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SALA |
TULANE |
Michael Pratt near perfect in No. 24 Tulane's 37-17 victory over South Alabama
NEW ORLEANS (AP) Every pass Tulane quarterback Michael Pratt threw - from high, arching throws deep down field to quick strikes in the flat - hit the hands of his intended receiver.
Only one was dropped by Jha'Quan Jackson. But the speedy receiver made up for it - and then some.
Pratt completed 14 of 15 passes for 294 yards and four touchdowns and the Green Wave beat South Alabama 37-17 on Saturday night.
“We took what was there - and there was a lot there,” Pratt said with a grin. “The offensive line did a great job holding up, keeping guys out of my face an the receivers did a phenomenal job winning and just made everything really easy for me.”
Three of Pratt's scoring passes came on deep throws. He hit Jackson for touchdowns of 48 and 47 yards and connected with Lawrence Keys on a 47-yard scoring play.
Looking to validate its first preseason AP Top 25 ranking against a season-opening opponent that won 10 games last season, the Green Wave raced to a 24-7 lead. South Alabama briefly closed within a touchdown in the third quarter before Tulane began to pull away again on an unconventional flea flicker.
Running back Shaadie Clayton-Johnson took a direct snap and handed off to Keys, who ran around the right end before pitching back to Pratt as Jackson streaked into the open field. Pratt's pass hit Jackson in stride to make it 31-17.
“Really nice,” Pratt said about the razzle-dazzle play. “It happened just how we wanted it to happen and, you know, kind of just a layup for me.”
Tulane kicker Valentino Ambrosio added two field goals for the final margin.
South Alabama quarterback Carter Bradley was 23 of 30 for 190 yards and a touchdown, but was intercepted twice and also lost a fumble while being sacked by defensive tackle Kameron Hamilton in the fourth quarter. Bradley also rushed for a touchdown.
“We talk about winning the explosive play battle. We talk about winning the turnover margin. We did not do that,” South Alabama coach Kane Wommack said. “We threw the ball with some efficiency but we didn't make any big-time plays downfield.
“We just played losing football and that's exactly what the score and the game indicated,” Wommack added.
Tulane struck first after forcing the first of five South Alabama turnovers.
Defensive tackle Patrick Jenkins stripped running back La'Damian Webb and Lance Robinson recovered on the Jaguars' 38. On the next play, Pratt found Chris Brazzell down the left sideline for a 33-yard gain, setting up a 4-yard scoring pass to Brazzell two plays later.
Valentino Ambrosio's 29-yard field goal made it 10-0 before South Alabama closed the gap on Bradley's 4-yard scoring run in which he dove to reach the right pylon early in the second quarter.
The Wave restored its 10-point lead when Pratt threw deep down the middle to Jackson for a 47-yard score, and made it 24-7 when Pratt found Lawrence Keys for another 47-yard TD.
Tulane was in position to take a big lead into halftime after DJ Douglas intercepted Bradley. But two plays later, linebacker Khalil Jacobs was unblocked on a blitz and leveled Pratt from behind, forcing a fumble that South Alabama's Ke'Shun Brown recovered inside the 20.
Jenkins denied the Jaguars a touchdown with a third-down sack, and Diego Guajardo's 36-yard field goal cut Tulane's lead to 24-10 shortly before halftime.
THE TAKEAWAY
South Alabama: An inability to stop the deep ball did in the Jaguars. They allowed five passes of between 33 and 48 yards.
“We said defensively we wanted to limit explosive plays,” Wommack said. “Then we got a very experienced secondary that put their eyes in the wrong place.”
Tulane: Pratt's pinpoint passing was complemented by a Green Wave defense that sacked Bradley five times, allowed just 75 yards rushing and produced four turnovers. (One of the Jaguars' turnovers was committed by its defense during a fumble return that gave the ball right back to Tulane's offense).
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Tulane had to win to remain in the rankings - and did so convincingly against a team it was favored to beat by about a touchdown.
RECORD WATCH
Pratt's four touchdowns gave him 72 for his career, tying the career mark set by Patrick Ramsey in 2001.
“I'm not really worried all the external stuff,” Pratt said. “When you prepare the way you're supposed to prepare and you execute and do your job, those types of things come. But all I'm really worried about is helping my team win.”
UP NEXT
South Alabama: Hosts Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday.
