NEW ORLEANS — Tulane quarterback Kadin Semonza engineered a 78-yard game-winning drive in the final minutes, throwing a 14-yard touchdown pass to Destyn Hill with 1:17 remaining to lift the Green Wave to a thrilling 28–24 victory over South Alabama at Yulman Stadium.
The back-and-forth contest featured five lead changes in the second half alone, but it was Tulane’s late-game execution and an explosive rushing performance that ultimately sealed the win.
“We talked all week about facing adversity and how we would respond to it,” Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall said. “Kadin showed incredible poise on that final drive, and Destyn made a big-time play when we needed it most.”
South Alabama struck first, capitalizing on a slow start by the Green Wave. Davis Little booted a 40-yard field goal, and running back PJ Martin added a 16-yard touchdown run to give the Jaguars an early 10–0 lead in the opening quarter.
Tulane found its rhythm in the second frame. Leaning heavily on the ground game, running back Johnnie Daniels punched in two short-yardage touchdowns, capping off a pair of methodical drives to give the Green Wave a slim 14–10 advantage at the break.
The third quarter quickly turned into a heavyweight bout. South Alabama quarterback Bishop Davenport recaptured the lead for the Jaguars by launching a 43-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Eager.
The advantage was short-lived. On the very next play from scrimmage, Tulane’s Jaylin Lucas found a seam, bounced to the outside, and outran the entire Jaguar secondary for an explosive 80-yard touchdown. Lucas finished the night with a staggering 214 rushing yards on just 11 carries.
“Jaylin is a home-run hitter,” Sumrall said. “Every time he touches the ball, he has a chance to take it the distance.”
The Jaguars refused to back down. In the fourth quarter, Davenport orchestrated a long drive, finding Brendan Jenkins for a 17-yard touchdown pass to put South Alabama back in front 24–21 with just under four minutes left on the clock. Jenkins was a constant thorn in the Tulane defense all night, racking up nine catches for 119 yards.
With their backs against the wall, Semonza and the Green Wave offense took over at their own 22-yard line. Semonza, who finished 14-of-22 for 212 yards, completed three crucial passes on the drive to push Tulane into striking distance before delivering the decisive strike to Hill in the corner of the end zone.
South Alabama made one final push, advancing past midfield, but Tulane defensive back E’zaiah Shine broke up Davenport’s fourth-down pass attempt to secure the victory for the Green Wave.
Photos by Gregory Guignon