Hellums runs for 223 yards as Jones’ last-play kick lifts Army over Tulane

Cale Hellums supplied Army's biggest running day of the season, and Dawson Jones supplied its final three points. Jones made a 25-yard field goal as time expired Saturday to beat Tulane 20–17 at Michie Stadium.

Hellums rushed for a career-high 223 yards and both Army touchdowns, including a 58-yard run that tied the game midway through the fourth quarter. The Black Knights improved to 3–2 overall and 2–1 in the American Conference. Tulane fell to 2–3 and 0–1 after losing its conference opener.

The decisive possession began with Army's defense. Tulane failed on fourth down at the Black Knights' 33-yard line with roughly four minutes remaining. Army followed with a 12-play drive, leaving Jones to settle the game on the final snap.

The finish capped a fourth quarter in which Army twice pulled level. A Jones field goal first made it 10–10 after a long drive that consumed nearly nine minutes. Tulane quickly regained the lead, using TJ Smith's 58-yard kickoff return to help set up Kadin Semonza's 39-yard touchdown pass to Jaylin Lucas.

Hellums answered on Army's second play of the next possession. His 58-yard touchdown erased the 17–10 deficit with 6:54 left and gave the Black Knights time to make one last defensive stop and scoring drive.

Army finished with 329 rushing yards and 348 yards of total offense, while holding Tulane to 280 yards. Hellums completed only three passes for 19 yards; his running accounted for most of the Black Knights' production and bettered his previous career rushing high of 155 yards against Tulane last season, according to the Associated Press.

Semonza completed 14 of 26 passes for 158 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He also scored on a short third-quarter run that gave Tulane a 10–7 lead. Johnnie Daniels led the Green Wave with 67 rushing yards, and Dickson Agu made 12 tackles.

Hellums had opened the scoring with a one-yard run in the first quarter. Tulane's Will Helmke made a 21-yard field goal before halftime, and Semonza's one-yard touchdown run in the third quarter gave the visitors their first lead. Army then had to recover from a deficit rather than simply protect its early advantage.

The Black Knights held the ball for 35 minutes, 34 seconds. Their 329 rushing yards exceeded Tulane's entire offensive output, but the Green Wave's quick fourth-quarter response meant Army still needed its final two possessions to finish the job.

Tulane hosts Memphis on Friday. Army hosts Florida Atlantic next Saturday, carrying a conference win secured by its ground game, a late fourth-down stop and Jones' closing kick.