Tulane scored 21 unanswered points in the second half to erase a six-point Southeastern lead
and earn a 35-27 victory before a crowd of 17,611 Saturday night in the Louisiana Superdome.
The Green Wave, who improved their record
to 1-2 on the year, were led by senior running back Matt Forté, who rushed for a Tulane and
C-USA record 303 yards and five touchdowns on forty carries. SLU's record falls to 1-3.
Southeastern Louisiana scored first as Donald Frazier returned a blocked Ross Thevenot punt
12 yards for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter. The punt was
blocked by Lion defensive back Travis Williams.
But Forté tied the game with a 20-yard run on the ensuing possession to cap a seven-play,
50-yard Tulane drive.
Forté scored again on a 21-yard dash in the second quarter to give Tulane a 14-7 lead, but
the Lions scored on 22- and 37-yard field goals by Jeff Turner, and a 63-yard touchdown pass from Brian Babin to Merrick Lanaux to take a 20-14 lead into the locker room at halftime.
The Tulane defense stiffened in the second half, holding Southeastern Louisiana to just
109 yards after surrendering 232 yards in the first half. The Lions managed only 25 rushing
yards in the second half.
The Green Wave rode Forte the rest of the way. The big running back scored on three- and
four-yard touchdown runs in the third quarter, and an 11-yard run in the fourth quarter to
stake the Green Wave to a 35-20 lead.
Forte's fourth quarter TD came after the Green Wave's David Skehan stuffed a Lion fake punt and the Wave took over at the Green Wave 31.
Southeastern Louisiana scored once more late in the fourth quarter, narrowing the Tulane lead to 35-27 when Babin hit Byron Ross for a 14-yard touchdown after the Lions Jared Byers recovered a Forte fumble at the Tulane 15. But Tulane recovered the ensuing last gasp on-sides kick and ran out the clock.
Counting the blocked punt, the Lions scored two touchdowns and a field goal after a Tulane
turnover.
Tulane's quarterbacks continued to struggle. Starter Scott Elliott was 9-of-24 for 83 yards
and an interception. Elliott's relief, Anthony Scelfo, was 3-of-5 for 27 yards and another
interception.
Casey Robottom led all Green Wave receivers with 3 catches for 27 yards.
Senior Joseph Goosby led the defense with 16 tackles, while Antonio Harris added 11 tackles,
including 4 tackles for loss and three sacks.
Southeastern quarterback Brian Babin completed 31-of-47 for a career-high 278 yards and
two touchdowns, while running back Jay Lucas rushed 17 times for 79 yards, and caught
a team-high nine passes for 77 yards for the Lions, while receiver Merrick Lanaux finished
with 114 yards receiving and a touchdown.
The Green Wave return to action on Saturday, Sept. 29, against arch-rival LSU. The game
will be televised nationally on ESPN2, and is scheduled to kickoff at 11 a.m.