In front of a crowd of 35,102 at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, the University of Memphis Tigers football team won their first conference championship since 1971.
The Tigers (9-3, 7-1 AAC) won 41-10 over the Connecticut Huskies (2-9, 106 AAC) in the last regular season game of the year. A victory moved the squad’s record to 9-3 on the season, which is its best record since 2003.
“Tonight was indicative of what this team did all year,” Memphis coach Justin Fuente said after the game.
Quarterback Paxton Lynch and company were not hampered by the winds that blew to an excess of 30 mph. Lynch threw for 194 yards and four touchdowns while running for 56 yards on nine carries. His four touchdowns marked the first time a Memphis quarterback had thrown four since 2009.
Lynch found a good partner in senior wide receiver Keiwone Malone who caught two touchdown passes that opened up the floodgates for the U of M offense.
“I’m awfully proud of Keiwone Malone.” Fuente said. “He made some really good plays in the passing game. We needed him with how tight they were playing on the outside.”
Before the game, the U of M honored each of the graduating Tigers, who have endured some of the toughest years in Blue and Gray, before their final game at the Liberty Bowl.
“It’s a big deal to go out like that,” senior cornerback Bobby McCain said. “It felt great.”
Senior running back Brandon Hayes has been with the football team for six years now. The win against UCONN was finally his last game at home. It was a long journey for Hayes, but it had a happy ending.
“I couldn’t picture my six years ending like this,” Hayes said.
Star defensive lineman Martin Ifedi and linebacker Tank Jakes are part of the senior class that played their last game at home in the Liberty Bowl. They were part of a defense that controlled the game from the start.
The defense held a stout UConn offense to 269 yards and only 10 points. The opposing offense never entered into the U of M’s red zone. They also forced two turnovers that let the offense run up the lead in the third quarter.
“Our defense played lights out,” Fuente said. “We broke through there and took control.”
Fans, cheerleaders and players mobbed around Justin Fuente after the game as he was awarded the trophy for the AAC conference championship. Confetti fell from the sky as players passed the championship trophy back and forth.
Memphis’ focus now turns to which bowl game will select the Tigers. There are several different scenarios for Justin Fuente’s team. It will be the team’s first bowl game since 2008.
“We’ll worry about the bowl game when the time comes,” Fuente said. “I didn’t mention the bowl game to them tonight.”
Fuente, who was clearly emotional after the game, said he could not say enough about how proud he was of the way his team competed throughout the season.
“This is something that will last forever,” Fuente said. “Nobody can ever take this away from us.”
