The game plan worked to perfection.
Make the UTEP miners one-dimensional. Check.
Get Memphis running back DeAngelo Williams the ball...a lot. Check.
Don't turn the ball over. Check.
End UTEP's thus far perfect season. Check.
Keep bowl hopes alive. Check.
The best defensive effort of the season coupled with Williams' 236-yard rushing performance executed head coach Tommy West's game plan better than the team has all season. The 27-20 win over UTEP (4-1 overall, 1-1 in Conference USA) on Saturday was one West described as one of the best wins he's been a part of in his 26 years of coaching.
Before the game, the Tigers (2-2, 1-1) didn't look like they would have the kind of success they did.
Before Saturday, West wasn't as worried about true freshman Billy Barefield starting his first game at quarterback as about injuries and the competition.
"We were limping. We were wounded, and we got the best team in the league coming in here, a team that's been on a roll," West said. "We challenged our defense and our kicking game, those were the two starting last Sunday that we challenged because if you play defense and you play the kicking game you'll have a chance to win the game."
Memphis also won the game with help from UTEP quarterback Jordan Palmer, who was responsible for five of the Miners' six turnovers. Palmer threw three interceptions, fumbled a snap early in the second quarter and fumbled after a sack by Carlton Baker in the third.
In the first half Memphis' defense took advantage of two turnovers by UTEP inside Memphis' 20-yard line, and only allowed UTEP two first-half field goals.
The Tigers' run defense forced Palmer to create for UTEP as they stifled Ebell, allowing only 37 yards rushing in the half. Of the first 13 plays for the UTEP offense, 11 were passes.
Memphis' offense was sluggish as well in the first 30 minutes, totaling only 144 yards of offense. Their only score came when Maurice Avery lined up in shotgun and hit receiver Ryan Scott in the end zone for a 43-yard touchdown.
Avery threw two passes in the first half and accounted for eight more yards than the struggling Barefield. In the first half Barefield was 6 of 9, passing for 35 yards and didn't complete a pass of more than eight yards.
The two teams combined to go 2 of 17 on third-down conversions in the first half.
The second half, however, was all Williams.
It included two touchdowns, 162 yards and one of the best runs by Williams in his 37-game career at Memphis, which is best told in his words.
"It was real crazy," Williams said. "I didn't expect it to get open like that, and when I broke through the arm tackles and cut across the field, I looked up, and to my surprise, I saw No. 11 (Barefield), so I slowed down and let him get in front of me and he made a huge block, and then Antonio McCoy made a huge block. No. 47 (Alex Obomese) was over-pursuing and I inside shouldered him and went in for the score."
UTEP committed more defenders to stop Williams and force Memphis to throw, but Williams continued to roll.
"They had told me they were going to put it on my shoulders - they tell me that every game." Williams said. For his efforts, Williams won Offensive Player of the Week in C-USA.
Ryan Scott was the star, catching the ball recording 104 yards on seven catches, 85 percent of the offense through the air.
Walk-on Derek Clenin was the most opportunistic defender on Memphis' side of the ball as he recovered a fumble and picked off a Palmer pass late in the fourth quarter when the score was tied at 20. The interception led to a Williams TD run with 50 seconds left in the game. The performance won Clenin Defensive Player of the Week in C-USA.
"I just tried to drop to the zone, and I couldn't believe he threw it to me. I was standing right there," Clenin said. "It was like I was the receiver."
An interception by O.C. Collins on UTEP's drive after the score by Williams sealed the victory.
The Tigers go on the road next week to face UCF (2-2, 1-1).
