Notebook: Tulane, Memphis offenses stumble at start in rare occurrence between the rivals

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Tulane-Memphis series had featured an early offensive explosion by one team almost every year in the Willie Fritz era, but not on Friday night.

For the first time since 2017, neither team scored a touchdown on its opening possession, with Tulane going three-and-out and Memphis picking up one first down before punting.

The second series for both ended in similar fashion. The Wave had another three-and-out after a holding call put the offense behind the chains. Memphis did not even get to run a third play after Tulane cornerback Lance Robinson made a diving interception near the sideline of a Seth Henigan pass on second down.

The only offense in the first quarter came on Tulane’s third series, when quarterback Michael Pratt’s 32-yard completion to Chris Brazzell on third and 10 sparked a nine-play, 72-yard touchdown drive.

The Wave led 7-0 at the end of the first quarter, holding Memphis to 44 yards.

Both teams punted again on their next series, running the total to five on eight possessions.

Previously, the fewest points scored in the first quarter during the teams’ last six meetings was 14 in 2021, when it was tied at 7-7. Tulane led 21-0 entering the second quarter last year.

The scoring picked up later in the game on Friday night as the Green Wave won 31-21.

Special-teams success

Tulane punter Will Karoll and the coverage team combined to flip the field late in the first quarter, with Karroll’s 57-yard punt resulting in a return of zero yards for Memphis despite its distance. Koby Drake of the Tigers tried to turn the corner after fielding it but was chased down by DJ Douglas at the 8.

The big special-teams play led to a Memphis three-and-out and a Tulane field goal drive for a 10-0 lead.

Later, Shedro Louis returned a kickoff 41 yards for the Green Wave to the Tulane 45 after Memphis scored three consecutive touchdowns bridging halftime to go up 21-10. That big play led to a touchdown drive for Tulane.

Injuries

Tulane played without an injured starter and one key backup Friday.

Offensive guard Prince Pines, a first-team All-AAC selection last season, missed his second consecutive game with a knee issue, with redshirt freshman Shadre Hurst starting in his place again.

Nose tackle Adonis Friloux, who backs up Eric Hicks, sat out with an unspecified leg injury. Friloux missed all of 2022 after tearing an ACL the week before the opener and has not recaptured the form he exhibited in 2021, when he registered 23 tackles in eight games. This year, he has seven stops and no tackles for loss on a deep defensive front.

The Wave then lost backup defensive end Angelo Anderson to an injury in the second quarter. He walked off the field slowly with a trainer’s assistance.

Dates, times set

Tulane learned the date of its regular-season finale against Texas-San Antonio and the time of its Oct. 21 homecoming game against North Texas earlier this week.

The Green Wave will play Texas-San Antonio on Friday, Nov. 24, on ABC or ESPN at either 11 a.m. or 2:30 p.m. The decision on which time slot will be made either on the Monday two weeks before the game or after all of the previous weekend’s games are played. Memphis will face Temple in the other game on the Friday after Thanksgiving.

Tulane will play North Texas at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN2 next Saturday.

Lagniappe

Tulane took its first snap in its standard two-tight end formation to start the game, but Keith Carter replaced Alex Bauman alongside Reggie Brown. … Robinson’s interception was his fourth this year, moving him into a tie for first place in the FBS. He had one interception in five years at Kansas State and Tulane before this season. … The announced attendance of 35,609 was the largest of the season for Memphis, surpassing 30,364 for the previous home game against Boise State.