A game that saw very little offense for four quarters of regulation, suddenly turned into a shootout during four periods of overtime. Tulane topped Louisiana 41-39 after Al Riles was stopped short of the goal line on a two point try that would have pushed the game to a fifth extra time.

Tulane won the coin toss and elected to kick to Louisiana.

Things started out well for the Cajuns as Anthony Jennings and the offense moved the ball, but unfortunately the end of the drive resulted in common theme, a turnover. Anthony Jennings was hit from behind and fumbled, the turnover was the first of four Louisiana turnovers.

The Cajun defense would hold, forcing a Tulane punt. Jennings and the Cajuns again marched down the field, but the drive stalled and Louisiana was forced to settle for a Stevie Artigue field goal. The 40 yard kick gave Louisiana a 3-0 lead.

Much of the same unfolded for the rest of the first half. Artigue added another field goal, pushing the Cajuns to a 6-0. Those six points would be all the Cajuns could muster in the first half thanks in large part to more Louisiana turnovers.

Two Anthony Jennings interceptions set up the Green Wave with short fields but the Cajun defense stiffened holding Tulane to two field goals. After thirty minutes of play the Green Wave and Cajuns were knotted 6-6.

The second half featured more of the same, as the two defenses kept each opposing offense at bay. The Cajuns and Green Wave traded field goals before Glen Cuiellette hit Terren Encalade for a 34 yard touchdown pass, giving Tulane a 16-9 lead after three quarters of play.

The Cajuns answered with a long drive midway through the fourth quarter, capped with a one yard Elijah McGuire run to tie the ball game. Each team then tried to break though with one last score, but neither found the end zone and the game was headed to overtime, tied at 16.

As tough as it was for each team to score throughout regulation, the two offensives came out on fire during the extra four periods.

Louisiana struck first when Anthony Jennings hit Keenan Barnes on a ten yard strike, and after the PAT the Cajuns held a 23-16 lead. But that lead did not last long as Tulane threw a 25 yard touchdown pass on its first play of overtime forcing a second period.

The Green Wave then immediately found the end zone again on another long pass. Pushing their lead to 30-23. Not wanting to give in, Louisiana found extended the game when Elijah McGuire scored from his second touchdown of the night.

Both teams traded field goals in the third overtime, setting up what ended up being the final extra period of the evening. Terren Encalade hauled in his third touchdown of the night before Tulane converted a mandatory two-point try.

With the game on the line, Anthony Jennings found Elijah McGuire on a wheel route up the side line for the score. Setting up a potential game tying two-point play. Al Riles hauled in a Jennings pass, but the Green Wave defense stopped him shy of the goal line. The stop gave Tulane a 41-39 win.

The loss will be a tough pill to swallow, especially considering the Cajun defense did not allow Tulane to convert a single third or fourth down.

Louisiana will return to Sun Belt play next week when they visit New Mexico State.

 

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