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    Maddy Hudak
    Maddy Hudak
    Oct 19, 2025, 19:45
    Updated at: Oct 19, 2025, 19:56

    Trailing late, Tulane snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. A pivotal catch secured a thrilling comeback win against Army.

    With two minutes left in the game, the Tulane Green Wave’s season goals flashed before their eyes as they faced a must-convert 4th-and-8 down seven points to the Army Black Knights.

    Last season, the Green Wave couldn’t find their toughness against the Black Knights, and were out-disciplined, out-executed, and out-played. They needed every one of those traits in that moment, and Jake Retzlaff found Bryce Bohanon in the end zone for Bohanon’s first collegiate touchdown in his five-year career.

    Bohanon had told me in our pregame interview for the broadcast that his increased role on the field this season has come with his growth as a leader.

    “I think just stepping into that leadership role, the responsibility of letting the guys understand the playbook, getting them to know what they need to do on and off the field,” Bohanon said. “That's allowed me to grow as a player, as a man, as a leader. Stepping into that role has been the best thing for me.”

    That all displayed in that moment, as did the work after practice that him and Retzlaff have put in. Those extra reps were alongside Shazz Preston.

    After struggling to stop the triple option all game without both starting linebackers that began the year, the Tulane defense found their grit and forced a critical three-and-out. Then came absolute madness in the end zone.

    The Green Wave drove 75 yards in one minute and Retzlaff threw a catch that was bobbled by Preston and one of two defenders in the end zone surrounding him, after which Preston played hot potato with it until miraculously securing the ball for the game-winning touchdown.

    Now, the magic of the final two minutes didn’t erase the blemishes that got them there. Retzlaff threw his first interception of the season, which allowed Army to take the lead and drain down the fourth quarter with an eight-minute drive.

    The Black Knights didn’t have Captain America, but that didn’t stop them from attacking the Green Wave defense with quarterback Cale Hellum, who had 39 carries for 155 yards and two rushing touchdowns alongside a surprising 7-of-10 completions for 125 air yards.

    Army was successful on all fourth down attempts. But when the game was on the line, that defense held and gave the offense a chance to win. A team that couldn’t find a shred of competence in the red zone last week was successful on two of three tries. And a squad that was penalized 23 times in the prior two games only had four in Saturday’s win.

    The team ultimately got revenge for the title game last season in a close win that didn’t need to be that way. But there’s a lot to be said about teams that continue to win close nail-biters. Some may argue it’s unsustainable. Others may see how some of the bumps and bruises of this season all mattered in the Tulane’s mentality to believe in themselves to finish.

    “It's our culture, man,” Bohanon said earlier in the week. “I'm telling you, we come to play every single game, and especially when it comes to conference, we know it means a little bit more. We want to dominate our conference, we want to dominate every opponent we play, and I think our culture overrides everything.”

    This Green Wave team has an identity. It’s imperfect, but it’s gritty, and it all came together in those final two minutes.