Tulane forced six turnovers and beat Memphis 31-17 on Friday night at Yulman Stadium in New Orleans, nola.com, WDSU and Sports Illustrated's On SI Tulane site reported. Memphis lost three fumbles and threw three interceptions, according to the official box score. The crowd was 20,083, the box score shows.

The defense took over in the second quarter. Tulane stripped Memphis quarterback Marcus Stokes on two sacks and forced a fumble by running back Manny Covey, nola.com reported. TJ Smith then returned an interception for a touchdown on the last play of the first half for a 23-10 lead, nola.com and WDSU reported.

Freshman quarterback Trace Johnson, making his first career start, completed 11 of 21 passes for 165 yards with a touchdown and an interception, WDSU reported. His 38-yard touchdown pass to Destyn Hill gave Tulane a 13-10 lead, WDSU and nola.com reported.

Memphis cut the lead to 23-17 on a 6-yard touchdown pass from Stokes with 3:34 left, WDSU reported. Johnnie Daniels then broke a 48-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-1 with 1:34 left, nola.com and WDSU reported. Stokes threw for 306 yards, and Jaylin Carter ran for 135 yards for Memphis, WDSU reported.

Tulane had forced just one turnover in its first five games, nola.com and WDSU reported. "It was a great team win," coach Will Hall said, according to nola.com. "Our young men in the trenches won one-on-ones, which swung it into our favor."

Tulane is 3-3 and Memphis is 5-2, nola.com and WDSU reported. Tulane hosts UTSA on Oct. 24, and Memphis hosts East Carolina on Thursday, Oct. 22, according to the schools' schedules.

What we know: Tulane beat Memphis 31-17, and the official box score shows six Memphis turnovers.
What we don't: Whether Tulane's defensive turnaround will last as it tries to stay in the American Conference race.