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Memphis started out the year with a blowout of Missouri State Tigers by a score of 63 - 7 on Saturday, September 5, 2015. They play @ Kansas this Saturday. Last week Kansas lost to SDSU by a score of 41 - 38. This game is to be played at 6:00 PM. What do we think is going to happen this Saturday?

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From the Commercial Appeal:

 

Tigers maul Missouri State 63-7 in opener

Tom Schad
9:14 PM, Sep 5, 2015
 
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September 5, 2015 - Memphis punt returner Roderick Proctor scrambles past Missouri State punter Chris Sullens (left) for a 63-yard touchdown during first quarter action at the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Saturday, September 5, 2015 in Memphis Tenn. (AP Photo/The Commercial Appeal, Mark Weber)

 
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September 5, 2015 - Memphis� Jackson Dillon (middle) celebrates after a recovering a Missouri State fumble during first quarter action at the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Saturday, September 5, 2015 in Memphis Tenn. The play lead to the Tigers first touchdown. (AP Photo/The Commercial Appeal, Mark Weber)

 
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September 5, 2015 - Memphis head coach Justin Fuente (right) celebrates a touchdown with special teams coordinator James Shibest (left) against Missouri State during first quarter action at the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Saturday, September 5, 2015 in Memphis Tenn. (AP Photo/The Commercial Appeal, Mark Weber)

 
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September 5, 2015 - Memphis running back Jarvis Cooper (top) scramble for positive yards against the Missouri State defense during first quarter action at the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Saturday, September 5, 2015 in Memphis Tenn. (AP Photo/The Commercial Appeal, Mark Weber)

 
 
Maybe the moment when Saturday’s season opener started to get out of hand was when Phil Mayhue, a wide receiver, lobbed a touchdown pass to Mose Frazier.
 

Or maybe it was when Roderick Proctor returned a punt for a touchdown, becoming the first Memphis football player to accomplish that feat in more than a decade.

 

Or maybe it was early in the second quarter, when the Tigers had more points (35) than Missouri State had yards (33).

 

Whatever the defining moment, Memphis’ first game of the season got out of hand, and out of hand fast. The Tigers led by six scores at halftime, gave starting quarterback Paxton Lynch the rest of the night off and went on to crush the Bears 63-7.

 

The victory gave Memphis eight consecutive wins dating to Oct. 25 and kept alive the fourth-longest active winning streak in the Football Bowl Subdivision, behind only Ohio State (13), Boise State (10) and TCU (nine). And this one was over early.

 

“We had to come out fast,†running back Doroland Dorceus said. “We just kept rolling, tried to keep our foot on the pedal and keep going.â€

 

Dorceus ran for two touchdowns in his first game since tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee more than 11 months ago, while Jarvis Cooper also ran for a pair of scores and finished with a career-best 102 rushing yards. Frazier caught two touchdown passes in a game for the first time in his career, including a 44-yard lob from Mayhue, who collected the ball on a reverse and saw Frazier wide open. Proctor later followed with a 63-yard punt return for a touchdown, becoming the first Tiger to achieve such a feat since 2004.

 

The Tigers’ defense, meanwhile, forced six fumbles and recovered three of them. An interception by cornerback Dontrell Nelson (Olive Branch) was negated by a roughing-the-passer penalty. Missouri State did not record a first down until the opening minutes of the second quarter.

 

Memphis carried a 42-0 lead into halftime and turned the game over to its reserves for much of the second half. The starters didn't mind the short night.

 

"It means we went out there and handled our business," Frazier said. "That's always best for us. Go out there, handle our business and let the younger guys play."

 

Redshirt freshman quarterback Clay Holgorsen played the majority of the game, completing seven of eight passes for 80 yards and one touchdown in his collegiate debut. Lynch finished 8-for-12 for 78 yards and a score. He exited late in the second quarter.

 

As the starters made way for their backups, however, a string of penalties followed. Two personal foul calls prolonged Missouri State's only touchdown drive, and a third penalty negated an 87-yard kick return. Altogether, Memphis committed nine penalties for 92 yards, one of the reasons why coach Justin Fuente described his team's performance merely as "some good and some bad."

 

“The score to me is secondary. It’s about how you play,†Fuente said. “Obviously we’re happy to win the game. We want to win the football game. … But I was interested in measuring how well we play across the board. And I felt like we, score aside, we left some of that out there. We should have played better in spots.â€

 

Still, it wasn’t close. And it was never supposed to be. Memphis was expected to trounce Missouri State, a middling Football Championship Subdivision school with a new head coach and redshirt freshman quarterback, Christian Brothers product Breck Ruddick. And that’s what happened.

