Rayshawn Pleasant’s 100-yard interception return for a touchdown, coupled with two touchdown passes thrown by Darian Mensah, helped Tulane secure a dominant 52-0 victory over Southeastern Louisiana in the season opener for both teams. The highlight of the game was Pleasant intercepting Eli Stewart’s pass in the end zone, racing down the left sideline before cutting across the middle for the score, putting Tulane ahead 21-0 just before halftime. This feat marked only the second 100-yard interception return for a touchdown in American Conference history.
Mensah initiated the scoring with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Yulkeith Brown, and later added a 12-yard scoring throw to Alex Bauman, extending Tulane’s lead to 42-0 early in the fourth quarter. Mensah finished the game with 10 completions on 12 attempts for 205 yards. Makhi Hughes contributed 59 rushing yards out of Tulane’s total of 241 on the ground, including a scoring run. Ty Thompson and Arnold Barnes III also found the end zone with short-yardage touchdown runs.
Southeastern Louisiana’s Eli Stewart completed 14 of 19 passes for 99 yards, while Antonio Martin Jr. rushed for 68 yards on 13 carries for the Lions. The game showcased Tulane’s strong performance on both offense and defense, setting a positive tone for the season ahead.