Makhi Hughes scored two touchdowns on the ground and No. Tulane's defense shut down Navy 35-0 on Saturday in Annapolis, Md.

Darian Mensah threw 138 yards with two touchdowns and ran for a TD as Tulane (9-2 AAC, 7-0) clinched a berth for next month's title game against the No. 24 Army.

The Midshipmen (7-3 and 5-2) were without their star quarterback Blake Horvath for most of the match after he left with a rib fracture following a 9 yard rush on Navy's third possession.

Horvath was a running and throwing threat. He returned briefly just before halftime, but took a brutal 9-yard sack in the first play. Horvath's day was over after that possession, which ended with a three and out. He had only one pass, which was an incomplete. On five rushes he gained 25 yards.

Hughes, who started the day fourth among FBS schools with 1,209 rushing yards, finished the game with 82 yards. Hughes scored a touchdown on a 1-yard run after a 65-yard drive opened the third quarter. Tulane now leads 21-0.

Mensah’s 1-yard touchdown pass to Alex Bauman, with 9:19 remaining in the game, made it 28-0.

Braxton Woodson turned the ball twice during a rough performance. He completed three of ten passes for thirteen yards, with an interception. He also rushed for fourteen yards and lost the ball deep in Navy territory.

Mensah converted that 1-yard pass into a second touchdown, this time to Arnold Barnes III with 7:38 remaining in the game.

The Midshipmen only had 113 yards for the entire game after accumulating 90 in the first. Tulane won its eighth consecutive game with 358 yards.

Tulane's only turnover in the first half came after it went three-and out on its first two possessions.

Sam Howard intercepted Woodson, giving Green Wave possession of the ball on their 37. Mensah threw a 44 yard pass to Dontae Flaming on the second play. Mensah scored a touchdown from 14 yards up the middle three plays later.

Navy responded by converting a 4th-and-1 on the Tulane 44 during its next possession. Caleb Ransaw, a Green Wave player, intercepted a pass that would have led to a first-down on fourth-and-3 from the Tulane 35.

Tulane marched 65 yard on 11 plays in less than six minutes. Hughes' 14-yard run for a touchdown capped the march.

Field Level Media

(source: Reuters)