by Jeff Clark, Staff Writer

NEW ORLEANS (GG) — South Alabama was just over a minute away from a road victory Saturday night before Tulane mounted one final scoring drive to hand the Jaguars a 28-24 loss at Yulman Stadium.

The Jaguars led 24-21 when Tulane took over at its own 22-yard line with 4:39 remaining. Quarterback Kadin Semonza then guided the Green Wave 78 yards in seven plays, completing a 36-yard pass to his brother, Cash Semonza, before finding Destyn Hill for a 14-yard touchdown with 1:17 remaining.

The score gave Tulane its first victory of the season and its first under Will Hall, who is in his first year as head coach of the Green Wave. Both teams moved to 1-1.

South Alabama had controlled much of the game, outgaining Tulane 478-424, running 21 more offensive plays and holding the ball for 37 minutes, 40 seconds. The Jaguars also recorded 25 first downs and converted 10 of 16 third-down attempts.

The Jaguars took a 10-0 first-quarter lead on Davis Little’s career-long 40-yard field goal and PJ Martin’s 16-yard touchdown run. Tulane answered with two short touchdown runs by Johnnie Daniels in the second quarter to take a 14-10 lead into halftime.

South Alabama regained the lead early in the third quarter when Bishop Davenport connected with Anthony Eager on a 43-yard touchdown pass. Tulane answered quickly, however, as Jaylin Lucas broke loose for an 80-yard touchdown run to put the Green Wave back ahead 21-17.

Lucas was Tulane’s biggest offensive weapon, rushing for 214 yards on just 11 carries. His total set a Yulman Stadium rushing record, and his 19.5 yards per carry established a conference record for a player with at least 10 attempts.

The Jaguars responded again early in the fourth quarter. Davenport capped a 12-play, 70-yard drive with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Brendan Jenkins, giving South Alabama a 24-21 advantage with 11:49 remaining.

Davenport finished 22 of 32 passing for a career-high 296 yards and two touchdowns while adding 50 rushing yards. Jenkins posted a career-best 119 receiving yards and a touchdown.

Tulane’s defense gave the Green Wave one final opportunity by stopping South Alabama late in the fourth quarter. Semonza took advantage, finishing 14 of 22 for 212 yards and the game-winning touchdown. Hill caught four passes for 91 yards, including the decisive score.

South Alabama coach Major Applewhite said the Jaguars had opportunities to put the game away but failed to finish.

“We all could’ve done things better, from the coaching staff to the players,” Applewhite said. “Our execution could’ve been better on offense, defense, and special teams. That’s a good ball club we played, and we had our opportunities.”

Applewhite said there would be no satisfaction in simply playing Tulane close.

“We’re not that type of program where we’re going to have moral wins; that’s just not us,” he said. “We’re gonna keep trying, striving for the championships, and understanding what we have to do to win games, and the details that we have to practice and coach with.”

The final Tulane drive, Applewhite said, underscored the lesson South Alabama will take from the loss.

“We have to close on games like this, on the road, and we didn’t do it,” he said. “So that’s what we’re gonna focus on.”

Tulane has now won four straight games against South Alabama and leads the all-time series 4-1. The Jaguars return home to face Ohio at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, while Tulane travels to Kansas State for an 11 a.m. kickoff.

(Photos by Aimee Cronan/The Gazebo Gazette via Associated Press)