Memphis Routs SMU
It was SMU’s Homecoming game, but it was University of Memphis head coach Mike Norvell who celebrated a return to his hometown area Saturday. Norvell grew up in the Dallas suburb of Irving.
The Tigers returned to playing their brand of football of turning opponents’ mistakes into points and posted an impressive 51-7 American Athletic Conference road win at SMU.
With the victory, Memphis improved to 6-3 overall and 3-2 in league play. The win also made the Tigers bowl eligible for a third-straight season. It is only the second time in school history Memphis will play in three-consecutive bowl games (2003-05). The Mustangs fell to 4-5 overall and 2-3 in the conference.
The Memphis defense played a superb game, holding the Mustangs to 100 fewer yards than their season average. The Tigers held SMU to 307 yards Saturday. The Mustangs entered Saturday’s game averaging 417.1 yards of total offense per game.
Tigers quarterback Riley Ferguson directed the offense to 474 yards of total offense. Ferguson played a flawless game and completed 20-of-27 passes for 287 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions. Anthony Miller had four receptions for 102 yards and two scores. The 102-yard receiving game was his fifth 100-yard performance of 2016. Doroland Dorceus led a Tigers rushing attack that piled up 160 yards on the ground. Dorceus had 77 of those 160 yards.
The Tigers defense recorded three takeaways Saturday, after only having a total of two in the previous two games (both losses). The Memphis offense took advantage of those takeaways, scoring two touchdowns. The Tigers ran out the clock after their third takeaway late in the game.
Memphis jumped out to an early lead and never looked back. After holding SMU to a 3-and-out on its first possession, the Tigers began their first drive on their own 19-yard line. Two plays later, Memphis was in the end zone on a Ferguson-to-Miller 50-yard scoring strike for a 7-0 lead.
On the Mustangs’ next possession, the Tigers defense got going. SMU moved the ball into Memphis territory, but an Arthur Maulet sack and forced fumble was scooped up by Jared Gentry and returned inside the SMU 20. After a penalty moved the ball inside the Mustangs 10, the Tigers offense made quick work again. This time, Memphis’ two-play, six-yard drive ended with a Ferguson four-yard touchdown toss to Joey Magnifico for a 14-0 lead.
Midway through the opening quarter, SMU answered with a 91-yard touchdown drive to cut the Memphis lead to 14-7 and get the Mustangs back in the game.
The Tigers, though, had an immediate answer. On the ensuing kickoff, freshman Darrell Henderson took the ball at the Memphis 1-yard line and raced 99 yards for a score. After going 20 years without a kickoff return for a touchdown, Memphis set a school record for kick returns for scores with three in 2016. Earlier this season, Tony Pollard returned two kickoffs for touchdowns. Henderson’s touchdown pushed the Tigers lead back to 14 points at 21-7 and set the tone for the remainder of the contest.
After a Jake Elliott field goal extended the lead to 24-7 early in the second quarter, the Memphis defense gained its second takeaway of the contest on SMU’s next possession. The Mustangs moved the ball to their own 35, but Genard Avery forced a second fumble that was recovered by Ernest Suttles.
The Memphis offense wasted no time in putting another score on the board. On the first play from scrimmage, Ferguson hit Daniel Montiel on a 20-yard score for a commanding 31-7 lead.
The Tigers closed the half with another Ferguson touchdown toss for a 38-7 lead at intermission. Ferguson hit Miller from 21 yards out for the touchdown.
After half, Memphis added two Elliott field goals and a Dorceus touchdown run for the 51-7 final.