 

One of the challenges for the Tigers now will be evaluating this game by their performance rather than the final score.

 

"We’ve got a lot better to get in order to be the type of team that we would like to be," Fuente said. "There’s a bunch of things that happened out there today that I’m happy about. And there’s a bunch of things out there that I’m not very pleased about, and we’re going to have to work on [them] to get to where we want to be.â€

 

The Tigers believe they will get there, though. They're out to prove that their 10-win campaign was not a fluke. The process will continue next week against Kansas.

 

“Tune in," Proctor said. "We’re putting in too much work not to have another great season.â€

 

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From the Commerciaql Appeal:

 

Fuente sees fast-paced Jayhawks as threat

Tom Schad
7:28 PM, Sep 7, 2015
 
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Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal Memphis and linebacker Shareef White (right, chasing a fumble by Missouri State QB Breck Ruddick) will face a fast-moving offense Saturday at Kansas.

 
 
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September 5, 2015 - Memphis' Sam Craft (front) scramble for positive yards against the Missouri State defense during second quarter action at the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Saturday, September 5, 2015 in Memphis Tenn. (AP Photo/The Commercial Appeal, Mark Weber)

 
The video made waves on the Internet on Saturday afternoon, of Kansas quarterback Montell Cozart fumbling a snap in the closing seconds, trying desperately to spike the ball and failing to even give his kicker an opportunity to tie the score.
 

The sequence sealed a 41-38 loss to South Dakota State. And it fit the narrative of a bumbling program that has won only 12 games in the past five years.

 

When Memphis football coach Justin Fuente watches that game, however, his attention is elsewhere. He sees a Jayhawks offense that racked up 576 yards at a breakneck speed. He sees running back Ke’aun Kinner’s 157 rushing yards and a dual-threat quarterback, Cozart, who could frustrate a young defense.

 

“I mean this as a compliment: They have no conscience,†Fuente said. “They’re pedal to the metal every single play. They’ll throw it, run it, going as fast as humanly possible. … They’re never out of the game.â€

 

Memphis coasted past Missouri State in its season opener 63-7, but Saturday’s game against the Jayhawks will present a new challenge. The Tigers will be on the road for the first time in 2015. They will face a team that, despite its struggles, plays in a Power Five conference in the Big 12, with the resources that accompany that. And they will have to slow a fast-paced offense that has the ability to prolong every game.

 

“We’re playing against a team that’s never out of it. To me, that’s the message,†Fuente said. “The way they play offense creates more possessions. It creates more possessions for them, and it creates more possessions for us, because they do go so fast. You can make up a little bit of ground if you fall behind, but also they can make up a little bit of ground.â€

 

The Jayhawks also will be playing with extra motivation following the embarrassing end to their opener. Vegas oddsmakers have pegged them as a double-digit underdog. First-year coach David Beaty admits it's a fair assessment.

 

“Honestly, until we earn it, we’re going to be underdogs in every game that we have,†Beaty said. “That’s just the way it is. And we need to be playing like we’re the underdogs.â€

 

Should the odds hold true, Memphis would pick up its first win over a Power Five team since 2004, when it edged Ole Miss 20-13. In the past two decades, the Tigers are 4-41 against Power Five teams, most of them from the Southeastern Conference.

 

When asked about a possible gap between the American Athletic Conference and Power Five schools, Fuente said his team’s focus does not change, regardless of an opponent’s conference affiliation.

 

“We try not to look at it like that,†he said. “It’s our job to go try and win the ballgame. What league they play in and all that stuff is of no concern to us, nor is it to them, I don’t think. I don’t think they care one bit what league we play in.â€

 

Tiger Insider

 

Sophomore Roderick Proctor was named the AAC special teams player of the week Monday.

 

Proctor returned a punt 63 yards for a touchdown against Missouri State, the first Tiger to do so since 2004. He finished with 114 total return yards in the 63-7 win.

 

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=sgT6oTZFORI

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From the Commercial Appeal:

 

Kansas' mobile QB Montell Cozart to test Tigers' defense

Tom Schad
9:01 PM, Sep 9, 2015
 
 
football_generic2_1407466288931_7268684_
Copyright Associated Press
 

The last time the Memphis football team lost a game, it was against Houston and quarterback Greg Ward Jr.

 

Ward, a sophomore at the time, had only recently switched positions from wide receiver. He threw for 188 yards and ran for 95 more, accounting for two touchdowns in a 28-24 victory for the Cougars at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium on Oct. 11. He was one of only a handful of dual-threat quarterbacks the Tigers faced over the course of last year.

