Memphis figured out 'who we are'
After all the screens, bootlegs, hard counts and throwback passes, after the setbacks required to reach this point, with a spot in the American Athletic Conference championship game hanging in the balance, Memphis football coach Mike Norvell thought about the moment.
The third quarter was over and the fourth quarter was set to begin. The score was tied. Memphis 31, Houston 31. The Tigers faced 4th-and-1 from their own 44yard-line. Norvell said he had no doubts about going for it, but it didn't hurt to hear the voice of offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham come through his headset. "Coach, this is who we are," Dillingham said. That's when Norvell's players heard him yell, "22." Defensive lineman Joseph Dorceus trotted onto the field to line up as a fullback and described his mission like this:
“Get ‘em out of there," he said. "Whoever back there, we're getting out there and going where we need to go. If somebody’s in my way, they’re going to have to move.”
That's when Memphis won the AAC West division title, and it was the moment that this week full of triumph for Memphis sports teams got even sweeter. That's when a team that looked lost only a month ago became who they are.
The Tigers are going back in the AAC championship game after a 52-31 win over Houston and get another shot at No. 9 UCF.
Because Norvell ditched the gimmicks and trick plays, and ran it right down Houston's throat Friday
It worked, especially when Houston’s All-American defensive tackle Ed Oliver left the game in the third quarter and did not return. Darrell Henderson converted a 4th-and-1 in the fourth quarter, and the Tigers continued to pound the football.
Henderson finished with 178 yards and two touchdowns, and he broke the AAC's single-season rushing record of 1,629 yards held by Tulsa's James Flanders. Henderson's now at 1,699 yards this year and has 22 total touchdowns, one score shy of DeAngelo Williams' single-season record at Memphis.
Patrick Taylor Jr. added 128 yards and two touchdowns. Memphis finished with 401 rushing yards and now stands at 3,311 for the season, breaking the program's former single-season record of 3,215 set in 2005.
If teams won’t kick it to Tony Pollard, fine. Pollard was all over the field for Memphis in every phase.
He had a career-high 116 receiving yards on eight catches. He was effective in the run game, scored on a 6-yard touchdown run, and added a 37-yard kickoff return in the second half. Pollard finished with a career-high 236 all-purpose yards.
Sam Craft returns to the end zone
It was only fitting on Senior Day that Craft, a sixth-year senior, scored on a 28yard run, his first touchdown since 2016.
Craft saw his last two seasons end with season-ending injuries and made his return this year against UConn. When he scored, the Memphis sidelines erupted and mobbed him when he returned. Even better, it gave Memphis the lead at 24-21 in the third quarter.
Memphis' defense continues to rise
The Tigers' secondary got off to a bad start by dropping several interceptions. In the second half, they harassed Houston (8-4, 5-3) quarterback Clayton Tune into a rough day.
Memphis got five sacks, including two from Jonathan Wilson, and finished with 10 tackles for loss. T.J. Carter fittingly ended the day with his second interception of the season after breaking up three passes.
The Tigers get a fourth date with UCF in two seasons
Memphis will face UCF for the second time this season and the fourth time since last September. The Tigers gave UCF its toughest game of the season in a 31-30 loss back in October.
Yes, the Tigers have struggled on the road this year; they’re also on a four-game winning streak and fully confident. They’ve also won at least eight games for the third consecutive year under Norvell.
Even if they will be underdogs next week, Memphis should be highly motivated with four week's worth of momentum heading into Saturday's game in Orlando.