It will go down as a loss for the University of Memphis football team, who traveled to Pasadena, California, on Saturday to face No. 11 UCLA, but it sure didn’t feel like one.
Twitter was abuzz in a way it has never been about the Memphis football program, and sophomore quarterback Paxton Lynch played like a Heisman Trophy candidate, throwing for a career high 305 yards on 27-of-41 passing. His performance garnered the American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week honor.
In the end though, the Tigers fell just short with a 42-35 loss, but they had their chances to notch the program’s first top-25 win since 1996. With 45 seconds remaining in the game the Tiger offense took over at their own 42-yard line with a chance to drive down the field and tie or take the lead. However, they barely made it into the Bruin’s territory before time expired.
Questions have loomed all summer about the true caliber of this year’s squad, and the Tigers’ 63-0 win over Austin Peay failed to provide many answers. Saturday’s loss solidified Memphis as a quality team, and UCLA head coach Jim Mora said so after the game.
The Memphis offense turned more heads than anything. They put 28 points on the board and displayed the type of balanced attack poised to make a run in a weakened American Athletic Conference.
Ten different receivers caught passes from Lynch with senior Keiwone Malone leading the way with six catches for 67 yards, but senior running back Brandon Hayes caught the Blue and Gray’s only touchdown through the air late in the first half.
The U of M got the job done on the ground too. Sophomore Doroland Dorceus led the way with 86 yards on 13 carries, but none were more important than his 40-yard touchdown dash in the third quarter.
Lynch opened the Tigers’ scoring with a 9-yard run in the first quarter, and Sophomore Sam Craft scored a 7-yard run of his own.
Defensively, Memphis struggled to contain UCLA’s junior quarterback Brett Hundley. Hundley, a regular mention in talks about potential Heisman Trophy winners, roasted the Tigers for 396 yards passing and three touchdowns.
Bruin running back Paul Perkins made his presence felt as well. The sophomore rushed for 104 yards and two touchdowns.
Tanks Jakes was one bright spot for the Tiger defense. The senior linebacker registered 11 solo tackles and four tackles for loss to go along with two sacks.
Another bright spot for the Tigers was the way they constantly battled back. They went down several times in the game and answered the bell every time.
Early in the fourth quarter, Memphis trailed by 14, but they tied up UCLA before the Bruins could blink. Dorceus exploded for his 40-yard touchdown, and U of M safety Fritz Etienne intercepted Hundley on the ensuing drive, taking the interception the distance for six points to tie the game.
Unfortunately for the Tigers, Hundley showed why he is held in such high esteem by driving his team straight down the field for a touchdown.
Memphis was not able to equalize, but their performance showed the country their potential.
The Tigers have a bye next Saturday, and they return to Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium on Sept. 20 to face MTSU at 6 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3.
