The anticipation for the biggest football season in school history hit a fever pitch last night. It was finally time to find out if this team could translate sky high potential into on field product.
Defense took the field first forcing fans to wait with bated breath for the first look at the young Messiah, the Mensiah. A dream three and out start was negated by a very poor penalty by the special teams. When your defense gets off the field, you don’t put them back on it. Something that needs to be cleaned up ahead of next week.
The Wave faced its first adversity of the season as SLU started marching towards the end zone after the penalty. A timely forced fumble from 2023 week 1 star Kam Hamilton kept the electricity in the building alive.
After the fumble, it was finally time for Mensah mania. Those who follow us here at the Wave after Wave blog know we are massive Darian Mensah fans. With that said, the vast majority of the fan base was uncertain. He needed a strong start to avoid folks calling for his job before it even started.
Craddock started with back to back runs that left our young QB with third and long. Certainly, this would be his first pass attempt and in that the first referendum on his selection as starting QB.
I know all of you saw what I saw. Cover 3 zone with backers in the middle and safety help over the top. Mensah would have to feather this one over the backers to a waiting Mario Williams. Picture perfect throw and for those keeping score at home, it was a catch.
It only took one throw and I knew, the kid was ready for this. The prince that was promised had arrived. Too soon? He proceeded to matriculate the ball down the field leading an 11 play, 75 yard touchdown drive cemented by a nice leaping grab from none other than Yulkeith Brown.
Defense remained shaky in the second drive of the game. Hopeful we will see more pass rush in week 2. Nonetheless, the clean sheet was preserved by a missed field goal from SLU.
With the missed FG, Mensah stepped back onto the field for the second drive of his collegiate career. Much like his first, he implored the student section to buckle their seatbelts as we were going for a drive. Mensah began moving the ball with ease again. Spreading the ball around to the likes of Brown, Bohanan and Barnes.
Another third and long arrived and 10’s number would be called again. Mensah scanned the field waiting for someone to come open, finally stepping up in the pocket before unleashing a strike to Alex Bauman, first down. Makhi Hughes walked into the endzone on the very next play making it 2 drives and 2 touchdowns for Darian Mensah. Student section was loving it.
The end of the half brought about the highlight of the night. NCAA ‘25 came to life. As gamers know, every pick is a pick 6 no matter where it is thrown. If you thought the aforementioned highlight of the night was the pick 6, oh contrere mon frere. I am talking about the Tyler Grubbs block that sprang Rayshawn.
Watch 13 as he enters the frame at full speed. Tulane’s returning defensive leader absolutely pancakes a 300 pound SLU lineman to make the house call happen. Rayshawn gets the well deserved glory, but Tyler is the one who coaches will be hooting and hollering about when they run the film back.
The pick 6 turned what could’ve been a sad 14-7 halftime score into a tidy 21-0 at the break. The drubbing was on. The second half showcased more greatness from Mensah and the potential upside of Ty Thompson’s legs in the red zone. Ty was a yard short of 2 touchdowns on his first 2 touches.
There were bumps in the road but the final score was reflective of what we watched. While it was not polished, it was a complete 60 minutes. The first 50 burger since Pratt pounded SMU at Yulman in 2022 and the first shutout since the very same 52-0 score against alcorn state in 2022. The kick coverage can be improved, the pass rush needs to get home and the penalties will have to come down, but this was a decidedly strong start to the Sumrall era.
I don’t think the anticipation for Kansas State could be any higher.
Tulane Football Blog 
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