NEW ORLEANS -- Justin McMillan connected with Jaetavian Toles for a 26-yard touchdown with 1:27 left, passed back across the field to Charles Jones for a 2-point conversion, and Tulane avoided a devastating collapse with a 29-28 victory over Navy to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2013.
The game-winning score capped a seven-play drive that covered 71 yards in 2:11 and came after Tazh Maloy's 9-yard TD run stunningly turned Navy's 21-3 halftime deficit into a late, 28-21 lead.
Tulane then stopped Navy's final possession in four plays, capped by a sack and strip of Zach Abey on fourth down, which allowed the Wave to run out the clock and storm the field for a jubilant celebration, having won four of its last five games to reach the six-win plateau, normally the benchmark for bowl bids.