NEW ORLEANS, La. — Tulane’s defense delivered a game-changing performance Friday night, forcing six turnovers and turning two crucial takeaways into touchdowns as the Green Wave defeated Memphis 31-17.
TJ Smith provided one of the night’s biggest moments, intercepting a pass and returning it 76 yards for a touchdown as time expired in the first half. Johnnie Daniels delivered the final blow late in the fourth quarter, breaking loose for a 48-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-1 with just 1:34 remaining.
The defensive effort helped Tulane overcome an uneven offensive start and secure its first American Conference victory of the season.
Freshman quarterback Trace Johnson made his first collegiate start for Tulane (3-3, 1-1 American Conference), completing 11 of 21 passes for 165 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
Memphis (5-2, 2-1) struck first when Philippe Laforge connected on a 44-yard field goal during the opening possession. Tulane struggled to establish a rhythm early, going three-and-out on its first three drives before Johnson helped the offense move the chains.
The Green Wave finally got on the scoreboard early in the second quarter. Redshirt freshman Cooper Helmke drilled a 56-yard field goal to even the score at 3-3.
Memphis answered quickly. Marcus Stokes completed a short pass to Stonka Burnside, who broke free and raced 76 yards for a touchdown. Laforge’s extra point put the Tigers ahead 10-3.
Helmke kept Tulane within striking distance with a 40-yard field goal late in the first half, trimming the deficit to 10-6 with 6:47 remaining before halftime.
The momentum then shifted decisively toward the Green Wave. Tulane recovered its third Memphis fumble of the game, setting up the offense at midfield. Three plays later, Johnson connected with Destyn Hill on a 38-yard touchdown pass, giving Tulane its first lead at 13-10.
Helmke added another field goal, this time from 29 yards, to extend the advantage. Then came the defining play of the half.
With the clock winding down, Smith stepped in front of a Memphis pass and returned the interception 76 yards for a touchdown. The score sent Tulane into the locker room with a commanding 23-10 lead and capped a remarkable turnaround in the second quarter.
Neither team scored in the third quarter, but Memphis refused to go away quietly. Stokes found Jemyri Davis for a six-yard touchdown pass with 3:34 remaining in the game, bringing the Tigers within 23-17.
Memphis had an opportunity to make another push after getting the ball back, but Tulane’s defense delivered once more. Kevin Adams III recorded his second interception of the night, ending the Tigers’ hopes of completing a comeback.
Daniels then put the game out of reach. Facing fourth-and-1 with 1:34 left, he found a crease and sprinted 48 yards into the end zone to secure Tulane’s 31-17 victory.
Stokes finished with 306 passing yards, completing 20 of 37 attempts for two touchdowns and four interceptions. He also lost two of his three fumbles as Tulane repeatedly capitalized on Memphis’ mistakes.
Burnside was a bright spot for the Tigers, recording seven receptions for 151 yards and a touchdown. Jaylin Carter added 135 yards on 23 rushing attempts.
For Tulane, the six takeaways marked a defensive milestone. The Green Wave had forced only one turnover across their first five games before delivering this dominant performance. The program had last recorded six turnovers in a 34-7 victory over Jackson State in the 2013 season opener.
The victory underscored the importance of defensive pressure and ball security, as Tulane turned Memphis’ mistakes into points and controlled the decisive moments down the stretch.
Up next
Memphis: Hosts East Carolina on Thursday.
Tulane: Hosts UTSA on Oct. 24.
