Tulane University defeated SMU, 41-34 in overtime, Saturday evening in Conference-USA
action at Gerald Ford Stadium on the SMU campus.
The win broke a seven-game road losing streak for the Green Wave.
Tulane (2-5 overall, 1-2 in C-USA) was led to victory by senior runing back Matt Forte, who
rushed for 342 yards and four touchdowns on 38 carries. Forte scored on runs of 77, 9, 5,
and 9 yards en route to setting school and conference single game rushing records.
Quarterback Anthony Scelfo completed 8-of-15 passes for 102 yards and a touchdown while
splitting time with redshirt freshman Kevin Moore. Moore threw seven passes, completing
fivefor 58 yards.
Jeremy Williams led the team in receiving with 5 catches for 74 yards and a touchdown.
SMU raced out to a 7-0 advantage with 4:43 remaining in the first quarter thanks to a 26-yard touchdown pass from Justin Willis to Emmanuel Sanders.
The Mustangs extended their lead to 10-0 on a 30-yard field goal by Thomas Morstead early in the second quarter.
After the ensuing kickoff Anthony Scelfo led Green Wave on a 76-yard, 9-play drive that
ended with Scelfo hitting Jeremy Williams with a 22-yard scoring pass with 10:19 remaining in the half to cut the Miustang lead to 10-7.
But Willis then led SMU on a 3-play, 70-yard drive that started with a 49-yard completion
to Emmanuel Sanders and ended when Willis found Sanders with a 17-yard touchdown pass to extend the Mustang lead to 17-7.
But Tulane finished the half strong, scoring a touchdown on a one-play drive with 6:21
remaining when Forte broke away for a 77-yard touchdown run to make the score 17-14.
On their next possession, Tulane scored again on a 32-yard field goal by Ross Thevenot to tie the game at 17 with six seconds left in the half.
Tulane took the second half kickoff 58-yards on 12 plays that ended when Thevenot kicked a 47-yard field goal to extend the Tulane lead to 20-17.
On their next possession, the Wave marched 92 yards on 10 plays, sparked by Scelfo's 38-yard pass to Michael Batiste that set up another Forte touchdown. Forte scored on a nine-yard run to give Tulane a 27-17 advantage heading into the fourth quarter.
SMU's offense woke up and cut the Greenie lead to three points at 27-24 when DeMyron Martin crossed the goal line from a yard out with 13:30 remaining to cap a 68-yard, 10-play drive.
Pinned at their five-yard line after a Tulane punt, Willis led the Ponies to the Tulane
20 from where Morstead tied the game with a 37-yard field goal by Morstead with 7:35 left.
The two teams each scored again when Forte capped a 9-play, 75-yard drive with a five
yard scoring run with 4:38 remaining in regulation.
SMU answered with an 81-yard, 10-play drive capped by a seven-yard touchdown pass from Willis to Zack Sledge with eight seconds left to tie the score at 34-34 and send the game into overtime.
Tulane had the ball first in overtime and scored when Forte scored from nine-yards out and Thevenot booted the PAT to put Tulane ahead 41-34.
SMU's possession ended with their first snap when Tulane defensive end Reggie Scott sacked Willis who fumbled. Green Wave defensive tackle Avery Williams recovered the fumble to end the game.
Willis led the Ponies with 354 passing yards on 28 completions-in-36 attempts. Willis was sacked four times and threw one interception.
But Williams, who leads SMU in rushing, was held to only 15 rushing yards as the Green Wave defense limited the Mustangs to 84 yards on the ground.
The Pony ground attack was led by running back James Mapps with 9 carries for 34 yards.
SMU's Columbus Givens led all receivers with 10 catches for 76 yards while Emmanuel Sanders had eight receptions for 155 yards and a touchdown.
The Pony defense was led by defensive backs Bryce Hudman and Bryan McCann with 8 tackles each, linebacker Wilton McCray added seven tackles.
McCray's running mates at linebacker - Damon Hurst and Will Bonilla - each had sacks, with Hurst getting two and Bonilla one.
The Green Wave defense was led by middle linebacker Evan Lee and strong safety David Skehan with eight tackles each. Cornerback Phillip Davis added seven tackles.
Safety Joseph Goosby, tackle Avery Williams, and ends Logan Kelley and Reggie Scott each had a sack and Josh Lumar grabbed an interception.
The Green Wave will return to the Louisiana Superdome to celebrate Homecoming on Saturday, Oct. 27, with a game against C-USA foe Memphis. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m.