U of M offense overpowers Falcons; 11 Tigers score touchdowns
Last year’s game between Memphis and Bowling Green was a shootout.
This year, it was a blowout — and a historic one, at that.
The Tigers scored five touchdowns in the first quarter Saturday night and coasted to one of the most lopsided victories in the history of their football program, 77-3. In the win, they matched program records for most points scored in a quarter (35) and most points scored in a half (56). They also eclipsed the 70-point mark for the first time since Sept. 30, 1950.
Eleven different players reached the end zone for the Tigers in front of an announced crowd of 38,713 at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
Memphis has now started 3-0 in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1927 and 1928, under Zach Curlin. And with Saturday’s win, Mike Norvell became the first head coach in program history to win his first three games at Memphis.
It was an offensive clinic from the beginning for the Tigers, with junior quarterback Riley Ferguson leading the charge. The juniorcollege transfer completed 20 of 27 passes in the first half, finishing with 359 passing yards and six touchdowns to six different receivers. He also ran for a seventh score from 1 yard. He was replaced in the second half by backup quarterback Jason Stewart.
A year ago, these teams exchanged big plays in a wild, backand-forth game at Doyt Perry Stadium in Bowling Green, Kentucky. It took a fourth-down pass breakup by Arthur Maulet to seal Memphis’ 44-41 victory.
Needless to say, this year’s matchup unfolded a bit differently.
The touchdown passes came one after another throughout the first quarter for Memphis. Senior Daniel Montiel turned a short out route on fourth-and-one into a 19-yard touchdown catch. Then, junior Phil Mayhue snagged a 40yard touchdown catch down the
Sometime in the first quarter, after yet another Memphis touchdown, Paxton Lynch took to Twitter.
“Holy Memphis,” he tweeted. Holy Memphis, indeed. What else was there to say about his alma mater’s 77-3 win over Bowling Green Saturday night?
What else was there to say about the spectacular/ preposterous/dazzling/hilarious rout?
What else is there to say about this game in which 11 different Memphis players scored touchdowns?
What else is there to say about this game in which starting quarterback Riley Ferguson accounted for seven touchdowns — in the first half?
What else is there to say about this game that sent reporters scrambling to find the last time Memphis scored 70 points?
Answer: 1956, when Memphis beat MemphisNavy, 76-7.
Memphians have been wondering when they would see the explosive offense head coach Mike Norvell was supposed to have brought with him from Arizona State.
Answer: Saturday at the Liberty Bowl.
It began innocently enough, with Memphis going for it on fourth-andone from the Bowling Green 19, and Ferguson finding Daniel Montiel down the right side for a touchdown. 7-0, Memphis.
After Bowling Green responded with a field goal,