STWF Sports| NEW ORLEANS| October 16, 2026 — Tulane turned defense into offense Friday night, forcing six turnovers and scoring 23 second-quarter points on the way to a 31-17 American Conference victory over Memphis at Yulman Stadium.
The Green Wave improved to 3-3 overall and 1-1 in conference play, while Memphis fell to 5-2 overall and 2-1 in the American. Tulane’s defense produced seven sacks, nine tackles for loss and six takeaways, helping overcome a sizable yardage disadvantage. Pasted markdown Pasted markdown
Memphis struck first when Philippe Laforge connected on a 44-yard field goal in the opening quarter. Tulane answered early in the second when Cooper Helmke drilled a 56-yard field goal, tying the score at 3-3. Pasted markdown
The Tigers quickly regained the lead on a 76-yard touchdown pass from Marcus Stokes to Stonka Burnside, but Tulane responded with another Helmke field goal to cut the deficit to 10-6. Pasted markdown
Defense Changes the Game
Tulane’s defense then began to take control.
After Ed Smith IV forced his second fumble of the game, Trace Johnson connected with Destyn Hill for a 38-yard touchdown, giving the Green Wave a 13-10 lead. It was the first touchdown pass of Johnson’s career and a lead Tulane would not give back. Pasted markdown
Helmke added a 29-yard field goal late in the second quarter before TJ Smith intercepted Stokes and returned it 76 yards for a touchdown as time expired in the half, pushing Tulane’s advantage to 23-10. Pasted markdown
The pick-six was Tulane’s first defensive touchdown of the season and its first since the 2025 American Championship Game. Pasted markdown
Memphis Makes a Late Push
The third quarter passed without a score, but Memphis made things interesting late.
Stokes found Jermyi Davis for a 6-yard touchdown with 3:34 remaining, cutting Tulane’s lead to 23-17 and putting pressure on the Green Wave offense to finish the game. Pasted markdown
Tulane answered with its biggest offensive play of the night.
Facing fourth-and-one near midfield, Johnnie Daniels broke free for a 48-yard touchdown run with 1:34 remaining. Hill then caught the two-point conversion to make it 31-17 and effectively seal the win. Pasted markdown
Johnson, Hill Help Lead the Offense
Johnson finished 11-of-21 passing for 165 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Daniels led the rushing attack with 61 yards and the late touchdown, while Hill caught four passes for 62 yards and a score. Anthony Brown-Stephens added three receptions for 41 yards. Pasted markdown
Defensively, Dickson Agu led Tulane with 10 tackles, while Kevin Adams III totaled nine tackles, two interceptions and a fumble recovery. Jah’rie Garner recorded two sacks, and Smith IV forced two fumbles. Pasted markdown
Helmke finished 3-for-4 on field-goal attempts, including the 56-yarder, while William Hudlow averaged 48 yards on six punts and placed two inside the 20. Pasted markdown
Memphis outgained Tulane 488-325 and held a 27-13 edge in first downs, but the turnovers told the story. The Green Wave scored 14 points directly off Memphis giveaways. Pasted markdown
The win also extended Tulane’s home winning streak to 10 straight games, dating back to the start of the 2025 season. Pasted markdown
Tulane remains home next week and will host UTSA on Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. at Yulman Stadium.
