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 in celebration, having won four of its last five games to reach the six-win plateau, normally the benchmark for bowl bids.