Tulane football (3-9, 2-6 American Athletic Conference) took on the Temple Owls Saturday, in a defensive showdown with Temple upending Tulane 10-3 in the final game of Yulman Stadium’s inaugural season.  

“3 and 9 was not our goal,” redshirt freshman quarterback Tanner Lee said. “I learned a ton this year. We have a lot to build off of for next year.” 

The Wave’s offense struggled from the start as Lee completed 7 of 14 passes for 33 yards in a low-scoring first half. 

Freshman kicker Andrew DiRocco put points on the board with a 28 yard field goal in the first quarter. Temple responded with a 37 yard field goal in the second quarter. The first half ended tied at 3-3.

In the first half, Tulane had 7 first downs and 75 passing yards. Temple had 198 passing yards lead by sophomore quarterback P.J. Walker. 

The Wave punted the ball a total of 8 times, the second most punts of any game this season. 

Tulane’s defense held Temple out of the end zone until the 8:38 mark in the fourth quarter, as Temple’s Walker threw an 8 yard touchdown to give the Owls a 10-3 lead. 

Lee and the offense had a chance at the end, set up by sophomore Lazedrick Thompson’s 48 yard scamper on the Wave’s final drive of the game. Temple then sacked Lee on a fourth and 16 to seal the Temple victory. 

“I like how our guys fought all night,” head coach Curtis Johnson said. “It was frustrating to not be able to get the ball down field and consistently move [the ball] and get it in the end zone.” 

Tulane finished 2-6 in the first season in the AAC, as Tulane was a member of Conference USA last season. Johnson attributes the tougher competition in the AAC to the Wave’s struggles this season. 

“[The AAC schools] are so much more physical,” Johnson said. “The defensive and offensive lines are so much better. Coming into this year I don’t think we understood the level of competition.” 

Lee finished the game, completing 16 of 33 passes for 106 yards and was sacked 4 times. Johnson made it clear that Lee will be the starter in the spring and he has confidence he will have a bounce back sophomore year. 

“Tanner has amnesia more than any player I’ve known,” Johnson said. “I think he’s getting more and more confident. I think he’s going to be fine.” 

Notes:

Redshirt senior quarterback Nick Montana made an appearance in his final game at Tulane, completing 3 of 7 passes for 42 yards and an interception. 

Temple and Tulane converted 3 of 30 third downs overall.