 

On Saturday night in Lawrence, they will face another: Kansas quarterback Montell Cozart. Though the Jayhawks lost their season-opener to South Dakota State 41-38, Cozart threw for 291 yards and ran for 94 more. He guided an up-tempo offense that racked up nearly 600 yards and ran 91 plays, among the highest in the Football Bowl Subdivision in the first week of the season.

 

“You try your best to contain the guy,†Memphis coach Justin Fuente said. “Try not to rush past him. Try to do some things, maybe tweak some things schematically, so you make sure you have somebody accountable for him. But sometimes, it’s hard.â€

 

Facing a mobile quarterback is nothing new for the Tigers, who have won eight straight games since that loss to Houston. But for a defense with eight first-year starters, including three in the linebacking corps and three more in the secondary, it will require an extra level of awareness at every position.

 

“Sometimes it might be a corner, it might be a safety, it might be a D-end,†defensive coordinator Galen Scott said. “Everybody’s got to have their eyes on [him] and be able to see. That’s a big part of it. And then being able to run to the ball, get good angles and take him down to the ground when you are there.â€

 

Though slowing Cozart will require a group effort, much of the responsibility will fall on the defensive ends and linebackers to keep the junior quarterback in the pocket. Defensive end Latarius Brady said the goal is simple.

 

“Make him throw the ball,†he said. “We want him to throw the ball and make him feel uncomfortable ... take away his running game.â€

 

Rain, then shine

 

Wednesday’s afternoon storm wasn’t the first the Tigers have seen this fall, but it was the first time that rain wasn’t accompanied by lightning. It allowed them to practice in a steady downpour, which Fuente believes is beneficial.

 

“You need practices like that. You need to get out in the elements sometimes,†he said. “I thought they handled it pretty well. We were actually more dialed in, I think, when it was raining than when it wasn’t.â€

 

The weather won’t matter much this weekend. It’ll be sunny with a high of 70 degrees Saturday when Memphis faces Kansas, with the possibility of temperatures dipping to as low as 47 later in the night.

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ESPN video highlights of the U of M vs Kansas game, Saturday, September 12, 2015. The U of M beat Kansas by a score of 55 - 23.

 

ESPN video highlight of Mose Frazier running for a 60 yd TD .

 

ESPN video highlight of J. Henderson's 1 yd TD run.

 

ESPN video highlight of J. Cooper's 1 yd TD run.

 

ESPN video highlight of P. Lynch's 3 yd TD pass to D. Montiel.

 

ESPN video highlight of P. Lynch's 6 yd TD pass to T. Jones.

 

ESPN video Highlight of Sam Craft's 1 yd TD run.

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From the Commercial Appeal:

 

Tigers overcome slow start to defeat Jayhawks 55-23

Tom Schad
12:08 AM, Sep 13, 2015
 
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September 12, 2015 - Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch completes a 6 yard touchdown pass against the Kansas defense during second quarter action in Lawrence, Kansas. Lynch had a career-high 354 passing yards, going 22 of 25 in passing attempts, while adding two touchdowns. (Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal)

 
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September 12, 2015 - Memphis linebacker Jackson Dillon (left) looks to sack Kansas quarterback Montell Cozart (right) during first quarter action in Lawrence, Kansas. Cozart was able to complete a pass for a first down on the play. (Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal)

 

 

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Paxton Lynch grinned as he walked off the field at Memorial Stadium on Saturday night, sauntering through the cool air and the mostly empty stadium. He signed a football for a fan before turning to a nearby section of bleachers, where his University of Memphis teammates were singing the school’s fight song with a group of traveling fans.

 

This was a rare moment for the Memphis football program, a program that struggled for several years to fill its own home stadium, let alone have a presence at someone else’s. For years, the Tigers had struggled to beat Power Five teams like the one they faced Saturday at Memorial Stadium. For years, they had looked like the bumbling team that took the field in the opening minutes, not the one that quickly flipped the script and was in control the rest of the night.

 

This time, though, things were different. The Tigers overcame a sloppy start and a double-digit first-quarter deficit to crush Kansas, 55-23, in their second blowout in as many weeks. They racked up 651 yards of total offense, the second-most in school history, and beat a Power Five team for the first time since 2004, which was also the last time they began a season with a 2-0 record. And it all started with Lynch.

 

The redshirt junior completed 22 of 25 passes for a career-best 354 yards and two touchdowns, admitting afterward that it was among the most efficient performances of his career. Perhaps most importantly, he helped the offense refocus after a turnover on the first offensive play of the game, a subsequent three-and-out and an immediate 10-0 deficit.

