NEW ORLEANS– The Tulane football team (8-2, 5-1 American) earned a thrilling 35-24 Homecoming victory over Florida Atlantic (4-6, 3-4 American) in front of a sellout crowd on Saturday afternoon, Nov. 15, at Yulman Stadium.
Tulane scored first as receiver Jimmy Calloway ran it in from the 14 to put the Green Wave up 7-0 with 6:36 remaining in the opening period. The short field came on the first offensive play of the drive after a fumble recovery by Shaun Nicholas off a muffed FAU punt catch on special teams.
Florida Atlantic scored on the ensuing drive as Garrison Smith knocked in a 25-yard field goal with 2:06 left in the first quarter to put the score at 7-3.
The Green Wave answered as Jake Retzlaff connected with Bryce Bohanon on a 29-yard pitch-and-catch to put Tulane up 14-3 at the 14:54 mark of the second quarter.
The Owls scored the team’s first touchdown of the game, 14-10, as Caden Veltkamp connected with Jayson Platt on a four-yard reception on fourth down with 11:06 remaining in the second quarter.
Tulane’s offense kept things in gear as Anthony Miller hauled in a 14-yard touchdown from Retzlaff to put the Green Wave up 21-10 with 7:06 remaining in the second quarter in what would ultimately end up being the halftime score.
The Green Wave scored the squad’s fourth touchdown of the game, 28-10, as Jamauri McClure ran it in from the eight with a minute remaining in the third quarter.
FAU drew a touchdown closer to start the fourth, 28-16, as Kayden Shields-Dutton scored from the one with 11:09 remaining in the game. The attempted two-point conversion failed.
The Green Wave answered on the ensuing drive as Retzlaff plowed in on a quarterback sneak to put Tulane up 35-16 with 4:30 remaining in the game.
Florida Atlantic drew to within 11, 35-24, on Veltkamp’s 12-yard touchdown pass to Easton Messer with 1:49 remaining and a successful two-point conversion in what would be the final score.
Next, the football team gets back on the road and travels to Philadelphia to take on Temple on Saturday, Nov. 22.
