What a difference a week makes. After suffering a tough loss athome Saturday to the University of Tulsa, Tulane turned it aroundin a big way, defeating Alabama-Birmingham 49-10 on the road.

The margin of victory was the highest for Tulane in a ConferenceUSA game since the league began in 1996. The 39-point margin wasthe largest for Tulane in any game in the last eight seasons. Thewin improved the Green Wave’s record to 2-1 overall, and 1-1 inC-USA play. After an anemic offensive performance the previousweek, when Tulane managed only three points, the offense explodedagainst UAB. Junior quarterback Ryan Griffin had perhaps the bestgame of his Tulane career, tying a career high with three touchdownpasses.

In all, Griffin passed for 281 yards and completed 22 of his 26attempts. Griffin took advantage of UAB’s defense all day,spreading the ball all over the field. Eleven different receiverscaught passes for the Wave, led by former quarterback Joe Kemp. Thesenior caught six passes for 54 yards and a touchdown. Freshmantight end Matt Marfisi and sophomore wide receiver Wilson VanHooser each provided a touchdown catch.

On the ground, sophomore running back Orleans Darkwa led the waywith 72 yards on 20 carries, scoring two touchdowns. Senior AlbertWilliams also contributed, gaining 66 yards on only 11 carries.

The Green Wave defense also stepped up by adding two touchdownsof its own. Junior linebacker Trent Mackey and sophomore defensiveback Derrick Strozier each returned interceptions for touchdowns,becoming the first Tulane pair to do so since 2005. Tulanedominated the time of possession, controlling the football fornearly 42 minutes.

Toledo said he was looking for that kind of completeperformance.

“It was really a total team effort,” Toledo said. “Defensively, weplayed extremely well. Offensively, we made some big plays in thepassing game and the running game. We caught the ball well, threwthe ball well and blocked well. We did everything well.”

Griffin echoed these sentiments after the game.

“It was a great win for us,” Griffin said. “This was a greatteam effort.”

The Wave will look to repeat the effort this week as it travelsto Durham, N.C. to take on the Duke Blue Devils (1-2), who arecoming off their first win of the season over Boston College.