 

“We just knew that we had to stay focused,†Lynch said. “We knew that the game was going to have adversity in it, whether it was at the beginning or the end. But we knew once we fell down that it was still in our hands and we just had to come back from it.â€

 

The Tigers extended their winning streak to nine game on Saturday, prolonging the fourth-longest active streak in the Football Bowl Subdivision, but it didn’t come easily in the beginning.

 

Tevin Jones fumbled on the team’s first offensive play from scrimmage, which led to a Kansas field goal. A three-and-out, including a sack of Lynch, followed. The Jayhawks then marched down the field, with the help of a silly personal foul penalty by Arthur Maulet, and punched it in to take a 10-0 lead after five minutes.

 

This was one of the moments coach Justin Fuente had spoken about all preseason. He was curious to see how this year’s team, including a largely new-look defense, would respond to adversity. He gathered his players on the sideline after those opening minutes, then watched them answer to the tune of 17 unanswered points.

 

“Our guys never panicked, which I was proud of. It’s what we try and preach,†Fuente said. “I felt like they were anxious. They were anxious to play the game, when things didn’t go very well, they were a little bit nervous, kind of, because they want to do well. I think some of our leaders, and our coaches, did a good job of just calming everybody down.â€

 

Lynch said he never panicked. This team, he knew, had faced adversity before. His teammates knew it, too. And they knew that Lynch would be capable of leading them back.

 

“He can do that against anybody every game,†linebacker Jackson Dillon said. “It’s basically just stay calm and trust in him. We all trust in him."

 

In addition to Lynch, senior wide receiver Mose Frazier played a major role in the turnaround. He weaved through the Kansas defense for a 60-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, then caught a 42-yard pass on the ensuing drive. He was one of seven Tigers who recorded either a rushing or receiving touchdown Saturday night.

 

The Jayhawks’ up-tempo offense is designed to create quick scoring opportunities, but on this night, it led to a lot of three-and-outs -- and additional opportunities for the Tigers. Fuente said those extra opportunities, and a fatigued Kansas defense in the second half, contributed to what was ultimately one of the most explosive offensive performances in school history. Nothing tangible changed between the first five minutes and the remaining 55.

 

“We’d just been shooting ourselves in the foot,†Fuente said. “We didn’t change anything or deviate from the plan. Just quit dropping it on the ground for a little while.â€

 

Jones and tight end Daniel Montiel caught touchdown passes, while Jarvis Cooper, Sam Craft, Doroland Dorceus, Jamarius Henderson and the aforementioned Frazier scored on the ground.

 

By the waning minutes of the fourth quarter, the Tigers led by 35 points. The 10-point deficit they shouldered mere hours before felt like it had never existed. The backups, including quarterback Clay Holgorsen, were getting work for a second consecutive week.

 

Lynch’s night ended early. It ended with him grinning in the cool September night, as players sang the fight song with a section of visiting fans. The beginning may have been ugly, but for Memphis and its quarterback, the end was sweet.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=uvB0igwVg2Y

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The U of M's next opponent is Bowling Green. BG is currently 1 - 1 on the season with an opening season loss to UT @ UT by a score of 59 - 30. They won last week playing against the Maryland Terapins @ Maryland by a score of 48 - 27. This is a quality opponent that the U of M will face.

 

ESPN has a U of M vs Bowling Green comparison page of the two teams that has their last five games and other things. Hit the link.

 

What do you guys think of this next game that is coming up?

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From the Commercial Appeal:

 

Tiger Football Morning After: On Lynch, the U of M defense, and looking ahead to Bowling Green

 

Tom Schad
9:47 AM, Sep 13, 2015
 
0913_masp_umfb14_1442116324376_23889321_
 

September 12, 2015 - Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch (left) and head coach Justin Fuente (left) discuss a play during first quarter action in Lawrence, Kansas.

 

LAWRENCE, Kan. - The University of Memphis shook off a slow start Saturday night to crush Kansas, 55-23. Here are a few observations from the Tigers' second rout in as many weeks.

 

— First, the obvious: Kansas, much like Missouri State, is not very good. Though the Jayhawks play in a Power Five conference, that moniker is a bit deceptive given their struggles over the past five years and the shape of their team now. That said, I think we learned something about Memphis in this game. It was certainly a tougher test, and therefore a more meaningful win, than the opener. The 2015 Tigers faced their first dose of adversity in the first quarter and plowed through it without issue. That's a positive sign, even if it came against a struggling opponent.

 

— Now that we've established that Kansas isn't very good, let's also acknowledge this: It's really hard to do what Paxton Lynch did Saturday night, against any opponent, at pretty much any level. He threw for a career-high 354 yards and only three of his 25 passes fell incomplete. Coach Justin Fuente said he was "pretty accurate." Lynch said it was one of the most efficient nights of his career. I think it was indicative of how remarkably comfortable Lynch is in this offense. That comes with continuity. This is his fourth year in the same system with the same offensive coordinator, head coach and quarterbacks coach. That's a better situation than a lot of NFL quarterbacks get. And I think the Tigers are seeing it pay dividends.

