Tulane Downs East Carolina, 38-21

Saturday, November 7

Greenville, N.C.

12 Noon

East Carolina University

1-5 , 1-4

Tulane

4-4 , 2-4

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Tulane

East Carolina

November 07, 2020 | Football

Box Score

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GREEVILLE, N.C. – Tulane's rushing attack racked up 277 yards and the Green Wave never trailed in picking up a 38-21 American Athletic Conference victory Saturday afternoon at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.

Tulane (4-4, 2-4 AAC) limited the Pirates (1-5, 1-4 AAC) to their lowest point total of the season while ECU also managed just 35 yards on the ground in its third-straight setback. The Green Wave out-gained the Pirates 493-386 and each team turned the ball over just once.

Sophomore receiver Blake Proehl enjoyed a career day, finishing with a personal-best 182 yards and two touchdowns on 13 catches. Cameron Carroll notched a pair of touchdowns as the game's leading rusher, collecting 129 yards on six carries.

Tulane's Michael Pratt completed 22 of 34 pass attempts to end up with 216 yards and three touchdowns as well as one interception. Conversely, junior quarterback Holton Ahlers went 27-for-43 with 351 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.

Defensively, senior linebacker Bruce Bivens tallied a career-best 13 tackles, including four of the solo variety. Patrick Johnson sparked the visiting defense, recording three sacks and five solo tackles.

The teams both got off to strong starts offensively, scoring touchdowns on their respective opening possessions. Tulane marched 78 yards down the field and used a 35-yard pass from Pratt to Duece Watts to jump in front early. ECU responded with a 10-play, 75-yard drive that was capped by 10-yard touchdown grab by sophomore receiver Tyler Snead.

The first quarter would end in a 7-7 deadlock, but the Green Wave pulled ahead with a pair of touchdowns and blanked the Pirates in the second stanza to forge a 21-7 edge at the half. Tyrick James and Watts both found the endzone from five yards out, the latter occurring with just 38 seconds remaining on the clock.

Tulane eclipsed the 100-yard mark on the ground in the first two quarters, finishing with 110. The Green Wave also held the upper hand in total offense, 235-170.

East Carolina's offense continued to stall in the third quarter as Tulane began to pull away. Carroll turned on the jets for a 48-yard touchdown run that made it a 21-point margin before Merek Glover connected on a season-best 42-yard field goal to leave the Green Wave with a 31-7 advantage heading into the final period.

As the fourth quarter commenced, the Pirates attempted to make a game of it. Sophomore defensive back Ja'Quan McMillian jumped a route and intercepted Pratt to give ECU nice field position at the Tulane 35 with 12:30 to go in the contest. East Carolina scored quickly, using just four plays and 1:53 to notch its second touchdown of the day – a 30-yard connection by Ahlers and Proehl. The Pirates lined up for a two-point conversion and it was successful as Ahlers hit a wide-open Snead in the left side of the endzone to slice the deficit to 31-15.

Carroll ran it in from 28 yards with 5:17 remaining to put Tulane back on top 38-15, but ECU responded fast. Following a touchback, Ahlers found Proehl streaking down the right sideline and the receiver ran away from his defender – taking it to the house and making it a 38-21 contest after a failed two-point conversion attempt.

The Pirates continued to give themselves a chance, recovering the ensuing onside kick at midfield. However, Johnson forced a fumble by knocking the ball away from Ahlers and Jeffrey Johnson picked it up to essentially seal the win for Tulane. Neither team would score over the game's final five minutes.

East Carolina continues American Athletic Conference play Nov. 13, facing off against nationally-ranked Cincinnati at Nippert Stadium. The Friday-night tilt will kick off at 7:30 p.m. with ESPN2 handling the broadcast.