Tulane Dominates Navy on Senior Day, 35-0

Annapolis, MD — In front of 38,914 fans at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Tulane spoiled Senior Day and the 300th Navy football game played at the historic venue, delivering a dominant 35-0 shutout victory. The Green Wave (9-2, 7-0 AAC) overwhelmed the Midshipmen (7-3, 5-2 AAC) with a balanced offensive attack and a smothering defense that kept Navy out of the end zone for the entire game.

“Well, we got our butts kicked,” said Navy head coach Brian Newberry. “Hats off to Tulane. I knew that was a really good football team coming into this game, and they were every bit of that today. Thought they had a really good plan on both sides of the football. They outplayed us, they out physicaled us, things we knew we had to do we didn't get done. Really, really disappointed.”

After a quiet opening series from both teams, Tulane broke through late in the first quarter. Quarterback Darian Mensah capped a five-play, 63-yard drive with a 14-yard rushing touchdown, putting the Green Wave up 7-0 with 1:07 left in the first quarter. Navy’s offense struggled to find rhythm early, managing just 61 total yards in the opening quarter.

Tulane’s physicality continued to wear down Navy’s defense in the second quarter. Midway through the period, running back Makhi Hughes powered into the end zone from 14 yards out, finishing an 11-play, 65-yard drive that extended Tulane’s lead to 14-0. Meanwhile, Navy’s offense remained stagnant, hindered by penalties and an inability to sustain drives. By halftime, the Midshipmen had managed just 29 yards of total offense.

The Green Wave asserted their dominance in the third quarter, controlling the ball for over 12 minutes. Mensah’s efficiency and Hughes’ bruising runs kept the chains moving, culminating in a 1-yard touchdown run by Hughes that capped a methodical 13-play, 65-yard drive. The score pushed Tulane’s lead to 21-0 and left Navy searching for answers on both sides of the ball.

Tulane continued to pour it on in the final quarter. Mensah connected with tight end Alex Bauman on a 1-yard touchdown pass early in the quarter, and later found Arnold Barnes III for another short touchdown following a Navy fumble deep in their own territory. The Green Wave’s defense preserved the shutout, holding Navy to just 113 yards of total offense and forcing a key turnover in the fourth quarter.

Darian Mensah was a dual-threat for Tulane, passing for 138 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 57 yards and another score. Makhi Hughes led all rushers with 82 yards on 22 carries, including two touchdowns. Tulane’s Defense stifled Navy all day, allowing just 100 rushing yards and holding the Midshipmen to 1-of-11 on third down. Kyle Jacob led the Midshipmen’s defense with 10 tackles, while Colin Ramos recorded the team’s only sack of the day.

Navy’s triple-option attack, typically efficient that controlled the time of possession, was completely neutralized by Tulane’s disciplined front seven. The Midshipmen averaged just 2.9 yards per carry and failed to complete a pass longer than five yards.

On defense, Navy couldn’t slow Tulane’s balanced offense, surrendering 358 total yards while allowing the Green Wave to convert 6-of-13 third downs and both of their fourth-down attempts.

The game marked the 300th Navy football game played at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. However, Tulane’s dominant performance dampened the celebratory atmosphere on what was also Senior Day for Navy’s graduating players.