 

— The Memphis defense more or less accomplished its goal Saturday. Holding Kansas to a field goal after Tevin Jones' fumble on the first play from scrimmage was huge. And though the Jayhawks put up 23 points, the Tigers prevented them from really finding a groove for multiple drives in a row. They deserve credit for that. With all of that said, Galen Scott's unit still has a long, long way to go. The front seven wasn't especially strong against the run, and the tackling was somewhere between questionable and poor. It's a significant problem that could become a massive one if not corrected next week against Bowling Green.

 

— The good news for Memphis, defensively: As of the second half, the team was at full strength. Ricky Hunter and Leonard Pegues returned from their respective suspensions. Ernest Suttles, who had missed the opener, started Saturday. Everyone was available. Fuente described it as "refreshing."

 

— I mentioned this in the notebook, but the Tigers shuffled their offensive line a bit in the first half, most notably playing centers Gabe Kuhn and Drew Kyser together. Kuhn, who played tackle in high school, moved to right guard. Kyser took over at center. Trevon Tate also replaced Ryan Mack at right tackle. The moves gave Memphis a really inexperienced right side of the line with a true freshman, redshirt freshman and redshirt sophomore. But from watching it live, the arrangement seemed to work well. I'm not sure whether Tate will supplant Mack, but I wouldn't be surprised if you see Kyser and Kuhn in the starting lineup together next week.

 

— Two offensive stats that stand out, besides Lynch's numbers: Eleven different Tigers caught a pass Saturday night, and six caught a pass of 20 yards or more. Hard to stop that. When everything's clicking, as it was Saturday, this group can be both balanced and explosive.

 

— Given the number and ability of the Tigers' running backs this year, it was strange to me that the Tigers so frequently handed the ball off to wide receivers who aren't as accustomed to getting carries. Five receivers got nine combined carries. At one point in the first quarter, they had almost as many carries as the running backs. “That’s something that we do," Fuente explained. "I think that’s part of what we do, to try and get the ball on the perimeter. I’m a big believer in that. I think it helps you run the ball on the inside." That's fair. I understand that. The Tigers have certainly run the ball with their wide receivers before, but perhaps not as frequently as they did Saturday. Memphis wideouts had 26 carries in all of 2014, and nine Saturday night alone. It worked at times, but it also resulted in two fumbles, by Jones and Mose Frazier. Why not use Sam Craft, someone who's far more comfortable taking traditional handoffs, on those same plays instead?

 

— I mentioned this in the game story, but that was a silly — and brutal — personal foul penalty by Arthur Maulet in the first quarter. He was jawing with a Kansas wide receiver and got up in his face. Completely unnecessary, and exactly the type of play that Fuente talked about eliminating after the season-opener. Maulet, to his credit, has been solid otherwise. That's just a penalty that you can't have, especially when your team is skidding backwards.

 

— Kansas represented the first challenge of 2015 for Memphis, but Bowling Green will be something else. The Falcons edged Big Ten team Maryland earlier Saturday and have moved the ball at ease now against two Power Five teams. They run an up-tempo offense like the Jayhawks — they just have way better skill position players, led by senior quarterback Matt Johnson. Bowling Green put up nearly 700 yards on the Terrapins and may be the best offense the Tigers will face all season. Missing tackles here will prove extremely costly. I always thought this game would be tricky for Memphis. Now, I think the Tigers will enter the game as true underdogs. It will be interesting to see how they respond.

 

MEMPHIS 55, KANSAS 23

 

Memphis 10 14 24 7—55
Kansas 10 3 7 3—23

 

First Quarter

Kan—FG Bartolotta 30, 12:34.
Kan—Kinner 5 run (Bartolotta kick), 9:48.
Mem—Craft 1 run (Elliott kick), 6:26.
Mem—FG Elliott 27, 2:28.

 

Second Quarter

Mem—Dorceus 9 run (Elliott kick), 13:45.
Kan—FG Bartolotta 33, 6:54.
Mem—Te.Jones 6 pass from Lynch (Elliott kick), :32.

 

Third Quarter

Mem—Frazier 60 run (Elliott kick), 14:04.
Kan—Cozart 7 run (Bartolotta kick), 11:20.
Mem—Montiel 3 pass from Lynch (Elliott kick), 9:14.
Mem—FG Elliott 32, 3:53.
Mem—J.Cooper 1 run (Elliott kick), 1:01.