Tulane: Hosts No. 22 Mississippi on Saturday.
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AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll
Copyright 2024 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
C. Bradley
2 QB 190 PaYds, PaTD, 2 INTs, -11 RuYds, RuTD |
|
M. Pratt
7 QB 294 PaYds, 4 PaTDs, 39 RuYds |
Team Stats | ||
---|---|---|
1st Downs | 17 | 16 |
Rushing | 7 | 6 |
Passing | 7 | 10 |
Penalty | 3 | 0 |
3rd Down Conv | 8-13 | 4-8 |
4th Down Conv | 0-1 | 0-0 |
Total Net Yards | 265 | 437 |
Total Plays | 62 | 53 |
Avg Gain | 4.3 | 8.2 |
Net Yards Rushing | 75 | 143 |
Rush Attempts | 32 | 38 |
Avg Rush Yards | 2.3 | 3.8 |
Yards Passing | 190 | 294 |
Comp. - Att. | 23-30 | 14-15 |
Yards Per Pass | 4.7 | 18.1 |
Penalties - Yards | 7-60 | 7-70 |
Touchdowns | 2 | 4 |
Rushing TDs | 1 | 0 |
Passing TDs | 1 | 4 |
Other | 0 | 0 |
Turnovers | 5 | 3 |
Fumbles - Lost | 3-3 | 3-3 |
Int. Thrown | 2 | 0 |
Punts - Avg | 1-45.0 | 1-41.0 |
Return Yards | 0 | 5 |
Punts - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Kickoffs - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Int. - Returns | 0-0 | 2-5 |
Safeties | 0 | 0 |
|
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
C. Bradley
2 QB
|
C. Bradley | 23/30 | 190 | 1 | 2 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
L. Webb
3 RB
|
L. Webb | 9 | 40 | 0 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Bullock
14 RB
|
K. Bullock | 12 | 37 | 0 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. McReynolds
0 RB
|
B. McReynolds | 2 | 9 | 0 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Bradley
2 QB
|
C. Bradley | 9 | -11 | 1 | 10 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
J. Pritchett
89 WR
|
J. Pritchett | 8 | 5 | 63 | 0 | 18 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Lacy
4 WR
|
C. Lacy | 7 | 7 | 60 | 0 | 20 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
K. Bullock
14 RB
|
K. Bullock | 4 | 3 | 19 | 0 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
L. Sefcik
88 TE
|
L. Sefcik | 2 | 2 | 15 | 0 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Thomas-Jones
8 TE
|
D. Thomas-Jones | 2 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. McReynolds
0 RB
|
B. McReynolds | 1 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Voisin
9 WR
|
D. Voisin | 3 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. Crum
20 TE
|
B. Crum | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
L. Webb
3 RB
|
L. Webb | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
J. Sheriff
11 DL
|
J. Sheriff | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Jacobs
25 LB
|
K. Jacobs | 1-0 | 1.0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
D. Guajardo
36 K
|
D. Guajardo | 1/2 | 36 | 2/2 | 5 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
J. Martin
87 P
|
J. Martin | 1 | 45.0 | 0 | 45 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
B. McReynolds
0 RB
|
B. McReynolds | 2 | 17.0 | 17 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
K. Bullock
14 RB
|
K. Bullock | 1 | 25.0 | 25 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
M. Pratt
7 QB
|
M. Pratt | 14/15 | 294 | 4 | 0 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
M. Hughes
21 RB
|
M. Hughes | 8 | 41 | 0 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Pratt
7 QB
|
M. Pratt | 11 | 39 | 0 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Louis
0 RB
|
