BOCA RATON, Fla. ā Michael Pratt became Tulaneās career passing leader, throwing for three touchdowns in his South Florida homecoming to lead No. 17 Tulane to a 24-8 victory over Florida Atlantic on Saturday.
Pratt, who attended high school in Boca Raton and Deerfield Beach, completed 21 of 28 passes for 252 yards to help Tulane (10-1, 7-0, No. 24 CFP) stay atop the American Athletic Conference. Heās now thrown for 9,239 yards for the Green Wave.
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āHeās the greatest quarterback in Tulane history,ā coach Willie Fritz said. āHe really is. Weāve had great quarterbacks here. Iām not trying to diminish that. But when you put in his statistics plus the wins that heās got, heās done a tremendous job.ā
Tulane extended its winning streak to nine games, but recent victories havenāt come easily. Saturday marked the first time in five games the Green Wave won by more than one score.
āFor us, after the last few weeks, itās kind of a blowout,ā Fritz joked.
Even without injured starting wide receivers JhaQuan Jackson and Lawrence Keys, Pratt easily dissected the FAU (4-7, 3-4) defense.
Pratt and the Green Wave effectively put the game out of reach with his second touchdown connection with Chris Carter on the opening possession of the second half. The 8-yard pass play capped an 11-play, 55-yard drive, giving Tulane a 21-0 lead.
āThatās a hell of a team led by a hell of a man and a hell of a quarterback,ā FAU coach Tom Herman said.
Carter, who had three catches for 26 yards, entered Saturday with only six receptions, none for touchdowns.
āI think he did a really good job of creating separation, making great catches and getting in the end zone,ā Pratt said.
Prattās 9-yard touchdown passes, the first to Carter and the second to Chris Brazzell, sent Tulane into halftime with a 14-0 lead.
FAUās points came on Daniel Richardsonās 4-yard pass to Khalil Brantley and a two-point conversion.
āIām actually proud of our fight,ā Herman said. āI know the scoreboard feels probably like it did the last couple weeks, but we fought our tails off.ā
THE TAKEAWAY
Tulane: Tulane began the day among four teams still vying for a spot in the AAC championship game. The Green Wave will guarantee themselves a spot if they beat UTSA at home Friday.
Florida Atlantic: FAU won its first two AAC games but hasnāt recorded a win in November. This loss ensures that Hermanās first season as coach wonāt end with a bowl bid.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
The Green Wave, seeking a second straight New Yearās Six bowl game, could move up in the Top 25.
UP NEXT
Tulane: Host UTSA on Friday.
Florida Atlantic: Visits Rice next Saturday.
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AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football