 

Fourth Quarter

Mem—Henderson 1 run (Elliott kick), 10:56.
Kan—FG Wyman 51, 7:57.

A — 37,798.

 

Memphis / Kansas

First downs 34 / 23
Rushes-yards 52-281 / 46-194
Passing 370 / 165
Comp-Att-Int 24-27-0 / 18-38-0
Return Yards 13 / (-3)
Punts-Avg. 2-50.5 / 8-36.6
Fumbles-Lost 3-3 / 1-0
Penalties-Yards 7-58 / 7-68
Time of Possession 28:26 / 31:34

 

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

 

RUSHING — Memphis, Henderson 11-77, Frazier 3-64, J.Cooper 9-57, Dorceus 7-49, Craft 7-15, Lynch 6-14, Oglesby 1-11, Miller 3-7, Holgorsen 1-3, Te.Jones 1-0, Team 2-(minus 2), Proctor 1-(minus 14). Kansas, Kinner 16-113, Mann 10-36, Schadler 6-28, Cozart 11-18, Deo.Ford 3-(minus 1).

 

PASSING — Memphis, Lynch 22-25-0-354, Holgorsen 2-2-0-16. Kansas, Cozart 13-28-0-118, Deo.Ford 5-10-0-47.

 

RECEIVING — Memphis, Mayhue 5-68, Frazier 4-77, Miller 3-61, Oglesby 2-41, Cross 2-39, Montiel 2-26, Te.Jones 2-21, Craft 1-13, J.Cooper 1-9, Dorceus 1-8, McKillion 1-7. Kansas, Patrick 6-38, Sims 3-27, Parmalee 2-15, Johnson 2-12, Mann 1-22, Stanford 1-19, Taylor 1-18, Barbel 1-11, Crawley 1-3.

 

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From the Commercial Appeal: 

Tigers defeat Bowling Green, 44-41, in shootout

 

By Tom Schad of The Commercial Appeal

Posted: September 20, 2015 12:38 AM

 

 

0920_MASP_umfb14.jpg
September 19, 2015 - Memphis running back Sam Craft (top) is upended by Bowling Green State defender Dernard Turner (top) as Austin Valdez (left) helps defend on the play during fourth quarter action in Bowling Green, Ohio. (Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal)
 

The third, though? The third time, Maulet leaped backwards into Lewis to break up a would-be fourth-down completion. The third time, he sealed a 44-41 victory for Memphis over Bowling Green at Doyt L. Perry Stadium. The third time, he brought this fast-paced, back-and-forth, trickery-laden, gasp-inducing shootout to a halt.

 

“He’s got supreme confidence in himself,†safety DaShaughn Terry said. “When that ball went up, we all knew he was going to make that play. There was no question in his heart he was going to make that play. And he made that play.â€

 

In a game with big plays, trick plays and little resistance on either side, a defensive stop was always destined to be the difference. In the final 11 minutes of the fourth quarter, the Tigers got three stops in a row, including the last breakup by Maulet. They have now won 10 consecutive games, the third-longest active streak in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

 

“This is a big-time football team -- maybe the best team that’s not from a Power Five conference,†Bowling Green coach Dino Babers said of Memphis. “That being said, I thought we had our opportunity to win and made mistakes.â€

 

The over-under for Saturday’s game was set at 79.5 points. It turned out to be every bit of the shootout that fans -- and Las Vegas oddsmakers -- expected. And every bit as crazy.

 

There was a fake-punt-and-run for a first down by Memphis sophomore Nick Jacobs in the third quarter. Four touchdown passes of 60 yards or more, including a 94-yard strike from Bowling Green quarterback Matt Johnson to Lewis, beating Memphis cornerback Chauncey Lanier. And there was a fake-reverse-flea-flicker that the Tigers call “Flipper.†The result was a 48-yard touchdown pass, into the wind, from Paxton Lynch to Tevin Jones.

 

When it was over, the offensive numbers were staggering. Johnson finished with 443 passing yards and four touchdowns. Lynch completed 29 of 40 passes for a career-high 386 yards and three touchdowns. Together, the teams amassed 1,120 yards.

 

“I don’t know what just happened,†Memphis coach Justin Fuente said. “So many plays. Ups and downs. Good and bad things that happened for us. I’m proud of the kids. They continued to battle.â€

 

Fuente acknowledged that there were plenty of mistakes. Orange jerseys ran through or past Memphis defensive backs for much of the afternoon. Often times, it was Lewis, who finished with seven catches for 261 yards.

 

Bowling Green’s offensive scheme made it difficult to use zone coverage, so the Tigers often had to play man-to-man. That, and a few superb throws by Johnson, led to repeated big plays.

