KANSAS, USA — Michael Pratt overcame two costly interceptions with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Tyrick James with 4:27 left and Tulane upset Kansas State 17-10 on Saturday.
K-State came into the game favored by two touchdowns.
The Green Wave stopped the Wildcats on fourth-and-short twice in the third quarter and again in the fourth. K-State finished 1 for 5 on fourth down.
It was Tulane’s first road victory over a Power-5 conference school since beating Rutgers in 2010. Rutgers was part of the Big East that season.
The two teams came into the game having allowed a combined total of 22 points in two games. It was the second meeting between the two schools. Tulane came from behind to defeat K-State 20-16 in 1988, the year before coach Bill Snyder took over the Wildcats' program.
Pratt was 13-of-26 passing with a touchdown and two interceptions, but came up big in the clutch for Tulane (3-0).
Adrian Martinez was 21-of-31 passing for 150 yards and a touchdown for Kansas State (2-1). Running back Deuce Vaughn was held to 81 yards on 20 carries, the first time in nine games that he’s been held to fewer than 100 yards rushing. He was held out of the end zone for the first time in 10 games.
Tulane grabbed the early lead on a 91-yard, nine-play drive, capped by a 1-yard run by Tyjae Spears. The Green Wave controlled the first quarter, out-gaining the Wildcats 125-46, even going against a strong wind.
Kansas State tied it with 2:43 left in the second quarter on a 21-yard touchdown pass from Martinez to his former Nebraska teammate Kade Warner. That touchdown capped an eight-play, 75-yard drive.
Tulane appeared to be marching toward a go-ahead score late in the quarter when Daniel Green picked off Pratt’s pass at the KSU 28-yard line. He returned it 49 yards to the Tulane 23. A 22-yard field goal by Chris Tennant on the final play of the half gave K-State a 10-7 lead at the half.
Tulane opened the second half scoring with a 30-yard field goal by Triston Esnard to tie the score at 10.
THE TAKEAWAY
Tulane: The Green Wave proved that their 94-10 point differential in the first two games against lesser opposition was no fluke. They went toe-to-toe against the Wildcats, holding their best player to well below his season average.
Kansas State: The Wildcats hadn’t shown much on offense the first two games this season, but the defense was good enough that it didn’t matter. But the offensive struggles are very real.
UP NEXT
Tulane: The Green Wave complete the non-conference portion of their schedule by hosting Southern Mississippi on Saturday.
Kansas State: The Wildcats travel to Norman, Okla., to take on undefeated Oklahoma on Saturday in the Big 12 opener for both teams.
