Michael Pratt threw two touchdown passes and ran for a third score as host Tulane routed short-handed Temple 38-3 in an American Athletic Conference game Saturday.

Pratt, a freshman making his fourth start, passed for 205 yards and threw scoring passes of 31 and 5 yards to Duece Watts, who had five receptions for 114 yards. Cameron Carroll's 13-yard scoring run was his eighth rushing touchdown and ninth score overall this season.

Tulane (3-4, 1-4 AAC) ended a three-game losing streak during which it had allowed more than 1,700 total yards. It held Temple to 222 total yards and overcame three turnovers.

The Owls (1-3, 1-3) played without starting quarterback Anthony Russo, who suffered a shoulder injury in a loss at Memphis last week, as well as 13 players who were in the COVID-19 protocol.

In Russo's absence, Trad Beatty and Re-al Mitchell split the snaps at quarterback. Beatty completed 11 of 18 for 122 yards and an interception, while Mitchell passed for 23 yards and was Temple's leading rusher with 37 yards on seven carries.

Tulane squandered an opportunity to extend its 10-3 halftime lead on its first possession of the third quarter.

On first-and-goal from the 2, Watts fumbled just before he reached the goal line and Jordan Magee recovered the football for Temple.

Watts redeemed himself on the Green Wave's next possession when he caught the 31-yard touchdown pass from Pratt to extend the lead to 17-3.

Willie Langham intercepted Beatty on the ensuing possession, leading to Pratt's 5-yard touchdown to Watts.

Pratt ran 9 yards for a touchdown to increase the lead to 31-3 early in the fourth quarter.

Backup Keon Howard threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Jaetavian Toles to complete the scoring with 3:53 left.

Despite all the absences, the Owls scored first as Rory Bell's 22-yard field goal gave them an early 3-0 lead.

Merek Glover kicked a 40-yard field goal to pull the Green Wave even early in the second quarter.

Carroll's touchdown run completed a 93-yard drive and gave Tulane a 10-3 halftime lead.

--Field Level Media