,
Makhi Hughes carried the rock 27 times for 140 Yards and 2 TDs while Mensah was 12/25 through the air with a TD and no INTs. As a team, the Green Wave have forced 10 turnovers in their last 3 games while the offense has yet to surrender the ball. Tulane will look to learn from their woes and continue their win streak when they head to Denton Saturday to play North Texas.