Tulane Falls Short to the SMU Mustangs on Homecoming Weekend

Tulane vs. SMU

The Tulane Green Wave stayed home at Yulman Stadium to take on the SMU Mustangs yesterday in an American Athletic Conference showdown that turned out to be a close one, but had its momentum swings along the way for each team. The Mustangs had come away with a big win against a previously AP Top 25-ranked Houston Cougars team. And when they started off to receive the ball in the first quarter against the Green Wave, they sent a clear message to their opponent that they were not messing around.

On the second play of the game, SMU quarterback Ben Hicks connected with wide receiver James Proche for 54 yards, putting them at the 12 yard line. Three plays later, on third down and in the red zone, Hicks and Proche would connect again for the first touchdown of the game. The entire drive took less than two minutes off the clock. After two straight three-and out series, the Green Wave got serious on their second drive and took advantage of starting around midfield.

After a fourth down conversion and a costly defensive penalty by SMU, Tulane running back Dontrell Hilliard ran the ball from eight yards out to give the Green Wave their first score and even the game at 7-7. SMU found a way to respond immediately SMU QB Hicks would hit WR Proche for the third time in that quarter, this time for 22 yards. SMU running back Braeden West gashed the Tulane defense for 41 yards, setting up a goal-line score for his backfield teammate, running back Ke’Mon Freeman.

Tulane’s offense was afterwards given two prime opportunities to capitalize on two interceptions by defensive lineman Quinlan Carroll and defensive back Taris Shenall, respectively. All that would become of those turnovers would be a 43-yard field goal by Tulane kicker Andrew DiRocco. The Tulane defense would get beaten by the Hicks-to-Proche combo one last time before the end of the first half. This time on a 35-yard pass that would give SMU a 21-10 lead going back into the locker rooms.

In the second half, Tulane would finally find their footing on offense and made a contest out of it the rest of the way through. With more than six minutes left to play in the third quarter, Tulane’s offense would once again take advantage of good defense and great field position at the opponent’s 38 yard line in order to convert for a 24 yard touchdown pass from freshman quarterback Glen Cuillette to receiver Terren Encelade, cutting the lead down to four points. Tulane started off their next drive at the 41 yard line.  With a big 33 yard pass play from Cuillette to Hilliard, that helped set up the Green Wave for another Cuiellette-to-Encalade passing touchdown that would give Tulane a 24-21 lead going into the fourth quarter.

After Tulane’s defense took quick care of business to force a three-and-out, Tulane’s ground game rolled again as Dontrell Hilliard reeled off a 67 yard run, and running back Sherman Badie came in relief to punch in another touchdown from nine yards out. At this point, with 10:37 left on the game clock and a 31-21 lead, things were looking good for the Green Wave.

SMU wasn’t planning to go down without a fight though. The ensuing drive for the Mustangs would take over four minutes, highlighted by another Hicks-to Proche connection for 50 yards on a 3^rd and 17 that was stopped at the Tulane 2-yard line. Two plays later SMU running back Braden West would punch it in to bring the game back within three points (31-28) with about 6:24 left on the game clock.

Tulane got the ball back, and running back Josh Rounds burst down the field with a 44 yard run that brought the Green Wave offense to the SMU 30-yard line with under six minutes to play. Glen Cuiellette had a nice gain of seven on a 2^nd and 9 play, but then would get stuffed on the line at 3^rd and 2. Now at 4^th and 2 at the 22-yard line with only a three point lead, Coach Willie Fritz chose to try and get the first down with hopes of putting the game out of reach rather than safely kicking a field goal for a six point lead. Instead, SMU stuffed the line once again on 4^th and 2, turning the ball over on downs to the Mustang offense with a chance to regain the lead. Ben Hicks would complete three big pass plays throughout the drive, and the latter two passes being 27-yard and 22-yard connections to receiver Xavier Castille that put their offense in the Tulane red zone.

Now with less than two minutes to play, this would appear to be the game deciding series in the red zone. After Coach Chad Morris took a full timeout, SMU was able to convert on third down off the arm of Hicks once again, and once again Braeden West would punch it in for the Mustangs for the last score of the game. Cuiellette and the Tulane offense would have one more chance to march down the field and win the game, but on the last play of the game behind the 35 –yard line Cuiellette threw an interception to SMU’s Darrion Millines.

The Green Wave would fall to the Mustangs by a score of 35-31. SMU’s record now stands at a 4-4 overall record, while Tulane now drops to 3-5. Tulane will look to rebound next Saturday at 4p.m. in Orlando as they will prepare to face off against the Knights of University of Central Florida.