NEW ORLEANS  — Jake Retzlaff threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes and Tulane survived a furious East Carolina comeback to earn a 26–19 victory Thursday night at Yulman Stadium.

Patrick Durkin kicked four first-half field goals as the Green Wave (5–1, 2–0 American) built a 12–0 halftime lead before the Pirates (3–3, 0–2) stormed back with 16 straight points in the third quarter to briefly take control.

East Carolina quarterback Katin Houser led the rally, capping a 70-yard drive with a 7-yard touchdown pass to Brock Spalding, then adding a 10-yard scoring run to give the Pirates a 13–12 lead. After a 46-yard field goal by Andrew Mazzie made it 16–12 late in the period, Tulane’s offense came alive just in time.

Retzlaff hit Zion Lewis Jr. for a 63-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter to put the Green Wave back in front, but Mazzie’s 26-yard kick tied the game 19–19 with under six minutes left. Retzlaff then engineered a 12-play, 75-yard march, connecting with running back Javin Gordon on a 4-yard touchdown pass with 35 seconds remaining to seal the win.

Retzlaff completed 26 of 36 passes for 347 yards and two touchdowns without a turnover, leading a Tulane offense that gained 458 total yards. Gordon had 35 rushing yards and 35 receiving yards with the game-winning score, while Tre Shackelford caught four passes for 65 yards and Lewis finished with 75 receiving yards.

Houser went 19 of 30 for 180 yards with one touchdown and added 12 yards on the ground for East Carolina, which out-rushed Tulane 160–96 and converted 10 of 19 third downs. Marlon Gunn Jr. paced the Pirates with 52 rushing yards, and Spalding had a team-high three catches including the score.

Durkin’s consistency carried Tulane early, as he converted field goals from 30, 29, 21, and 40 yards in the first half. The Green Wave defense, led by Bailey Despanie’s nine tackles, limited East Carolina to 60 yards before halftime and sacked Houser three times.