Tulane Edges Army In Nail-Biter

Saturday, September 23

New Orleans, LA

11 AM CT

Army West Point

2-2

Tulane

2-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Army West Point

Tulane

Tulane Edges Army In Nail-Biter

September 23, 2017 | Football

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Postgame Notes (PDF)Video Highlights

NEW ORLEANS – The Army West Point football team dropped a heartbreaking 21-17 decision at Tulane on Saturday afternoon at Yulman Stadium.

In a back-and-forth affair, Army took the 17-14 edge with 5:32 remaining in the game after Connor Slomka muscled his way five yards into the end zone. This play came immediately following his 4th-and-1 conversion.

Tulane did not go away, however, using the final minutes to draw up a game-winning scoring drive. The home team used 19 plays to get 75 yards in 5:09 to stun the Black Knights and leave them trailing with 23 seconds remaining. During the Green Wave's final drive, they converted on all three of their fourth-down opportunities. It started on 4th-and-8 from their own 27, followed by a 4th-and-3 from their own 44, before they capped things off with a 4th-and-1 from the Army six.

The Green Wave managed to go just 2-of-11 on third-down conversions, while the Black Knights finished 8-of-17. Turnovers and fourth-down conversions seemed to be the difference in the game as Army compiled three turnovers and a 2-of-4 mark on fourth downs. Tulane did not turn the ball over and went 3-of-3 when it counted the most.

Andy Davidson finished with 26 carries and a career-high 130 yards on the ground. It was the junior's sixth career 100-yard rushing game. Ahmad Bradshaw was Army's next best ball carrier with 65 yards, followed by Kell Walker who had 59 yards. Bradshaw finished 0-for-3 in the passing game with an interception.

James Nachtigal led the team with five tackles, including four solo stops. Cole Christiansen and James Gibson compiled 4.5 and four tackles, respectively.

HIGHLIGHTS AND GAME NOTES

Davidson finished with 26 carries and 130 yards for an average of 5.0 per carry.
The 130 yards were a career high for the junior.
Davidson had over 100 yards rushing for the sixth time in his career.
Walker had a career-long 35 yard run in the third quarter.
Calen Holt ran for a career-high 49 yards on 13 carries.
Slomka scored his first career touchdown from five-yards out.
Army did not complete a pass in a game for the second time this season.
Kenneth Brinson recorded his first sack of the year, while also forcing a fumble.
The junior now has 5.5 sacks in his career.
Alex Aukerman recorded three tackles for loss for the first time this season.
It was the fifth time in Aukerman's career with multiple tackles for loss in a game.
He made his team-leading third sack of the season in the second quarter.
The senior is now fifth all-time for career sacks with 10.5.
Army played a game without Rhyan England in the defensive backfield for the first time since 2015.
Nick Schrage kicked off four times for 241 yards for an average of 60.2 yards per kick and two touchbacks.
Blake Wilson was 1-for-1 on PAT attempts and made a season-long 46-yard field goal.
Walker had a career-long 43-yard kickoff return in the third quarter.
Mike Reynolds returned punts for the first time this season.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Green Wave jumped out to an early lead when Dontrell Hillard broke free for a 75-yard touchdown run on the first play of scrimmage.
Army finally got on the scoreboard early in the second quarter when Wilson drilled a 46-yarder through the uprights to cut into Tulane's lead at 7-3. His score capped a 13-play, 69-yard drive that ate up 7:39. Wilson was one yard shy of matching his career-best effort, which he achieved in a victory over Morgan State last year.
Late in the second quarter, Davidson broke through for a 42-yard pickup, putting the Black Knights in prime scoring position. The junior nearly took it in all the way but got tripped up one yard shy. Bradshaw finished off the drive one play later with a keeper, while a Wilson PAT put Army in front for the first time at 10-7.
After a 52-yard kickoff by Schrage, Tulane used one play to gain four yards before finding a hole for another long touchdown run. This time it was Sherman Badie who finished off the 72-yard touchdown score to put the Green Wave back in front at 14-10 with 3:45 remaining in the half.
Neither team managed anything in the third period, which set up for an interesting fourth quarter.
Army received the ball with 13:39 remaining and slowly worked its way to the Tulane 11-yard line. The Black Knights were then faced with a 4th-and-1. Deciding to go for it, Slomka gained the needed yardage to extend the Cadets' drive. On the ensuing play, Slomka earned his first career touchdown when he muscled his way in from the 5-yard line to give Army the 17-14 edge with 5:32 left in the contest.
The Green Wave did not settle though, using nearly all of the final five-and-a-half minutes to ultimately secure the win. Tulane converted on all three of its fourth downs to keep the 19-play, 75-yard scoring drive alive. Jonathan Banks finally punched it in from four yards out to hand the home team the lead with just 23 seconds remaining.

UP NEXT
The Black Knights return to Michie Stadium next Saturday for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff against Texas-El Paso. CBS Sports Network will carry the game with Ben Holden, Jay Feely and John Schriffen.