 

"Coach [Fuente] talked about their offense, and what they did, and I was like, 'There's no way they can do that,’†Lynch said. “But I come out here and they throw the ball down the field almost every play. With an offense like that, you just know that you've got to be ready to go out there and score. The game is never over until the last whistle blows."

 

For every defensive miscue or deep play, the Tigers’ offense had an answer. First, it was a 60-yard screen pass to Sam Craft. Then, with 11 minutes remaining in the game, it was the fake-reverse flea-flicker. Craft took the handoff and gave it to Roderick Proctor, who flipped it back to Lynch, who found Jones running open in the end zone.

 

Altogether, there were seven lead changes and four ties Saturday. And for many Tigers, it wasn’t even the craziest game they’ve seen.

 

“I can’t lie, there’s not much that tops that bowl game,†Terry said with a grin. “Honestly, I think the bowl game prepared us for this, though. We’ve been in situations like this so it wasn’t really a panic situation. We were always calm in the state of mind and ready to go.â€

 

Fuente and his players were confident that the defense would make stops. And Craft said he was confident that the offense could keep pace.

 

“I think we have one of the best offenses in the country,†Craft said. “We’re just trying to prove it day in and day out. We come to practice tomorrow to even get better.â€

 

On Sunday, Fuente told his team that, win or lose, it would be critical to quickly turn the page on Bowling Green. In the visiting locker room Saturday afternoon, he said it again. The Tigers will enter a short week of practice with their 10-game winning streak still intact. They have never won 11 in a row. That opportunity will come Thursday night on national television against Cincinnati at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.

 

“Each one's different, and each matchup's different," Fuente said. "But all our kids are resilient. I’ll say that. I think they have some true belief in themselves that if they continue to do things the right way, they’ll give themselves a chance."

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=pO-0fIVAWiw

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From the Commercial Appeal:

 

Geoff Calkins: ‘Flipper’ a showstopper for Tigers

 By Geoff Calkins of The Commercial Appeal

Posted: September 19, 2015 9:12 PM

 

0920_MASP_umfb17.jpg
September 19, 2015 - Memphis’ Reggis Ball (middle) fires up his teammate as they prepare to take the field against Bowling Green State in Bowling Green, Ohio. (Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal)

 

The play is called Flipper. It is a thing of beauty. Just like the team that drew it up.

 

Paxton Lynch takes the snap. He hands it to Sam Craft. Craft then pitches it to Roderick Proctor, a receiver, who is looping back toward him. Proctor then pitches it back to Lynch.

 

By this time, you are starting to come out of your seat. When Lynch sends the ball spinning more than 60 yards through the air, you are already beginning to whoop. Because Tevin Jones, the receiver, is open in the end zone. The ball settles in his hands.

 

Score it Lynch-to-Craft-to-Proctor-to-Lynch-to-Jones.

 

And understand, this is what Memphis football has become.

 

It has become a stroke of brilliance and a bolt of lightning. It has become a Saturday you had to see to believe.

 

It has become a fitting reward for all those fans who sat through all those miserable losses.

 

It has become a 44-41 victory over Bowling Green that even the head coach couldn't quite describe.

 

"I don't know what just happened," said Justin Fuente, so someone had best fill him in.

 

What happened was: Memphis gave up 579 yards of total offense, and three touchdown drives of 90 yards or more, and 9.8 yards every time Bowling Green quarterback Matt Johnson dropped back to pass, and four touchdown drives that took two minutes or less.

 

What also happened was: Lynch threw for a career-high 386 yards and three touchdowns, and Jake Elliott bombed in a 52-yard-field goal, and Memphis was 3-of-3 on fourth down conversions, including one on a fake punt.

 

But what mostly happened was: Memphis won. For the 10th straight time. It's astonishing to even type those words. Especially because this time, at halftime, it really looked like they would not.

 

The Tigers were down 27-17. Bowling Green was putting on a show. Every time you looked up, Johnson was zipping a long pass to a receiver — usually Roger Lewis, who wound up with 261 yards — running free in the Memphis secondary.

 

But you know all that stuff you hear about how this team now believes it can find a way?

 

It's true.

 

Just watch the second half again.

 

Heck, you should do that anyway, just for kicks.

 

The Tigers drew within a touchdown on a drive that included a fake punt and that 52-yard field goal.

 

Then the Tigers tied it up on a drive that included a fourth-and-one pass to Jones for 32 yards.

 

So in other words, they were pulling out all stops, summoning their finest magic to tie the game at 27-27. And then, bam, just like that, two plays later, Johnson tossed a 94-yard touchdown pass to Lewis to reclaim the lead.

