NEW ORLEANS — Tulane running back Maurice Turner delivered a career-defining performance on Saturday night, breaking free for a 74-yard fourth-quarter touchdownto lift the Tulane Green Wave to a thrilling 24-21 victory over the Southern Miss Golden Eagles in the latest chapter of the Battle for the Bell at Yulman Stadium.
Turner was spectacular, racking up 200 rushing yards and two touchdowns on just 12 carries to single-handedly rescue the Green Wave from a late-game deficit. The dramatic triumph secured a signature win for Tulane head coach Will Hall against his former program and kept the coveted Bell trophy firmly in New Orleans.
Turner’s Late Heroics Spark the Comeback
The historic regional rivalry, which had been dormant for several years, lived up to its billing in a physical, back-and-forth affair.
Southern Miss, playing under backup quarterback Landry Lyddy due to an injury to starter Ethan Hampton, showed immense resilience. Lyddy looked comfortable early, connecting with wideout Mario Sanders II for a pair of touchdowns to give the Golden Eagles a 21-17 lead early in the fourth quarter.
With Tulane’s aerial attack struggling to find a rhythm under quarterback Kadin Semonza, the Green Wave leaned heavily on their ground game. Facing a third-down scenario with just over five minutes remaining, Turner took a handoff, burst through a seam in the middle of the defense, and outran the Southern Miss secondary for a 74-yard touchdown to put Tulane back in front 24-21.
Defensive Stand Preserves the Trophy
The drama reached its peak in the final minutes. Lyddy systematically drove the Golden Eagles down the field, putting together a methodical 12-play drive that reached the Tulane 3-yard line.
Facing fourth down with 1:45 remaining, Southern Miss opted for a chip-shot, 21-yard field goal to send the game into overtme. However, the Tulane defensive front surged through the line, getting a hand on the kick to block the field goal and ignite a wild celebration on the Yulman Stadium sidelines. The Green Wave then ran out the remaining clock to seal the win.
Statistical Overview
Game StatsSouthern MissTulaneFirst Downs1920Total Yards401445Rushing Yards131281Passing Yards270164Turnovers01Sacks By34Time of Possession29:1830:42
Impact and What’s Next
The victory pushes Tulane to 2-2 on the season as they head into a crucial bye week. The extra rest will give Coach Hall’s squad time to fine-tune their passing game before embarking on a highly anticipated conference matchup against Army.
For Southern Miss (1-3), the heartbreaking loss overshadows a gritty effort from Lyddy, who finished with 243 passing yards and three scores. The Golden Eagles must regroup quickly as they return home to Hattiesburg next week to face Troy.