S. Louis | 9 | 27 | 0 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||
I. Celestine
8 RB
|
I. Celestine | 3 | 14 | 0 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. Keys III
6 WR
|
L. Keys III | 1 | 12 | 0 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Clayton-Johnson
2 RB
|
S. Clayton-Johnson | 4 | 11 | 0 | 4 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
J. Jackson
4 WR
|
J. Jackson | 4 | 3 | 106 | 2 | 48 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
L. Keys III
6 WR
|
L. Keys III | 4 | 4 | 96 | 1 | 47 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Brazzell II
17 WR
|
C. Brazzell II | 4 | 4 | 53 | 1 | 33 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Fleming
1 WR
|
D. Fleming | 1 | 1 | 39 | 0 | 39 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Bauman
87 TE
|
A. Bauman | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
P. Jenkins
0 DL
|
P. Jenkins | 3-0 | 2.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Hamilton
70 DL
|
K. Hamilton | 2-0 | 2.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Douglas
12 DB
|
D. Douglas | 0-0 | 0.0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. Robinson
7 DB
|
L. Robinson | 0-0 | 0.0 | 1 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
V. Ambrosio
43 K
|
V. Ambrosio | 3/3 | 30 | 4/4 | 13 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
C. Glover
96 P
|
C. Glover | 1 | 41.0 | 0 | 41 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
1st | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
15:00 | SALA 25 | 0:30 | 2 | 13 | Fumble |
13:09 | SALA 25 | 4:49 | 9 | 40 | FG Miss |
2:40 | SALA 25 | 5:46 | 11 | 75 | TD |
2nd | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
10:29 | SALA 14 | 2:25 | 3 | 9 | Punt |
7:39 | SALA 17 | 4:37 | 9 | 35 | INT |
2:36 | TULANE 13 | 0:57 | 4 | -6 | FG |
0:31 | SALA 27 | 0:31 | 4 | 41 | Half |
3rd | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
12:56 | SALA 47 | 5:44 | 11 | 53 | TD |
4:27 | SALA 25 | 2:46 | 6 | 18 | Downs |
4th | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
12:44 | SALA 27 | 0:12 | 1 | 0 | INT |
4:48 | SALA 25 | 1:06 | 4 | -8 | Fumble |
1st | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
14:30 | SALA 38 | 1:21 | 3 | 38 | TD |
8:20 | TULANE 35 | 5:40 | 10 | 54 | FG |
2nd | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
11:54 | TULANE 25 | 1:20 | 3 | 75 | TD |
8:09 | TULANE 47 | 0:30 | 2 | 53 | TD |
3:02 | TULANE 22 | 0:26 | 2 | -4 | Fumble |
1:39 | TULANE 25 | 1:08 | 3 | 7 | Punt |
3rd | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
15:00 | TULANE 25 | 2:04 | 4 | 28 | Fumble |
7:12 | TULANE 25 | 2:45 | 5 | 75 | TD |
1:41 | SALA 43 | 3:57 | 7 | 31 | FG |
4th | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
12:32 | SALA 47 | 3:32 | 5 | 31 | Fumble |
9:00 | SALA 25 | 4:12 | 7 | 16 | FG |
3:42 | SALA 17 | 3:42 | 5 | 13 | Game |
- Fumble (2 plays, 13 yards, 0:30 poss)
Result | Play |
---|---|
Kickoff | (15:00 - 1st) C.Glover kicks 65 yards from TUL 35 to the SAB End Zone. Touchback. |
+4 YD | 1 & 10 - SALA 25 (15:00 - 1st) L.Webb rushed to SAB 29 for 4 yards. Tackled by TUL at SAB 29. |
+9 YD | 2 & 6 - SALA 29 (14:40 - 1st) L.Webb rushed to SAB 38 for 9 yards. L.Webb FUMBLES forced by P.Jenkins. Fumble RECOVERED by TUL-L.Robinson at SAB 38. Tackled by SAB at SAB 38. |
- Touchdown (3 plays, 38 yards, 1:21 poss)
Result | Play |
---|---|
