20,000 filled Yulman Stadium in anticipation for the Green Wave’s matchup against the Missouri St. Bears.
Missouri St. won the toss, deferring to the second half, giving the Green Wave offense first possession of the first half.
1st Half
Amare Jones took the opening kick, sprinting pass Bear defenders into enemy territory to the 40 yard line. QB Justin McMillan came out throwing, completing his first 4 passes in a row, moving into the redzone as the Wave looked to strike fast on offense. After completing 4 straight, McMillan and the Tulane offense tested the run game but found little success and were forced to kick a 23 yard field goal, with kicker Merek Glover splitting the uprights, giving Tulane the first lead of the game at 3-0.
Tulane’s defense came out swinging, forcing a quick 3-and-out while allowing the Bears only 3 yards on their opening possession, forcing Missouri St. to punt back to the Wave.
McMillan completed a 5th straight pass, this time to Sr. wideout Darnell Mooney for 6 yards. WR Jaetavian Toles caught McMillans’s 6th straight pass, putting the Green Wave back into Bear territory at the 25 yard line. On a 3rd and 7, McMillan ran a QB keeper, but came up 2 yards shy of the first. Missouri St. gifted Tulane a fresh set of downs with an offsides penalty, edging closer to the endzone. The Green Wave tested the Bear front 7 with RB Amare Jones and Darius Bradwell, with Amare Jones picking up a 3 yard touchdown run, putting the Wave up 10-0 midway through the first quarter. Through 2 offensive possessions, Justin McMillan remained perfect completing 6 of 6 passing.
Missouri St.’s offensive found some life, with QB Peyton Huslig completing his first pass for a gain of about 12 and a first down. Huslig found success through the air again, picking up a first down on a short screen pass as the Bears moved inside Wave territory. On his third pass attempt, Wave So. safety Larry Brooks picked off Huslig at the 38 yard line, giving Tulane’s offense another scoring opportunity.
McMillan completed a 7th straight pass to Darnell Mooney for 8 yards, then finally threw an incompletion intended for Amare Jones, bringing up a 3rd and 2, which McMillan would pick up a first after a QB keeper. The Wave would be forced into a 4th and 1 situation around midfield, but McMillan would sneak it pass the Bear front 7 for a first down and successful 4th down attempt. McMillan’s QB sneak would be the last play of the 1st quarter.
On the second play of the 2nd Quarter, Amare Jones took a handoff from McMillan for 57 yards and a Green Wave touchdown as he torched multiple Bear defenders, diving into the endzone for 6.
Tulane shocked the Bears by kicking an unexpected onsides kick, which would be recovered by the Green Wave at the Bear 39 yard line. Tulane would run the ball 3 consecutive times following the onside recovery, then McMillan would complete a 9 yard pass on 4th and 1 for a first down. Following the 4th down conversion, Bear LB Tyler Lovelace picked off McMillan, nullifying the Green Wave’s onside recovery and 4th down conversion.
Tulane’s defense responded with an interception of their own, just two plays after McMillan’s pick, this time going for a Green Wave pick-6 by P.J. Hall.
Behind two explosive plays, Missouri St. finally found the redzone with 10 minutes to go in the half. After a 30 yard screen pass, QB Peyton Huslig found his big tight end for a Bears’ touchdown, however, Tulane would block Missouri St. PAT, making it 24-6.
The Green Wave responded quickly, methodically marching down the field with a balance of pass and run, putting Tulane at the Bear 5 yard line 7 minutes remaining in the half. McMillan would then keep and scramble for a Tulane score, making it 31-6.
Tulane’s defense proved too much on the Bear’s following offensive possession, forcing an extremely quick 3-and-out behind outstanding secondary play.
McMillan scrambled on a bootleg, picking up 15 yards on the ground moving into Bear territory. McMillan would nearly find a touchdown, completing a 17 yard strike, just 1 yard shy of the endzone. It mattered not, as McMillan channeled his inner Drew Brees, jumping over the Bear goalline D, stretching the ball over for a touchdown.
Missouri St. offense continued to struggle moving the ball against Tulane, going 3-and-out on consecutive possessions.
Amare Jones received the punt at the Tulane 26, as the rolling Wave offense would opt for a knee, taking their 32 point lead into halftime. Overall, an excellent half for the Green Wave on both sides of the ball. Justin McMillan showed excellent proficiency outside of the sole interception, while the Tulane defense dominated the Bears both through the air and on the ground. Missouri St. only amounted 29 yards on the ground compared to Tulane’s 185, while the Green Wave aired it out for 122 yards in the first half, compared to the Bear’s 78 yards.
2nd Half
Coming out of halftime, Tulane’s defense followed suit, stifling the Bear offense with tight coverage through the air and a defensive line that pummeled over Missouri St. linemen, forcing another Bear punt.
Backup QB Keon Howard would take the first snap of the second half for the Wave, as Tulane risked little threat to their 32 point lead. Howard came out throwing, completing a few nice passes of 10+ yards, with Redshirt Fr. RB Cameron Carroll picking up solid yardage on the ground. A wild snap pushed Tulane back 18 yards, resulting in a 4th and 26, and the first Green Wave punt on the night.
The second string offense for Tulane started off in a bit of a lull, but the reserve defense would not miss a beat, forcing another Missouri St. punt.
Keon Howard’s first play on his second possession made up for the slow start to the second half. Howard connected on a pass in the flat to freshman RB Tyjae Spears, with spears taking it 88 yards to the house, giving Tulane a comfortable lead of 44-6. That would also be Spears’ first career reception, an excellent start for his campaign.
Larry Brooks came up clutch in the Wave’s next defensive possession, picking off Bear QB Huslig for 28 yards, setting up Tulane’s offense with a 1st and goal. The Wave quickly turned the interception into points, with freshman RB Ygenio Booker recording his first career rushing touchdown, as the Wave pulled even further away with the 4th quarter quickly approaching.
Booker’s rushing touchdown officially iced the game, as Missouri St. would put in its second string offense in a move effectively announcing surrender.
Tyjae Spears would score again for the Wave in the waning minutes of the 4th quarter, this time in the form of a 52 yard touchdown run, increasing Tulane’s lead to 58-6.
Spears’ score would be the last of the night for either team, as Tulane would secure victory 58-6.
Tulane Final Stats
Passing
Justin McMillan 13-16, 122 yds, 1 INT
Keon Howard 4-6, 120 yds, 1 TD
Rushing
Tyjae Spears 89 yds, 1 TD
Amare Jones 73 yds, 2 TD
Justin McMillan 49 yds, 2 TD
Cameron Carroll 38 yds
TOTAL NET YARDS: 74 plays for 540 yds.
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