Tulane weathered another up-and-down performance Thursday, marked by missed opportunities, to scrap out a home win on a go-ahead touchdown in the final minute.
Quarterback Jake Retzlaff hit freshman receiver Zycarl Lewis Jr. for a 63-yard strike early in the fourth quarter to provide a much-needed second-half, spark then freshman running back Javin Gordon for the 4-yarder to lift the Green Wave (5-1, 2-0) to the 26-19 defeat of East Carolina (3-3, 1-1).
“We’re a really sloppy football team that finds ways to win games,” a hoarse Tulane coach Jon Sumrall told the ESPN broadcast immediately following the game. “And I’m gonna lose my mind, because we’re so immature. We’ve gotta grow up fast. I’m glad we win. I’m not happy with how we played.”
The Green Wave shut out the Pirates before halftime, but could only manage to build a 12-0 lead on four Patrick Durkin field goals from 30, 29, 21 and 40 yards as they went 0-for-their first seven third-down plays with an average distance of nearly 11 yards per attempt.
And East Carolina swung the game sharply in the third quarter, forcing a pair of quick Tulane three-and-outs and piecing together back-to-back touchdown drives to take its first lead, 13-12, late in the period.
Senior quarterback Katin Houser hit freshman receiver Brock Spalding for a 10-yard touchdown and then scored himself on a 7-yard run to cap drives of 70 and 57 yards, respectively.
The Pirates then recovered an onside kick and extended the lead on a 46-yard field goal by Nick Mazzie to head into the fourth up, 16-12.
Retzlaff hit a couple big pass plays to start the subsequent possession, but Tulane ultimately fumbled away a goal-line opportunity to have the pressure begin to mount.
The Green Wave defense responded with its first stop of the half, and Retzlaff and Lewis connected for a one-play, 63-yard drive to regain a 19-16 lead.
East Carolina pulled back even with a 26-yard Mazzie field goal with 5:48 remaining.
But Retzlaff and company managed to grind their way 75 yards in 12 plays, finally converting three third downs, to remain undefeated early in the American Athletic Conference schedule.
Retzlaff finished 26-for-36 for 347 yards and two touchdowns and rushed four times for 20 yards.
Gordon led the rushing attack with 34 yards on 10 carries and caught a game-high five passes for 35 yards and the pivotal score, and Lewis topped the receiving corps with 75 yards and the touchdown on his two catches.
Veteran safety Bailey Despanie (Carencro) led all players with nine tackles and broke up a pass to help highlight a Tulane defensive effort that included three sacks and eight tackles for loss as a unit.