How do you respond to that? And if you do somehow find it in yourself to respond, how do you respond when it happens yet again? Because, sure enough, Craft took a screen pass and sprinted 60 yards for a touchdown to tie the game at 34. Whereupon, Johnson calmly hit Lewis with a 62-yard touchdown pass to give Bowling Green the lead yet again.

 

But that is what separates these Tigers. That, the mind of their head coach, and the arm of their quarterback.

 

Facing second-and-nine from the Bowling Green 48, Fuente sent in the play called Flipper. It was actually the second time he'd called it this day. The first time, the running back, Doroland Dorceus, missed the call and ran it into the line. So Fuente thought he could dial it up again.

 

"It's funny, in spring ball and over the summer, we ran that play a bunch of times, and every time I got it, it was an incompletion, they blitzed, or I never got to throw it," said Lynch. "I just knew if I got the ball, I was going to let it ride."

 

Over the headphones, an assistant wondered if it would be a problem running the play into the wind.

"I said, 'Dude, he's got a cannon,' " said Fuente.

 

Ain't that the beautiful truth. Lynch threw the ball from the Memphis 42. It hit Jones, in perfect stride, at least five yards deep in the end zone.

 

"I've never thrown a ball that far in my life," said Lynch. "They called it, trusted me, and it worked out."

 

The stadium fell silent, the Bowling Green fans, stunned. After that, the game just felt different, as if victory was almost inevitable. The defense stopped Bowling Green on three consecutive drives. Elliott added another field goal. With 5:09 left, facing a fourth-and-one at the Memphis 32, Fuente decided to go for it yet again, because that's how you coach to win.

 

Bowling Green still got the ball back, mind you. Maybe even that was for the best. Because on fourth-and-18, Johnson went deep to Lewis again, and Memphis corner Arthur Maulet — who had been beaten all day long — made the game-clinching play.

 

That, too, is what Memphis football has become.

 

It has become a hard day turning good.

 

It has become a mob of happy players running over to sing the fight song.

 

It has become double-digit consecutive wins.

 

There are those who never believed they would live to see this. There may be many who are pinching themselves still.

 

But Memphis football has become what many never thought possible.

 

A heck of a lot of fun.

 

Flipper

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ESPN video Highlights of the game.

 

ESPN video highlight of P. Lynch's 48 yd TD pass to T. Jones

 

ESPN video highlight of P. Lynch's 60 yd TD pass to S. Craft

 

ESPN video highlight of S. Craft's 3 yd TD run

 

ESPN video highlight of P. Lynch's 6 yd TD pass to D. Montiel

 

ESPN video highlight of D. Dorceous 17 yd TD run

 

ESPN video highlight of P. Lynch's 24 yd pass to M. Frazier for 1st down

 

ESPN video highlight of P. Lynch's 26 yd pass to M. Frazier for 1st down

 

ESPN video highlight of P. Lynch's 24 yd pass to R. Proctor for 1st down

 

ESPN video highlight of P. Lynch 32 yd pass to T. Jones for 1st down

 

ESPN video highlight of P. Lynch's 34 yd pass to A. Miller for 1st down

 

ESPN video highlight of J. Elliot's 29 yd FG

 

ESPN video highlight of J. Elliot's 52 yd FG

 

ESPN video highlight of P. Lynch's 15 run for 1st down

 

ESPN video highlight of J. Elliot's 34 yd FG

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From the Commercial Appeal:

 

Tigers outlast Cincinnati

 

By Phil Stukenborg of The Commercial Appeal
Posted: September 24, 2015 10:52 PM

 

 

998821.jpg
Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal Memphis fans had a lot to scream about Thursday at Liberty Bowl Stadium. For more, see SPORTS/1C.

 

So, ESPN, is that what you were looking for?

 

Thursday night's University of Memphis American Athletic Conference game against Cincinnati at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium certainly lived up to national spotlight status ... and then some.

 

There was drama, there was heartache and there was offense. Yes, mostly offense.

 

In a game that featured (11) lead changes, multiple big plays — on both sides of the ball — and more than 1,200 yards total offense, Memphis and Cincinnati, the preseason favorites to win their divisions, put on show before 45,172 until the final second.

 

When the smoke from the celebratory fireworks (for Tiger touchdowns) had cleared, Memphis had a 53-46 victory, its school-record 11th straight, and a potential spot in next week's Top 25 poll – providing voters overlook the U of M defense yielding more than 700 yards.

 

Tiger running back Sam Craft, whose early fumble had provided Cincinnati a 7-0 lead, scored the game-winning touchdown with 53 seconds left on a 3-yard run.

 

ESPN's highlight recap of the Cincy @ U of M game that aired on 9/24/15

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