+33 YD | 1 & 10 - SALA 38 (14:30 - 1st) M.Pratt pass complete to SAB 38. Catch made by C.Brazzell at SAB 38. Gain of 33 yards. Tackled by SAB at SAB 5. |
+1 YD | 1 & Goal - SALA 5 (13:58 - 1st) S.Clayton-Johnson rushed to SAB 4 for 1 yards. Tackled by SAB at SAB 4. |
+4 YD | 2 & Goal - SALA 4 (13:14 - 1st) M.Pratt pass complete to SAB 4. Catch made by C.Brazzell at SAB 4. Gain of 4 yards. TUL for 4 yards TOUCHDOWN. |
PAT Good | (13:09 - 1st) V.Ambrosio extra point is good. |
- Missed FG (9 plays, 40 yards, 4:49 poss)
Result | Play |
---|---|
Kickoff | (13:09 - 1st) C.Glover kicks 65 yards from TUL 35 to the SAB End Zone. Touchback. |
+3 YD | 1 & 10 - SALA 25 (13:09 - 1st) B.McReynolds rushed to SAB 28 for 3 yards. Tackled by TUL at SAB 28. |
+8 YD | 2 & 7 - SALA 28 (12:33 - 1st) C.Bradley pass complete to SAB 28. Catch made by B.McReynolds at SAB 28. Gain of 8 yards. Tackled by TUL at SAB 36. |
+5 YD | 1 & 10 - SALA 36 (12:01 - 1st) C.Bradley pass complete to SAB 36. Catch made by B.Crum at SAB 36. Gain of 5 yards. Tackled by TUL at SAB 41. |
+6 YD | 2 & 5 - SALA 41 (11:39 - 1st) B.McReynolds rushed to SAB 47 for 6 yards. Tackled by TUL at SAB 47. |
No Gain | 1 & 10 - SALA 47 (11:14 - 1st) B.McReynolds rushed to SAB 47 for yards. Tackled by TUL at SAB 47. PENALTY on TUL-TUL Illegal Substitution 5 yards accepted. No Play. |
+19 YD | 1 & 5 - TULANE 48 (11:00 - 1st) C.Bradley pass complete to TUL 48. Catch made by C.Lacy at TUL 48. Gain of 19 yards. Tackled by TUL at TUL 29. |
Penalty | 1 & 10 - TULANE 29 (10:50 - 1st) PENALTY on SAB-SAB False Start 5 yards accepted. No Play. |
+5 YD | 1 & 15 - TULANE 34 (10:20 - 1st) C.Bradley pass complete to TUL 34. Catch made by L.Sefcik at TUL 34. Gain of 5 yards. Tackled by TUL at TUL 29. |
+1 YD | 2 & 10 - TULANE 29 (10:10 - 1st) K.Bullock rushed to TUL 28 for 1 yards. Tackled by TUL at TUL 28. |
Sack | 3 & 9 - TULANE 28 (9:50 - 1st) C.Bradley steps back to pass. C.Bradley sacked at TUL 35 for -7 yards (P.Jenkins) |
No Good | 4 & 16 - TULANE 42 (9:29 - 1st) D.Guajardo 52 yard field goal attempt is no good Center-SAB Holder-J.Martin. |
- Field Goal (10 plays, 54 yards, 5:40 poss)
Result | Play |
---|---|
+3 YD | 1 & 10 - TULANE 35 (8:20 - 1st) S.Louis rushed to TUL 38 for 3 yards. Tackled by SAB at TUL 38. |
+11 YD | 2 & 7 - TULANE 38 (7:52 - 1st) M.Pratt pass complete to TUL 38. Catch made by J.Jackson at TUL 38. Gain of 11 yards. Tackled by SAB at TUL 49. The Replay Official reviewed the runner was in bounds and the play was upheld. |
+2 YD | 1 & 10 - TULANE 49 (7:04 - 1st) S.Louis rushed to SAB 49 for 2 yards. Tackled by SAB at SAB 49. |
+21 YD | 2 & 8 - SALA 49 (6:20 - 1st) M.Pratt pass complete to SAB 49. Catch made by L.Keys at SAB 49. Gain of 21 yards. L.Keys ran out of bounds. |
+4 YD | 1 & 10 - SALA 28 (5:38 - 1st) I.Celestine rushed to SAB 24 for 4 yards. Tackled by SAB at SAB 24. |
+12 YD | 2 & 6 - SALA 24 (5:02 - 1st) M.Pratt scrambles to SAB 12 for 12 yards. Tackled by SAB at SAB 12. |
+2 YD | 1 & 10 - SALA 12 (4:16 - 1st) S.Louis rushed to SAB 10 for 2 yards. Tackled by SAB at SAB 10. |
-1 YD | 2 & 8 - SALA 10 (3:30 - 1st) I.Celestine rushed to SAB 11 for -1 yards. Tackled by SAB at SAB 11. |
No Gain | 3 & 9 - SALA 11 (2:52 - 1st) M.Pratt steps back to pass. M.Pratt pass incomplete intended for J.Jackson. |
Field Goal | 4 & 9 - SALA 19 (2:40 - 1st) V.Ambrosio 29 yard field goal attempt is good Center-TUL Holder-C.Glover. |